http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/ju ... -and-crime


Can't they stand up for themselves?

its not just 'sumo' but all sport is or has become corrupt and corrupted
just look at the book balance of MU and other sports such as F1 and that also includes the Olympics not withstanding the (so called) 'world cup'

why follow like sheep corrupt and corrupted corporate sporting events, i would sooner see it (sport) die a death and bury the barstewards that have corrupted the/that sport and/or sporting event

they (any sport) do not deserve my loyalty, respect or participation and more importantly my money …

Too many sports have been corrupted by money. Even the Olympics are professionals. Unless they have another full time job or are unemployed they should be classed as professionals. Sampras playing at the Olympics was a farce. He is definitely a professional. Then you get all the Olympic boxes gong professional and yet they do not return to the Olympics.

The boxers turning Pro after winning Olympic medals s fine my by . Sampras or any pother professional sportsman in the Olympics is a total joke as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is defining the word professional. I remember before rugby union went professional virtually the entire welsh team ( and english etc ) were employed by a couple of breweries or sports wear manufacturers. I know in France in one city all members of the rugby teams were on the council payrolls.

Yeah I agree - once you have won the olympics, you've reached the pinnacle of the sport as an amateur.

Yes but why do so many return to defend their titles?

For boxers the money outside is huge compared to what they earn normally. So the boxers are not a problem. When they had professionals playing at the Olympics it downgrades the whole Olympic movement.

Defining professional I would include any who accept monies or prizes for their sport. That would eliminate many athletes who get paid money if they win marathon or attend some event. That would make them professionals and as such should be banned. If you attend out your own pocket then fine. Sponsorship counts as professional unless it is paid to a sports body who just fly and lodge the entrants, with no money passing to the athlete.

That would stop virtually every Olympic athletics event then.

Well unless they have another full-time profession or on unemployment benefit then they should be treated as professionals. It is unfair to the real amateurs.