By Hank F. Miller Jr. 

Rules? How do rikishi live? How do they start? How do I get tickets to see it? I tried to keep the question list basic, but the answers fairly complete. I also tried to limit the use of sumo jargon, so that the text would read like English, not Japanese. Though there is one exception; I used rikishi throughout because that is the term the men use who compete in and run professional sumo strongly prefer the 

One that they feel best describes them (the Chinese characters used to write it literally mean \”strong warrior\”). 

When I started watching sumo back in the 1970s the rikishi seemed to come and go mysteriously, like belted Loch Ness monsters; because sumo had no single season, I had trouble getting a temporal handle on it. 

Rikishi, however, are creatures of habit, regulating their lives according to a crowded schedule that change little from year to year. First and foremost, they must appear in six annual fifteen-day tournaments or basho, one approximately every two months: 

*The Hatsu Basho(First Tournament)in Tokyo, January 

*The Osaka Basho in March 

*The Natsu Basho(Summer Tournament) in Tokyo, May 

*The Nagoya Basho in July 

*The Aki Basho(Fall Tournament)in Tokyo, September 

*The Kyushu Basho held here in Fukuoka in November 

Tournaments are also called by the months in which they are held; for example, the January Tournament of Ichigatsu Basho. Rikishi would thus seem to have it easier than other sports professionals; Their annual schedules are only 90 days long. In the Edo Period, they even had it easier; they appeared in only two official tournaments, both usually lasting only ten days. Rikishi were known as fellows who only had to work twenty days per year. 

But modern rikishi have little time off. In addition to daily practice and regular tournaments, they take part in provincial tours, or exhibition bouts and overseas trips. 

In between, they make personal appearances, meet with supporters and attend sumo functions. 

One reason why new ozeki (champions) and Yokosuka (grand champions)do so poorly in the first tournament after their promotion is that they are completely exhausted from the endless round of celebrations. No one, however, has yet to party himself out of an entire tournament.

To Be Continued: 

Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City, Japan 

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Concerning my loan through the Gloucester City RCA/Small Cities Housing Rehabilitation Program, it is with regret that I am sending this letter to Mayor William James. I have tried to remedy the situation on my own but I have not been able to get any satisfaction. Frankly, I am at my wit\’s end.  

Enclosed you will find a copy of a letter that at I sent to Mr. Eric Fetterolf in regards to a \” home improvement \” loan I received through the above- mentioned program.  

I have had no satisfaction from Mr. Fetterolf, nor have I heard from anyone from A to Z Associates, although at this point, I will not deal with anyone from A to Z.  

These contractors replaced windows in my home that should not have been replaced – windows that were actually newer windows on my third floor and in the basement. Yet, they neglected to replace the old, nailed-shut windows in my dining room and my two bedrooms on my second floor that should have been replaced.  

Also, they replaced a sink I had in my bathroom ( which, again, was not supposed to be replaced) with an interior sink. The sink, along with a cheap toilet, were both improperly installed. The toilet moves and shakes every time someone sits on it.  

According to the paperwork, I was charged $1,220 for materials and installation charges – materials that I have priced myself to be approximately $200 for both the sink and toilet. Plus I was charged another $980 on the paperwork to \”install new floor\” – but the only floor installed in the bathroom was a cheap piece of linoleum.  

I have made many phone calls regarding the situation, and when I got no response, I sent the attached letter.  

I finally heard from Mr. Fetterolf after he received my letter, and when he came to my home, along with the building inspector and two owners of A to Z, Warren and Brad Michaels, he promised me he would look into the matter, and even said he would have the fire inspector come out to check the third floor. I have not seen or heard from Mr. Fetterolf since.  

If Mr. Fetterolf mistook my kindness and courtesy to him and his crew as an open invitation to walk all over me, he is sadly mistaken. I have no intention of letting this matter drop. I am dreading the coming winter, as my front steps are cracked and worse than they were before they were replaced, yet, according to my paperwork, this cost me almost $3,000.  

My bathtub still leaks and the fire alarm still goes off every time I turn on the light switch on for longer than a minute or two. I am sick of living like this. As a matter of fact, Mr. Mayor, I would like to invite you to come to my home and inspect these \”improvements\” for yourself and to see if you honestly say that you would accept this kind of workmanship in your home. Somehow, I don\’t think that you would.  

I have filed a complaint with the Consumer Advocacy Group of America and I am waiting to hear from them now. My next step will be to contact an attorney and the consumer advocates at the local radio and television stations. This is a step I hope not to have to take. However, I feel that I have been taken advantage of, and I have no intention of letting this matter rest.  

I, a single mom trying to survive, will not be responsible for loans totaling $22,000 plus for these \”improvements.\”  

There is one last item. It is an item that, admittedly, I should have questioned more thoroughly when I initially signed the paperwork. However, in my excitement over having my house finally fixed up, I took Mr. Fetterolf\’s word again and now I question my decision.  

On the contractor acceptance sheet that I signed, I noticed that three of the bidders (including A to Z Company to which the contractor was given) noted their lead remediation costs. My question is this – what lead remediation work was done in my home? I can find nothing to this affect on my paperwork except the notation regarding it on the acceptance sheet. Does my home have lead-based paint or any other lead problem I don\’t know about?  

Although Mr. Fetterolf assured me at the time my home did not have any lead-based paint problems, I want this situation addressed in writing. I don\’t understand why A to Z Contractors (and two of the other contractors who bid) would address this situation if there were no problem.  

Well, Mr. Mayor, I am looking to you for your help. I have been getting the run-around now for almost a year, but this matter must be resolved. Gloucester City prides itself on its people, and I hope that its motto, \”where great things are happening\” is not, in fact, a fallacy.  

Thank you so much for your anticipated attention on this matter. I truly appreciate anything you can do to help me.  

Brenda Davis, Homeowner Gloucester City  

Irish Society Members Mike Riley, Jerry Greene, Joe Riley, Gary Ross Sr.

Irish Society Members Linda Green, Charlene Riley & Michelle Riley

Irish Society Members Jerry Greene & Ed Gorman

Irish Society Member Theresa McCarthy & President Green

Irish Society Member Ed Gorman & Maryellen Plews

Bill\’s Point of View:

We received a number of comments on the Gloucester City employee (s) not having to pay the fine for 8 parking tickets received over a seven month period. Because of a possible conflict of interest the case was heard last month before Brooklawn Judge Jeffrey Karl. The reason the Judge gave for dismissing the 8 traffic tickets, it couldn\’t be determined who was driving the vehicle at the time the tickets were issued.

The majority of those who responded to the article feel the City\’s No Parking law needs to be updated and or done away with altogether. \”Brooklawn doesn\’t have a street sweeper, why does Gloucester City feel they need one? \”, wrote one individual.

The No Parking ordinance originally passed, if I recall correctly, was put in place so the street sweeper could clean the streets. And in the beginning the No Parking signs placed throughout the City included the words Street Sweeper. Residents knew that no tickets would be given on sweeper day if it was raining or the street was covered with snow. It made sense, the inclement weather kept the sweeper from operating and so the police would not issue tickets. Likewise when the sweeper was broken tickets would not be given.

At some point in time our city fathers changed the law and the words Street Sweeper was removed from the signs. I think the law was changed in the 1990\’s but I am not sure. The police began issuing tickets to residents no matter what the weather. It was apparent the governing body found another way to tax residents in the disguise of a parking violation.

Here are some facts. *Since January until the end of August the Police Department has issued a total of 4,168 citations for parking violations for an average of 521 tickets a month. There is a $25 fine for violating the law. The City has collected $13, 025 a month (521 tickets x $25). Times that amount by eight months the total is $104,200. If that pace continues the City Police/Courts will collect $156,300 for the year from parking fines. Incidentally some time the fine for the violation is more so the estimated figure is on the low side.

 

As for the No Parking issue, for now I would like Council to change the law immediately so that tickets would not be given when the weather is inclement.

Mayor James told me before he was elected how difficult it was for his family to unload groceries on a rainy day when there was no parking on his side of the street. The mayor said he has to park in the library lot and carry the groceries across the street in the rain to his house. He had promised if elected, that once he took care of more pressing problems he was going to see about changing the No Parking ordinance.

Lastly if the City is going to continue with this \”Parking Tax\” the least they could do is erect new signs throughout the community. Some streets have none at all, and on other streets the signs are so faded you can\’t read them. Visitors to our community who receive a ticket complain they never saw the sign. And for them to fight it in court they would lose time at work. So they pay it and vow never to come back to Gloucester City.

Being a suspicious person I wonder if the conditions of the signs have been allowed to deteriorate on purpose. But that is just me.

What is your opinion?

*Information was received from the Gloucester City Court Administrator

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers sophomore running back Kordell Young (West Deptford, N.J.) will miss the remainder of the 2007 season due to a left knee injury suffered in the win over Norfolk State on September 15. Young will undergo surgery Tuesday.

\”Mentally, I am handling it pretty well,\” said Young. \”It is tough to miss the rest of the season, but on the bright side it gives me the opportunity to improve my upper body strength in the weight room and prepare for next season. I can take a lot from watching Ray (Rice) and I will continue to take mental reps on the sideline and stay focused.\”

Young was second on the depth chart at running back and was also one of the team\’s starting kickoff returners. In 2007, Young totaled 58 yards on 18 carries and averaged a team-best 32.0 yards on three kickoff returns.

No. 11 Rutgers returns to action Saturday, September 29 vs. Maryland. Kickoff is either 3:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. with live television coverage on ABC.

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LAWRENCEVILLE—Six nationally televised games highlight the 2007-08 Rider University men’s basketball schedule, which begins November 10 in Kentucky at Murray State.

\”We are extremely excited about this year’s schedule,\” said Tommy Dempsey, the former interim coach who begins his second season as the Bronc head coach with a 16-15 record. \”The national television exposure is tremendous for our basketball program, Rider University, and the MAAC.\”

The schedule features the nationally televised Old Spice Classic in Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, beginning with a 2:00 pm Thanksgiving Day game against North Carolina State.

In addition to the three nationally televised games at Disney, the non-conference opponents include Murray State, Drexel, Delaware, Binghamton and New Jersey rivals Rutgers, Fairleigh Dickinson, Monmouth and NJIT.

\”Our schedule includes some programs that we have had some great games against over the years,\” Dempsey said, \”as well as an opportunity to play five of the other seven Division I programs in New Jersey.\”

The home opener weekend is November 17-19 when Rider hosts Delaware Saturday afternoon and Fairleigh Dickinson Monday evening before heading to Disney. Along with NC State the Old Spice Classic field includes Central Florida, George Mason, Kansas State, Penn State, South Carolina and Villanova.

Rider beings the all-important Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference portion of the schedule in Western New York in early December at Niagara and Canisius. The MAAC schedule is highlighted by an ESPN2 game with Siena to start off February.

\”We expect the MAAC to be a very strong league this year so we felt it was important to challenge ourselves early in the season,\” Dempsey said. \”When you play against really good programs you learn a lot about yourselves.\”

For the third consecutive season Rider will take part in ESPN’s BracketBuster in February.

The MAAC schedule concludes with a pair of home games, including Saint Peter’s February 29 when ESPNU comes to the Broncs’ Zoo. The MAAC tournament moves back to Albany, NY March 7-10.

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Rutgers men\’s cross country team competed at the Rider Cross Country Invitational Saturday, in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Scarlet Knights placed second in a field of four.

Rider won the event with 18 points followed by the Scarlet Knights in second (37), Seton Hall in third (82) and Siena in fourth (105).

Rutgers recorded several honorable performances including senior Alex Palmentieri (Northfield, N.J.), sophomore Simon Gordonov (East Windsor, N.J.), freshman Nick Miehe (Elmwood Park, N.J.), sophomore Michael Crum (Andover, N.J.) and senior Mike Snihur (Liverpool, N.Y.), who each finished in the top 10 overall.

Palmentieri led the group as he took fifth place in 26:06.50, followed by Gordonov in sixth (26:07.00), Miehe in seventh (26:12.30), Crum in ninth (26:26.80) and Snihur in 10th (26:27.40). Sophomore Jayram Sataluri (Holmdel, N.J.) and junior Brandon Smith (Colonia, N.J.) rounded out the scoring for the Scarlet Knights with Sataluri taking 11th in 26:29.50, while Smith placed 16th in 26:58.80.

Martin J. COYLE, a lifelong resident of Gloucester City, passed away on September 15 at the age of 81.

Marty had a smile that would light up a room. He loved to laugh and had an outgoing personality. He knew everyone and everyone knew Marty.

 Mayor Bill James said, \”It is with deep sadness that my entire family has learned the passing of Marty Coyle. Marty was a dear friend of my parents and it was through them and Marty\’s children that I came to know him and love him. Always with a smile and a joke Marty would stop whenever he saw you just to exchange the pleasantries of the day. Marty was a warm and caring person who never had the time of day to bad mouth a soul. I personally, along with the rest of my family will truly miss him and Gloucester City somehow will never be the same absent his presence. My extreme condolences are extended to Mrs. Coyle, Marty, Shannon, Cherly, Kelly, Kara and Terry and may God give them the strength to get through this most difficult of times\”

\”If Marty met you on the street or in church he would warmly shake your hand. He would ask right away how is your family. How are you doing. You look great. Just those few minutes with Marty gave you a warm feeling that would last the day. I can still see the twinkle in his eyes, and his great smile, \” said Bill Cleary, former publisher of the Gloucester City News. \”He certainly will be missed.\”

Former Mayor Bob Bevan said, \”He was one of the great people that help make Gloucester City the community we all love.\”

Mr. Coyle was very involved with the City of Gloucester. He was an exempt volunteer fireman having served at Gloucester Heights Fire Co. #4 for 27 years. He was also a former paid fireman and long time Ambulance driver for the City of Gloucester. Mr. Coyle formerly served on the Gloucester City Board of Health and was a very active member of the Gloucester City Democrat Club.

He worked at the South Jersey Port Authority before retiring several years ago. He was member of The Over The Hill Gang, The Ray Ford Old Timers, and the Sunday morning gang. Mr. Coyle was a proud Army veteran of WW II having served in the 82nd Airborne, and was also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. For a time he was an usher at St. Anne\’s RC Church in Westville.

Beloved husband of Marie B. (nee Dabrowski). Loving father of Martin J Coyle, Jr. (Eileen), Patrick Shannon Coyle (Vicki) Cheryl L. Carfagno (Robert), Kellie Coyle Moxley, Kara Coyle Shannon (Dave), Terrance Anthony Coyle and the late Pamela M. Coyle. Dear grandfather of 7 grandchildren, and was predeceased by many brothers and sisters.

Relatives and friends are invited to meet Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00pm and again Friday morning from 10:00 to 11:00am at St. Mary\’s Church 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday 11:00am. Interment in New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr to follow.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial donations in Marty\’s name to be made to the Msgr. Lucitt Needy Children\’s Fund, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Funeral arrangements entrusted to ETHERINGTON-CRERAN FUNERAL HOME Gloucester City, NJ.

Author Bill Cleary