Yet another year and a decade into the new millenium!

2009 came and went by in a blink. almost. An eventful year by any yardstick. Can't wait for the new year.
India became the No.1 ranked team in test cricket. Never thought it would happen, but always wished it did happen.
Schumacher decided to return to F1 racing, making a longstanding ambition fulfillable. Aim to be at Sepang to watch the great man drive albeit in a 'Silver Arrow'.
Experienced a global recession and felt threatened but escaped unscathed. Very many were not so lucky. Being in India helped on that count. The country seems to be on the path of recovery leading the world while at it. Impressive.
Embarked on a journey which hopefully will be my legacy, filled with hope and anxiety. But the fact that I even undertook that journey says a lot about my evolution to myself at least.

Your own age is illustrated by the age of your parents. A growing realisation each time you see them. You don't feel strange when kids call you 'Uncle' anymore, a sure sign if any that you are getting on. School memories are becoming more of a blur and then it hits you that it's been 24 years since you left middle school.

Definitely in the mid-innings phase of my life and lots to look forward too.

Bring on 2010!

So close yet so far, yet again!

Watching Sachin bat last night was a blast from the past in more ways than one. It was batting at it's sublime best and something only Sachin can conjure with alarming regularity for opponents and rapturous joy for his legion of fans.

But the most disturbing aspect of the game was that none of the so called future of Indian cricket decided to show up and give him support. Suresh Raina had a shot at redemption and blew it in the most embarrasing and predictable manner. How many more years is he going to do it alone? I knew something special was on the cards when Sachin took the catch on offer of the last ball and threw it down in disgust. Probably at the amount of runs leaked by the bowlers and the catches dropped by his 'younger' teammates and the enormity of the task facing him individually. I am sure he knew then that he would have to do it all by himself all over again.

If the rest of the team have any shame they will ask him to take a rest and win the last 2 matches for him. That's the least they can do after his mammoth effort last night. Or maybe Sachin will himself take a rest and transfer the burden he has carried for near on 20 years onto the rest and let them feel the pressure for a change!

Grand Slam Tennis on the Wii

I am hooked to this game. Can't get enough of beating the legends in tennis in your own living room. There is a certain thrill to being able to play your heroes in the comfort of your living room and in the biggest tournaments in the world.

Read a review online about the toughness of the game for players and how it's very difficult to beat the stars in the game. I tended to agree with the review till I was beaten black and blue by a girl from the UK while playing online. That sure got me playing it a lot more and now I pretty much beat everyone at my level.

Can't wait to play that girl again!

R.I.P Gopalakrishnan Miss

Yesterday was a sad day. Woke up to the news that one of my teachers had passed away last month.
Gopalakrishnan Miss was among the first teachers to engage me in class. Can't remember any other teacher doing it. I was a back bencher throughout school and too few of the other teachers bothered with us.
All that changed one fine day when Gopalakrishnan Miss and Khurana Miss strode into our classroom and stood at the doorway staring at me intently and whispering away. My mind was in a tizzy. What had I done now?? As it turned out, I was being specced out to play a part in the inter-school drama competition. I was duly selected, not that I had much choice in the matter.
Looking back, I realize now that, that instance probably had a huge part in my future development in life. I started believing that, I was not the useless piece of flesh and bones, I thought I was and was actually capable of doing something with myself since others obviously saw some spark in me.

As it turns out, I turned out OK and the drama competition was shelved because Indira Gandhi was assasinated. Thank you for the belief Miss.

Didn't know I liked MJ so much...

Tuesday night was a strange one for me. Had an early morning class to attend at the gym and knew I had to get to bed early but I was stuck in front of the tube watching the memorial well into Wednesday morning. I just could not get up till the whole service was over. A lot of my older friends ridiculed the guy and asked me why I liked the guy so much. I don't know, honestly.

Till the 25th of June even I didn't know I liked MJ and his music till a friend called and told me about his passing. Since that day, I have been listening to his music and memories from my past have been flooding back. All of which reinforced his role in my life in a strange sort of way. Part of the reason to want to sit and watch the memorial was a way of getting closure I guess.

How much of a role he played in our lives was apparent the next day when every friend I asked said they were sitting and watching the memorial too!

The dream run ends

It had to happen sometime, just didn't expect it to happen at the one tournament you didn't want it to. Dhoni and his boys are out of the T20 WC before the tournament even got started. There are many who'll say it was coming. I was among them, but like an eternally optimistic Indian fan, I thought my gut feel was just that and far away from what would happen. But gut feel does come true more often than not. Fatigue, cockiness, determined opposition teams and lack of technique all combined to show India the door. Like the last time this happened to an Indian team, I hope this time too, it starts another run of ruthless wins and success. I hope Dhoni doesn't chuck the job in a huff.

Everyone forgets, especially the media that MSD is still a novice at this job. he just had a brilliant run which has ended. That is not the end of the world though. The fans need to be a bit more patient and the team will bounce back under Dhoni. I am sure this will make Dhoni an even better captain than he is already.

Federer fans vs Rafa fans...

Finally, mighty Federer did what he could not do the last 4 years. Win the French open albeit without having to beat Rafa. That job was adequately done by Soderling who finally ran out of steam. As expected, the final was an anti-climax after a fairly upset filled tournament.

That's what happens when the players in a slam final are any other pair than Fed and Rafa. Rafa is still the only one who believes he can beat Federer and he does. No one else believes they can beat Federer which shows them up to be fairly ordinary competitors when it matters most.

But what I cannot understand is the preoccupation with belittling Rafa's achievements that Federer fans have. Even Rafa agrees that Federer is the best player there is but that doesn't stop him from beating Federer. So a little consideration from Federer fans while discussing or dismissing Rafa would be decent. A friend recently said, all Rafa does is to get the ball back over the net. How naive and shortsighted can you get? If returning or retrieving balls is all Rafa does, then surely the rest of the field would have found out a way to negate that advantage by now?

Some facts that Federer fans refuse to see or don't want to acknowledge

1. Rafa has won all of his Slams beating Federer in the finals or the Semi-finals.
2. Federer has won just 2 of his slams beating Rafa since his emergence as a contender.
3. The great man himself said "I knew the day Rafa won't be in the finals, I will be there and I will win." He almost admits to not being good enough to beat Rafa at Roland Garros.

That should be reason enough to show some respect.

Rafa lost at Roland Garros!!!

Well, it had to happen but no one expected it to happen this year. Almost everyone predicted a Rafa cakewalk in the finals. But then sports usually has a way of showing up pundits when you least expect it to. No wonder millions across the globe follow sports fanatically.

Everyone is making excuses for Rafa or gloating in his defeat but the man himself is as classy as can be. He didn't make excuses and I don't think he ever will. That's why Rafa and Federer are two of a kind. This slam, if he wins it will not be as highly valued by Federer I think. He will take it though, no question about it but in his mind he would want to win one more beating Rafa cause he knows that the best player n clay is Rafa at this time.

While his fans will despair, he will plot his Wimbledon defense fresh from some unintentional rest. Vamos Rafa!

United gets a dressing down!

Manchester United's dreams of a Quadruple trophy winning season went up in smoke last night in Rome. Most teams and fans would have been happy with a treble any season but not United and it's famously greedy fans. The double last season had whetted the appetite for more this season and the team did not disappoint winning 3 out of the 5 trophies they were contesting for. But the biggest one eluded them and how.
The Catalan giants played a mesmeric brand of football to unravel United in a spectacularly one-sided final. For United fans, the Barca display would have been painful yet enthralling to watch as it was for me. I have been a United fan for a long time but even I could not but marvel at the silken grace of the Barca midfield with the 2 dimunitive masters Iniesta and Xavi holding court with United being helpless spectators.
I had an inkling that this one was not going to go the way every pundit was predicting. The premiership win was too scratchy and opportune almost to give me any comfort. Liverpool were the better team in the premiership by a margin. United didn't look like they were going to swamp lesser teams unlike the 08 season. All of this came home to roost within the first 10 minutes of the final with E'to's goal. That just liberated Barca and tied United down. The rest as they say is 'history'. I however did not watch the whole thing. I could not bring myself watch as my team were outplayed by the better team on the night.
However, this should just gee up Sir Alex for one more tilt and Pep Guardiola better watch out!

The new center court at Wimbledon

While the rest of India was busy OD'ing on the IPL, I was busy watching history unfold at Wimbledon. As promised the roof was up at Wimbledon and the opening was a show befitting the most coveted slam of all. With a full house in attendance, the roof was closed and the show got on. And it rained. But it didn't interrupt the proceedings. Thats a resounding success for a new idea at the oldest slam steeped in tradition.
But the highlight of the evening for me was watching Agassi and Stefi play on a court they had lorded over during their playing career. More so in Steffi's case. For a couple of 39 year olds, they sure put on a show. While Agassi has always been a hero for me, Steffi has only recently been accepted into my set of favorites and it has a lot to do with her marriage to Agassi. The love and affection they have for each other even after many years of marriage and 2 kids is something to behold. Some might say it was a put on, but to me it looked totally natural and that's what made it so beautiful to watch. While Agassi pretty much dispatched Henman as was expected, Steffi put up a fight after having retired 10 long years ago. The forehand was still in evidence and the court craft was as immaculate as ever.
If she did want to have another go in the top flight, I think she can give the current lot a good run for their money as Klijsters found out to her discomfiture.

Class is permanent as they say. Yesterday on center court was another demonstration of that oft repeated truth.

Lok Sabha 09!

What a relief the election verdict has been for hordes of people this time. After dire predictions of a hung parliament and nightmare scenarios of seeing 'Behnji Mayawati' as PM were painted by pollsters and power brokers alike, it sure was a welcome sight to see the results. The 2 GOP's of India polity were clearly the largest parties with one of them going on to win a significant number of seats to safely continue in power for the full term.
Now the country will expect some decisive moves from the ruling coalition and some definite results in the next 5 years from them. If they squander this chance then they won't recover for a long long time. I just hope the youngsters in the government make their voices heard and lead India forward.

IPL or Irritating Premier League?

Frankly the sundry crowd of bollywood celebrities at each break in play is irritating to put it mildly. They don't deserve to be in the frame even. When will these jokers learn to let the players get on with it and withdraw into the background?

Celebs and sports have a long history of togetherness. Lots of big names own sporting franchises the world over but the sporting franchise in itself overshadows the celeb owners everywhere other than in the IPL. I sometimes wonder who the crowds are in the ground to see? Last year when in the ground for a few matches, the crowd decibel levels went up significantly each time a celeb was shown on the big screen making me wonder.

If the IPL has to take off in the real sense of the word, all the side shows have to be minimised and the game itself needs to shine through like it did in the inaugural year inspite of the hoopla and celebrity sheen. It's even more critical this year with the tournament shifting out of the country.

When will sense prevail? If it's left to Modi, never I reckon.

Weekend, pregnant with sporting possibility..

The IPL has been dominating the headlines all of this week, hell nearly the whole month. A part of me says, the right thing was done by moving it out. For one, all the international players will have no excuse to give this edition a miss. This will ensure a proper second round and at the end of it, the deserving team will win. The win won't be tarnished by absences or excuses.

While this has been going on, the wider world of sport continues to thrive. This weekend promises to be full up with sports. The familiar roar of F1 engines will drown living rooms at odd hours in houses with the new season kicking off in Melbourne. Can't wait to see the first race. Lots of questions will be answered.

Manchester United meanwhile have spectacularly brought the EPL back to life with two consecutive defeats. Wonder what Sir Alex had to tell his boys. I read somewhere about dryer sales going through the roof somewhere in Manchester. Beckham and the manager's hair dryer anyone? I hope they can resurrect their campaign and win the remainder of their matches. Can't bear to see them lose.

Meanwhile, Dhoni and his merry band are rewriting a few rules in Kiwiland. Who expected them to win a test so comfortably anyway? Well, this Indian team sure has its own rules and it feels good to see that. I just hope the second test blues don't ground them this time around. Bring on the weekend!

Ragging

They say ragging builds character. It helps build bonds between seniors and juniors. It helps break the ice, they say.
For Aman Kachroo, the only ice it broke was the one in which his body was put after some seniors had their way with him. I am amazed that this happened in a medical college, where one presumes people know what can happen when the human body is abused badly?
These seniors were there presumably to learn the noble science of saving lives. They have had quite a start I must say. How will they ever be able to save lives when they themselves can take lives so impudently?
When will the law make some examples of these idiots? These sub-humans should be branded killers and rusticated from the college first and then stopped from continuing their education anywhere else. They need to be made examples off to deter other misadventures from happening.

Cricket Post Lahore

The game I make a living from is now changed forever. Some senseless twits changed it forever a couple of days back in that country which changes by the second.

IPL part 2 is due and the teams and the world at large is holding it's collective breath. Some will be celebrating if it does happen and some will be celebrating it's demise.

The environment in which it will be held this year will be tense and suspense-filled. Many of the draws are threatening to skip it. How will the league withstand that? Will the cricket be still of a high quality or will it slip down the slippery slope of destruction?

Will the economy get the kick start it needs with the second edition of the IPL?

mumbo jumbo

India lost 2 T-20 matches on the trot in NZ but ended up making more runs than they made in a whole test match on the last tour.
The Bangalore Traffic police still insist on surprising motorists with new speed breakers without any warning at all.
England can at best draw the series now, which is a good indicator of how the Ashes will go this year. The Aussies might win again at a canter.
South Africa is staring down the barrel unless JP Duminy can rework his heroics of the Australia tour once again.
Saw a Qawali concert last night with Pakistani artists in Bangalore. It was peaceful, a whole lot of fun and the cops didn't shut it down and even more surprisingly the assorted bunch of BJP/VHP/SRS goons didn't make an appearance either.

Kiwi Land

Well, Dhoni and his band of conquerors are in NZ and Indian cricket fans are holding their collective breath.
We haven't really covered ourselves in glory out their on the edge of the world. I wonder what will happen tomorrow? I just wish that the team plays to potential. The world is watching, at least the cricketing one that is. Australia and SA are watching this series closely for sure.

Dhoni baiters will also be looking for the first real slip up in his short but spectacular tenure in the Indian team. Hope Gary and Dhoni have something up their sleeves....

Can't wait for tomorrow. Bring it on, I say.

V Day or D Day?

Feb 14th is round the corner and lovers around the country are on edge. Why that should be the case in a 21st century democracy, I have no idea.

Women are up in arms and intend to send the SRS 'pink chaddi's. I wonder what Mr. Muthalik thinks of all this? I shudder to think what the scene is likely to be in Bangalore on the 14th. These last few days, I have caught myself thinking about things that could happen to me if I did decide to take my wife out for a Valentine's day dinner this year.

Why should I be worried? But that's what these people have forced normal people to do. We have to figure out a way to tackle this menace. If the people who are supposed to, don't do anything, someone else will and the consequences will not be pretty.

The amazing Rafa!

Last Sunday was the second time I sat through an entire tennis match in succession. A final at that with one of my favourites playing in it. It's rare. I missed the epic 5th set at Wimbledon last year cause I couldn't bear to watch Rafa lose or so I thought. I had decided to brave it out this time, whatever the outcome. I didn't think Rafa had another match in him after that amazing Semi against Verdasco. 

As it turns out, Rafa surprised everyone including a lot of Federer supporters. Almost everyone of the pundits picked Federer for an easy win. Like Vijay Amritraj said, a lot of humble pie is being eaten around the tennis world at the moment. 

It's about time the experts gave Rafa his due. He has improved every year till he is almost unbeatable while Federer has almost been stagnant. Rafa is the only guy who is not intimidated by the Federer aura and it shows in the results if you ask me. 13-6 is a phenomenal scoreline against supposedly the best player of all time. 

I just hope Rafa slows down a bit and plays for a few more years. He will end up with all the records. However, if he doesn't have Federer to push him, will he be as motivated?

Saviours of hindu culture

Another sena to contend with and not even in Maharashtra. I wonder who or what makes people and organizations think that they are saviours of so called 'Hindu Culture'.
What is Hindu culture actually? I doubt if these jokers know the answer themselves.

Mangalore has gone from a quiet university town to being in the eye of national shame and horror. I thought we were citizens of a free and democratic country. What is this country coming to? Every day you read more and more such stories in the newspapers and wonder where all this is going?

It's going nowhere but to total anarchy if the authorities don't wake up soon. Will they? I have my doubts.

Rambling

'Test cricket is alive and well', is a statement every cricket pundit will now make with some conviction after the just concluded Sydney test and the previous two series as well. However, the caveat is that series have to be between well matched teams and not total mismatches like the recent travesty of a series in Bangladesh.
Watching Graeme Smith walk out to bat earlier today was one of the most hair raising/inspirational moments for me in the recent past. His team will gladly go to the ends of the earth for him. Wonder if Ponting knows that he will never ever be a leader like that to his team. Australia needs a captain like that and soon.

Talking about leaders brings 'Dubya' to mind. I was initially amazed at his dexterity in ducking the shoes thrown at him. However it suddenly occurred to me that maybe he was expecting it. The duck was almost too pat to be true. Eight years of being derided and attacked in equal measure made him adept at ducking anything. Nothing that he couldn't duck or brazen through. Or maybe it was just pure survival instinct. This was just a measly old shoe.