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.