September 24, 2007 will forever remain a red letter day for Indian cricket, just like June 25, 1983 was. Back then, we had won the World Cup against all odds led by a young and enthusiastic captain leading a true team effort. There was a two to three year golden period when India won every single tournament culminating in the Benson and Hedges World championship in 1985 when we beat Pakistan in the finals.
Indian cricket fans like me waited for 22 years for something like this to happen again and this Monday was it. The Twenty20 Finals of the World championship, again playing against Pakistan led by a youthful captain and missing experienced players, India beat all the odds- and boy, this triumph is so sweet...having suffered bitter disappointment in the early part of the season, this is one for the ages particularly because no one gave us a chance. Also, all too often in the past, the overt optimism and jingoism of the average Indian fan, including myself, have got the team under tremendous pressure. This time was different and no one can grdge the Indians this victory. Well and truly deserved, beating Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan in quick succession in reasonably tight games is something we havent done in years. Does the fact that the average age of this squad is 24 have something to do with their self belief and ability to win in tight situations.
Again, before we get too carried away, it will take some doing to dislodge Australia from being the most consistent team in the world. A cracker of a series is coming up between India and Australia but for the moment, lets just soak this moment- India as the world champs of Twenty20 cricket!
Congratulations and hope the next victory is not 22 years away!!!!!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Celebrities, paparazzi and "leave Britney alone" video...
By now, if you have not seen Chris Crocker's "Leave Britney alone" video, you are clearly not current with popular culture of our times. A video blog on youtube with more than 8 million hits by now, it is an impassioned plea to leave the 24 year old star alone, not scrutinize her life any further given what she has been through recently including the latest bizarre custody battle for her own kids.
While the plea is overtly dramatic, let me point out that I completely agree with the sentiment. Every action of Britney has been scutinized by the despicable paparazzi over the last seven years- her marriage to K-Fed, kids, shaving of the head, going ito rehab, her separation from K-Fed(that everyone predicted and then said..I told you so!), her fight with her mom- everything and it is amazing that she is still in her mid twenties. Give the woman a break and as Chris says- Leave her alone! She is clearly going throuh troubled times. What a person needs, any person, not just a celebrity is some time alone to sort things through, to get some clarity and perspective. How can that happen when there are twenty people chasing you down with cameras the moment you leave your house. I detest the paparazzi, have hated the since they followed Diana everywhere. We know how that story ended...it is time for some responsible journalism, and for some respect for private space. We all need it and to say celebrities have forfeited that right for personal space is a nonsensical argument.
Let us be respectful of peoples' time, space and privacy, more so when they are under severe personal crisis. To take advantage of that is unprofessional, crude, disrespectful and downright wrong.
Leave her alone- and while I am not crying making that plea- I completely agree with the sentiment.
While the plea is overtly dramatic, let me point out that I completely agree with the sentiment. Every action of Britney has been scutinized by the despicable paparazzi over the last seven years- her marriage to K-Fed, kids, shaving of the head, going ito rehab, her separation from K-Fed(that everyone predicted and then said..I told you so!), her fight with her mom- everything and it is amazing that she is still in her mid twenties. Give the woman a break and as Chris says- Leave her alone! She is clearly going throuh troubled times. What a person needs, any person, not just a celebrity is some time alone to sort things through, to get some clarity and perspective. How can that happen when there are twenty people chasing you down with cameras the moment you leave your house. I detest the paparazzi, have hated the since they followed Diana everywhere. We know how that story ended...it is time for some responsible journalism, and for some respect for private space. We all need it and to say celebrities have forfeited that right for personal space is a nonsensical argument.
Let us be respectful of peoples' time, space and privacy, more so when they are under severe personal crisis. To take advantage of that is unprofessional, crude, disrespectful and downright wrong.
Leave her alone- and while I am not crying making that plea- I completely agree with the sentiment.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The coolest gadget in the world
It took 78 days, countless visits to the store to gaze at it, play with it, work with it, and when the CEO of the company reduced the price by 200 dollars, it was just too good to pass- we finally succumbed and bought the Iphone!! We've had it for 48 hours now, and to say that we are thrilled with the purchase would be understatement!
When Steve Jobs announced in late January that Apple was coming up with a revolutionary phone that would have a built in ipod and internet capability, every tech geek in the world took notice, and while I dont count myself as a tech geek, it did pique my interest. My wife and I love our ipods- at different points, we have owned three of them between us, we have the speakers, we listen to them in our car, on the plane, everywhere we go. And to have a phone on top of that. Just the icing on the cake.
But nothing prepared us for the cool three and a half inch gorgeous interface that makes the photographs come alive, that makes us see the covers of all the albums we have in there with just the flick of our finger. It is by far, the coolest gadget we have seen. The memory is 8GB (which is small compared to normal ipods) but we could easily fit all the songs, pictures and contacts we wanted. Whats more, when my favorite contacts call now, I see their cool picture come up on the fantastic screen. Makes me want to speak with them more!
It is a cool invention, the coolest till Apple decides to cannibilize it! And by the way, did I not mention that Apple stock was trading under 80 at the beginning of the year without the Iphone and is now touching almost 140. Could the sale of the millionth Iphone in less than three months have something to do with this.
But dont take my word for it. Go to the store and play with it. We took 78 days to make our decision. You may be quicker!!
When Steve Jobs announced in late January that Apple was coming up with a revolutionary phone that would have a built in ipod and internet capability, every tech geek in the world took notice, and while I dont count myself as a tech geek, it did pique my interest. My wife and I love our ipods- at different points, we have owned three of them between us, we have the speakers, we listen to them in our car, on the plane, everywhere we go. And to have a phone on top of that. Just the icing on the cake.
But nothing prepared us for the cool three and a half inch gorgeous interface that makes the photographs come alive, that makes us see the covers of all the albums we have in there with just the flick of our finger. It is by far, the coolest gadget we have seen. The memory is 8GB (which is small compared to normal ipods) but we could easily fit all the songs, pictures and contacts we wanted. Whats more, when my favorite contacts call now, I see their cool picture come up on the fantastic screen. Makes me want to speak with them more!
It is a cool invention, the coolest till Apple decides to cannibilize it! And by the way, did I not mention that Apple stock was trading under 80 at the beginning of the year without the Iphone and is now touching almost 140. Could the sale of the millionth Iphone in less than three months have something to do with this.
But dont take my word for it. Go to the store and play with it. We took 78 days to make our decision. You may be quicker!!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The burden of Indian captaincy
Rahul Dravid resigned as the captain of the Indian cricket team yesterday.
It came as a shock to everyone- despite losing early in the World Cup, Dravid had a very successful run in England and the Indian dressing room seemed a happy place under his stewardship.
While I am as surprised as anyone about his decision, here are three reasons why I think it is a good one.
One- you must always make the move when people ask you- why did he do that, instead of asking for your head. Always make the move when you are ahead than behind. It is a god philosophy anywhere- you maintain your dignity and stature. You earn more respect because you are not craving for the job. It came to you, you did well and now, you think it is time to let go. Very few Indian captains, Ganguly being the most recent example, have had the ability to let go and that will always taint his legacy in the long run.
Two- Dravid has long been one of the most dependable and consistent batsmen in world cricket. Captaincy seemed to affect his style. He was fidgety at the crease, he was edgy, his average was dipping and he must have felt the burden, the burden of constant scrutiny, of every action being dissected by armchair observers (me included), and he must have felt that his contribution with the bat is more critical than leading the side. I personally feel we will see the return of Dravid the batsman once he has shed the role of captaincy.
Third- for all the pressures that come with being captain of India, he has not really had the support of BCCI in terms of a regular coach, his thoughts on the composition of the team and he must have felt that it is better to step away than keep leading a side where the strings are being pulled from somewhere else. Dravid is too dignified a guy to wash the dirty laundry in public. He decided to make the point by just stepping down.
A commendable decision in my view but this leaves the Indian captaincy now wide open.
Heres my recommendation for whatever it is worth.
Given that the one day side and the test sides are looking more and more different (not to talk of Twenty20) and need a different mindset for the two forms of the game, I would venture to say we need two captains. Lets have Sachin for tests and Dhoni for one dayers. Sachin is at the fag end of his career and captaincy could be a crowning glory for the what could potentially be his swansong season. Dhoni is currently captaining the Twenty20 side, is young, has proved himself in one dayers and would be a good fit in the one day format.
We shall know pretty soon but I think given these times, we need to be creative rather than having one captain for both versions of the game.
It came as a shock to everyone- despite losing early in the World Cup, Dravid had a very successful run in England and the Indian dressing room seemed a happy place under his stewardship.
While I am as surprised as anyone about his decision, here are three reasons why I think it is a good one.
One- you must always make the move when people ask you- why did he do that, instead of asking for your head. Always make the move when you are ahead than behind. It is a god philosophy anywhere- you maintain your dignity and stature. You earn more respect because you are not craving for the job. It came to you, you did well and now, you think it is time to let go. Very few Indian captains, Ganguly being the most recent example, have had the ability to let go and that will always taint his legacy in the long run.
Two- Dravid has long been one of the most dependable and consistent batsmen in world cricket. Captaincy seemed to affect his style. He was fidgety at the crease, he was edgy, his average was dipping and he must have felt the burden, the burden of constant scrutiny, of every action being dissected by armchair observers (me included), and he must have felt that his contribution with the bat is more critical than leading the side. I personally feel we will see the return of Dravid the batsman once he has shed the role of captaincy.
Third- for all the pressures that come with being captain of India, he has not really had the support of BCCI in terms of a regular coach, his thoughts on the composition of the team and he must have felt that it is better to step away than keep leading a side where the strings are being pulled from somewhere else. Dravid is too dignified a guy to wash the dirty laundry in public. He decided to make the point by just stepping down.
A commendable decision in my view but this leaves the Indian captaincy now wide open.
Heres my recommendation for whatever it is worth.
Given that the one day side and the test sides are looking more and more different (not to talk of Twenty20) and need a different mindset for the two forms of the game, I would venture to say we need two captains. Lets have Sachin for tests and Dhoni for one dayers. Sachin is at the fag end of his career and captaincy could be a crowning glory for the what could potentially be his swansong season. Dhoni is currently captaining the Twenty20 side, is young, has proved himself in one dayers and would be a good fit in the one day format.
We shall know pretty soon but I think given these times, we need to be creative rather than having one captain for both versions of the game.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
3-3 in England and all to play for!
India levelled the one day series today against England with a thrilling win in the last over that was remarkable for several reasons.
First- India typically loses the tight games. Indians have lacked mental toughness and in tight situations, they have tended to crack in the past. Not today. Even when the going was very tough, they maintained their composure and focus.
Second- this win had the right blend of youth and experience. While Uthappa led the home stretch, (and he is only 21), it was Tendulkar and Ganguly who set the chase up very well with a neat 150 in quick time. In this series, a few youngsters are coming of age and I would name 4 to watch out for- Chawla (who is 18!!), Kaarthick, RP Singh and now Uthappa.
Third- This win also indicated that our much maligned fielding is not as bad as made out to be. There was passion and intensity on the field. Of all people, I saw Powar make two diving stops. That calls for a celebration!
And so, with the series level, we move to Lords for the decider.
While the momentum is with India having won the last two games, Indians are notoriously unpredictable!!
I sure hope we win, but as a long time India follower, I just hope the "right" team turns up on Saturday!
First- India typically loses the tight games. Indians have lacked mental toughness and in tight situations, they have tended to crack in the past. Not today. Even when the going was very tough, they maintained their composure and focus.
Second- this win had the right blend of youth and experience. While Uthappa led the home stretch, (and he is only 21), it was Tendulkar and Ganguly who set the chase up very well with a neat 150 in quick time. In this series, a few youngsters are coming of age and I would name 4 to watch out for- Chawla (who is 18!!), Kaarthick, RP Singh and now Uthappa.
Third- This win also indicated that our much maligned fielding is not as bad as made out to be. There was passion and intensity on the field. Of all people, I saw Powar make two diving stops. That calls for a celebration!
And so, with the series level, we move to Lords for the decider.
While the momentum is with India having won the last two games, Indians are notoriously unpredictable!!
I sure hope we win, but as a long time India follower, I just hope the "right" team turns up on Saturday!
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Why we are so fascinated with lists...
I have often wondered why we are so fascinated with lists- the top 10 cities, the top 5 players, the top 5 actors- the latest- Shane Warne's top 50 cricketers has created as much excitement and debate in cricketing circles as any I have seen.
Using Shane's list as an example, I think there are three reasons why our fascination with "lists" will always continue.
First- lists provide an linear, "objective" lens on things that are almost always subjective. They give us an anchor to debate around, they show us a line drawn in the sand when there was none, they make us take a stand and while that is always fun, it can be tough to defend. Warne put Tendulkar at No. 1 on his list with Lara is No. 2 based on mental toughness and the fact that Sachin carries on his shoulders (and has done so since the age of 16) the burden of expectations of a billion Indians! While his technique is impeccable, it is his ability to adapt and score against every opposition against any type of opposition is what separates him from others. Some might argue that Sachin has not scored in crunch games in recent past, a fair comment in the last three years for sure, but that is what makes lists so interesting.
Second- lists are inherently controversial. In fact, while making a list, I think the list maker necessarily throws in a couple of curved balls! In Warne's case, having Steve Waugh, Australia's toughest captain and someone who built Australia into one of the most invincible cricketing nations in the world at No. 26 is a shocker! I think he intended this to generate debate and clearly he has succeeded. If mental toughness is the criterion used to have Sachin at 1, having Waugh anything below 10 is an injustice to the man. In my view, the fact that Waugh captained Australia for as long as he did and in a way "prevented" Warne from having the captaincy has got in a little bit here. Personal bias, always, a good thing for controversy and list- making.
Third- lists pander to our sense of achievement. Everything, whether objective or subjective, has to be highest, best, second highest, second best etc. It creates a sense of competition, which is what brings out the best in human spirit.
I suppose even as Warne has rekindled the debate about whether it is Sachin or Lara who is a greatest cricketer of the modern era, it has also justified why we are so fascinated with lists- its all about a strong point of view which, if controversial, makes for better press than any "objective" fact, where there is nothing to argue or talk about. We know that Everest is the highest mountain in the world but ask any mountaineer which one is the toughest to climb and you have a debate going... long live the lists!!
Using Shane's list as an example, I think there are three reasons why our fascination with "lists" will always continue.
First- lists provide an linear, "objective" lens on things that are almost always subjective. They give us an anchor to debate around, they show us a line drawn in the sand when there was none, they make us take a stand and while that is always fun, it can be tough to defend. Warne put Tendulkar at No. 1 on his list with Lara is No. 2 based on mental toughness and the fact that Sachin carries on his shoulders (and has done so since the age of 16) the burden of expectations of a billion Indians! While his technique is impeccable, it is his ability to adapt and score against every opposition against any type of opposition is what separates him from others. Some might argue that Sachin has not scored in crunch games in recent past, a fair comment in the last three years for sure, but that is what makes lists so interesting.
Second- lists are inherently controversial. In fact, while making a list, I think the list maker necessarily throws in a couple of curved balls! In Warne's case, having Steve Waugh, Australia's toughest captain and someone who built Australia into one of the most invincible cricketing nations in the world at No. 26 is a shocker! I think he intended this to generate debate and clearly he has succeeded. If mental toughness is the criterion used to have Sachin at 1, having Waugh anything below 10 is an injustice to the man. In my view, the fact that Waugh captained Australia for as long as he did and in a way "prevented" Warne from having the captaincy has got in a little bit here. Personal bias, always, a good thing for controversy and list- making.
Third- lists pander to our sense of achievement. Everything, whether objective or subjective, has to be highest, best, second highest, second best etc. It creates a sense of competition, which is what brings out the best in human spirit.
I suppose even as Warne has rekindled the debate about whether it is Sachin or Lara who is a greatest cricketer of the modern era, it has also justified why we are so fascinated with lists- its all about a strong point of view which, if controversial, makes for better press than any "objective" fact, where there is nothing to argue or talk about. We know that Everest is the highest mountain in the world but ask any mountaineer which one is the toughest to climb and you have a debate going... long live the lists!!
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