Sports: Professionalism or Patriotism

There has been a lot of brouhaha over Sachin post his booing by the crowds. Some believe the great master is not being given his due after having done so much for the country, having sacrificed so many things.

Lets look at Sachin's present state.

Its been 17 odd years since he made his debut. Now Sachin is among the top three brand ambassadors of the country earning in millions. He owns a chain of restaurants, a fleet of cars. He has everything that money can buy.

He is married to a beautiful diamond merchant's daughter. He has 2 adorable kids. He has an amazingly supportive family with a very strong root. He has all the other things that money cannot buy.

Forget the odd Mumbai crowd, Sachin is still one of the most respected persons in India due to the sheer grace of his personality and the joy that he brings when he is in his true elements.

Sachin has earned all this out his sheer cricketing skills and brilliant temperament. A skill like any other professional like a doctor, a banker, a musician or even a carpenter. Compare him with a doctor like Devi Shetty, a banker like K. V. Kamat or even a musician like A.R. Rahman. Each of them has succeeded in life on their merits.

The problem is with the invisible coterie. People who choose to be the ambassadors of the man. All great men have people sticking around them. Sachin is a brand and an industry. The sticky men make the most of a situation. When the great man is down with doubts these men rally around the master fueling those doubts. That is the time to prove their loyalty. They keep the flame burning and keep proving their loyaltly.

The coterie of late has been harping on Sachin's past sacrifices. This is most irritating. Is Sachin some freedom fighter? Someone like Bhagat Singh or Khudiram who chose to give their lives for the country with no visible material benefits?

Was Sachin playing for free? Isn't cricket just another successful profession to be pursued? Why do we not talk of sacrifices when we talk of Devi Shetty, K.V. Kamat or A.R. Rahman? They lead an equally public life, have made equally good money. Each profession has its own pains and tribulations. Just as it has money, fame and satisfaction. It all comes in a package.

So lets cut the crap. Lets judge Sachin as a professional i.e. as a cricketer. Lets give credit where it is due. But not at the cost of brickbats where it is deserved. Many will judge Sachin on the records that he makes. But isnt it fair if a cricketer, who plays a teamsport, judged on how many times he has come up trumps when the stakes were down for the team?

Women in Parts

A post inspired by Opu and an anonymous lady
(I hope it is one.. it is the age of internet you see)

Opu says "I divide them (women) into 2 equal parts - women and wives. I really like women, i despise wives". But there are more parts to them...

Girlfriends - God save those marriages where the girlfriends gets reborn as wives.

Boss - From the day I saw Disclosure it has been my endeavour to acquire a lady boss. Unfortunately I never tasted any success.

Office Colleagues - The least said the better. But you have to spend a better part of the day with them.

Mothers - We all have one and most of the time we forget they are women. But it is better that way.

Daughters - I have one. I wanted one. But I prayed for a daughter like Air Deccan. The no-frills kind. Presently her training is on.


And the list can go on....

Am I a MCP? Who cares.. So long as the world seems to invested with the born again FCGs..

AddSense

Opu commented on my post on Corruption. I received a mail alert on Gmail. Beside the mail these were the sponsored links from Google's AdSense. Anyone?

Corruption Of Mind

Brand India is "everywhere". Brand Bangalore, brand Delhi, brand Mumbai and would you believe it brand Kolkata.

Sensex is zooming. Team India ratings are improving. The national highways are sowing up the entire country. Air travel is no more an affordance issue. Mobile communication has pushed GDP by a point and a half. Bollywood is getting more mindspace. Indian fashion is recognised in the precints of Milan.

And all this amidst a bustling democracy. Thus Uncle Sam's latest rendition Mr. Bush is sitting up and taking note. So India is finally waking up. A perfect time for the feel good docus. Glowing tribal faces holding cellphones. A happy family in the backdrop.

But what about the silent killer. Corruption. Corruption to beat the competition. Corruption to move up. Corruption to undo the undone. A silent and malignant disease. The Corruption of the mind.

Corruption in politics. The root from where it all emanates.

The main opposition BJP cannot accept that it has lost out on the money making opportunity. It is two years since they lost. We know it is natural to sulk. But to sulk this long. But BJP was always a party with a difference. Look at their latest - they have decided to move for Sonia's disqualification. If BJP was a man he would have married Sonia by now.

Corruption in art. Sometimes spawned by politics again.

Look at the Bachchans. Abhilshek thanked Amar in his acceptance speech. And Amar Singh loves flaunting their invisible collar belt. All in the name of friendship. We have Salman rebuking the system every other day. We have Anu Malik singing paens to Dawood. Paheli was sent to the Oscars. A ceremony where they supposedly celebrate cinema. But Bollywood is not about cinema but about stars. They reach the top, become insecure and then try to hold on. They manipulate to rig the box office and even the awards. Our King Khan tops that list.

Corruption in Sport. Again the politicians hold sway.

Ganguly is out of the equation for good. The hand that kept him going is the same hand that moved him out. Kiran More, Greg Chappell, sportsman at one point of time are now more interested to play games. Anybody read Nisha Millet's (who is she?) interview in TOI? Anybody followed Shiva Kesavan's rebuff at the winter Olympic parade. If you really love sport it will make your heart sob.

Corruption in Society.

Jessica Lal was murdered in full view. Everybody's turning their gun on folks like Sayan Munshi. What would you have done. Our balls would have melted. Atleast he held our for long. But its not fashionable to talk about the real suppressors. After all being politicians and policemen you would expect them to corrupt. So one has work around and work inspite of that.

And the list can go on. Corruption in religion (Our dear Shankaracharya). Corruption in journalism (Read TOI and you know). Corruption even in social service (Amala case). Corruption in education (come down south and follow the private college saga).

Corruption almost everywhere. In business, in work, in jumping queue, in trying to beat someone to an auto, in getting good seats in the train. Its everywhere and it stinks. But like most stinks you tend to get used to it. But folks no stink is good for the souls.

What Idiots We Are

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Macbeth, 5. 5

A post inspired by a recent happening around me

BB vs DD

30 years is a long time. 35 is longer. Since 1977 the communists have painted Bengal red. The color outside and the color inside have now almost merged. What next?

For people outside Bengal, its an unsolved puzzle. No amount of scientific rigging would have ensured a 30 year tenure. Certainly not with Bengalees. While the communists have kept pushing Bengal into the dungeon, people have kept voting for them. No one has chosen to stand up to convince otherwise. And no one seems to be in sight even now.

Once again it looks a clean slate.

For people inside Bengal it is no less a puzzle. The communists seems to be changing their color within. They are making the right noises. The odds steps are being taken. But can anyone want to vote for a party which has pushed the state into a deep hole. So what does the voter do?

It is Catch 22. Vote for a party that is trying to move on. A party that has found a loving mascot. Or? Infact there in lies the problem. Where is the OR? Whom do you vote for? Didi as mascot would sends shivers down everybody's soul. Rabble rousing cannot be the sole criteria of a politician. Didi & her Trinamool at the helm is more akin to having Vinay Katiyar and Bajrang Dal in charge of the country.

Conversely inspite of being very very red BB is the archetypal "Bhadrolok". Every proud Bengalee would love identifying with him. BB keeps it simple. Honest & sincere, BB is asking for votes with the future in mind. Interestingly BB impresses even the urbanites.

So for the average Bengalees who have seen the cream of the zone leave for the greener pastures it is again a time of reckoning. Its BB vs DD.

As for me who is witnessing all this from outside - my heart bleeds for Bengal.