Loose Foundations

My eyes are fixed on these lines...I have been reading through again and again, pinching myself to check in case this is real...Yes it is indeed...The foundations are loose and the fans have been cheated..Though I don’t know how many times and in what ways????

“Agassi, one of the world’s greatest players, admits in his autobiography to testing positive for methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug crystal”....

And it does not end here: The champion, now 39, also says he has always secretly hated playing tennis and lived in fear of his bad tempered and violent father. In a posting on People’s website, Agassi says “he was worried for a moment, but not for long,” about how fans would react if they found out he used the drug. “I wore my heart on my sleeves and my emotions were always written on my face. I was actually excited about telling the world the whole story,” Agassi says.

Eight grand slams and an autobiography of revelations in full glory – I am sure there are more skeletons dropping from the closet with the release of complete autobiography on 9th November.

Welcome to the world of sport – one that boasts of die hard competition, passion and discipline. Is there any truth left in the claims? I wonder how a champion goes to grave after cheating zillions of fans and living a life so pretentious!!

And this is not the end...Read through the reactions coming up :

"It's going to make Andre Agassi even richer. This is going to help him sell his book, which is why he wrote it," Grabowski said.

Agassi reportedly received at least $5 million for the book; the first printing is a half-million copies, a relatively high number in publishing.

"His book will probably sell. It seems very interesting, to say the least," seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams said Wednesday after playing at the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar. "But what am I supposed to say about Andre's life? I can't really say anything."

(Photo: telegraph.co.uk)

Confession comes with disgrace

Marion Jones confessions have once again brought disgrace to sports lovers. While it is difficult to predict, what actually boiled down the lady to confess at this stage, it is clear that there are no sympathy votes for her.

There are several such cases unexplored, unidentified or not confessed and remain hidden. But what comes out has to be dealt severely! If we were to dig a little deeper and reflect on what causes such incidents, probably Marion is little to be blamed. The pressure of reaching heights, standing out and winning has been persistent in all the sports & all spheres of life. It is extremely difficult to resist the temptation of joining the mad race and accept failure. But for the centuries to come, we continue to be the human race, which values winners and defies failure with disgrace. The number one position is always single and we will continue using it as a means to lure people to reach there at any cost. Not to mention, we will have more people like Jones who succumb to the pressure and stray away on the wrong path under their hefty ambitions. And they may not confess every time.

May the best team win!

My day started with a breakfast over the news channel. I see the IBN reporters coax Dhoni about the Australia series. But the guy’s tough and see what he’s been saying.
A few (read many) pessimist friends of mine are tensed and feel Australia is all set to shatter the 20 champions. I prefer to ignore them. (India has won only one of last 11 one day matches against Australia)

Many of us play our important games everyday tensed with performance pressure. How important it is for us to win? If we were to win all the games then it should be unfair for the other side. And how does it feel when you know you are going to win all the games of your life. Loss of excitement….. I am going to enjoy the match and may the best team win!

Selling Rahul for Dhoni !

When Sonia Gandhi called up the Indian cricket team, I was wondering what could have been topics of discussion except a few congratulation notes. But I was wrong. It was more – it was, “Dhoni and Yuvraj, tell me the secret, I want one for my Rahul Baby”!

As Rahul, takes up the position of AICC General Secretary, the Congress has got its moves right. It may be a mere coincidence that the AICC reshuffle with young faces has come on the day when young Indian team lifted the T20 World Cup, but Congress is ready to take the credit. What is being sold is “Rahul will do Dhoni to Congress and win the next big match”. (read next elections, thanks to the undecided left parties on what they want to do with the present coalition)

So will he or will not? Let’s wait and watch. The Hindustan Times-CNN-IBN State of the Nation Poll results are seen as an opportunity and the Congress party is geared to grab it. Is the BJP/NDA listening (amidst the Ramsetu noise)?

Dhoni Boyz & the Chak de Moment

Twenty – twenty is here to stay! The glamour and sensation attached to the game, it truly has managed to revive cricket audience in India and abroad. Look at the welcome Dhoni boyz are getting on their way back home!
I have been tracking all the games of the series and with great interest the Indian innings. What started to be the batsman (read stroke players) game has nicely turned out to be the “bowlers” dream. Joginder Sharma, Pathan, RP Singh and Bhajji are the real eye candies. Don’t forget the “bowl out” that made India win against Pakis!

I see this as a birth of new generation young cricketers! Dhoni's body language at South Africa has been impressive and it seems he’s ready to take on. Back home, what is interesting also is the emergence of the India Cricket league. I hope it will provide ample opportunities for the young talent to break through the bureaucracy that has engrossed Indian cricket for so long. (We are happy Mr. Greg Chappel that you left us!)

And for Saurav, Sachin and Dravid its time to play the mentoring role for the young blood! Dravid could have not asked for a better time to move out as Indian skipper. What we can see is, he has left behind a team that has new energy levels and passion to be the World Champions. The world is looking forward to some sensible and neat cricket.

Vanished as smoke rings...

Last few years, I have been vacillating continuously between my passion and the harsh truth of cricket. The passion - as an Indian, I have been with my team in all moments of happiness/despair and have enjoyed the sport as a sport.

However it seems cricket no longer is a gentleman's sport. The strangling of Pak Coach Bob Woolmer has exposed the seamy underbelly of the criceking world. And it leaves most of its ardent followers dissapointed. The joy of enjoying the world cup moments has vanished like the smoke rings.

I need to blog !

Amidst my critical work deadlines, I chose to blog. Yes on a weekend!

Reason: Come back of the controversial left handed Indian ex captain! Saurav’s return may have elicited mixed reactions in the Indian camp, but for hundred’s of his humble fans, including me it is a great & of course a well deserved come back…

For the Calcutta prince, who is claimed to have got in to the team on the basis of quota system, this is the right opportunity to reach out to his critics. But what it may take is another Lords to satisfy his critics. When it comes to captaincy, the records speak for themselves. (http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerOverview_ODI.asp?PlayerID=2059).His detractors cannot deny that he has the best record of any Indian skipper

But it’s a pity that the cricket lovers forget the tumultuous times when Ganguly took over the reigns and he galvanized the team into a fighting combative unit. There are people who will say that while Ganguly remains a wonderful man management person, strategy has never been his strong point. They say life always gives you a another chance. This one is for Saurav!

On the "Maharaja" (King) of Indian Cricket

Last few months have been a very painful for all those lovers of "Dada" as Saurav is lovingly addressed in India. Controversies and allegations all about his captaincy and lost charm to be placed in the Indian team. As most of his fans, I don’t agree to the treatment this Prince (as Geoff addresses him) has been offered by the Indian cricket. Not because he shares his birthday with me (he’s also born on 8th July) but also because we have seen him as one of the most daring Indian captain. His contributions to Indian cricket and victory records are something that we have easily forgotten. With the doors of Indian dressing room all shut, Dada is facing biggest dilemma of his cricket career. But I am sure that Saurav has the energy to come back and surprise all his critics. After all, that is what takes to be successful in Indian cricket! (Is Greg Chappel listening?)