Bloated Cricket Team Vs Famished Hockey Team

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.” - Jim Stovall


The first interesting news I read today was that the Indian Hockey team is all set to go for a hunger strike irked by the double standards of Indian Central and State Government. Indian hockey team won the Asian Continental Championship early this month (that too without losing a single match).

Totally ignoring it there was announcements of US $2 million cash award for the Cricket team, apart from this there are a lot of individual prizes for team members notable of which are houses to all team member sponsored by Sahara, 1 Crore Rupees cash award for Yuvaraj Singh for hitting six sixes in an over conveniently forgetting that On 5 September 2007, ODI India Vs England, Dimitri Mascarenhas hit five consecutive sixes off the final five balls of England's innings in Yuvaraj's over (well, of course ODI is not equal to so called Twenty Twenty World cup) . Heard that he is also getting a Porsche!!!!

In the newspaper I read this news there was also a comment column " Do u think Hockey Team is justified to protest". Well I think every person is entitled to protest against unequal treatment. When it is totally unjust there is no wrong at going on a hunger strike, (after all they are following the Gandhism). I saw another comment from a hardcore cricket fan (so I guess) that it is not good for the Indian Hockey team to be jealous of Cricket team for their riches. Well, that was not a fair comment. Nowadays the cricket team is getting unjust enrichment. Hockey is our national game and it has its place (But I confess that I cant recite the order of hockey team player as I can do of cricket team players). The winning statistics of hockey is much better than that of our cricket team. The media attention and the hype the cricket community is receiving is far above from that of received by hockey or any other sporting event. It is the media attention that brought cricket into the spotlight. Every sport should be equally encouraged. Only then there will be an instigation to achieve more. Too much of overshadowing and giving over importance does no good. Thus I extend my full support to the hockey team.

Religion in Cricket: A 20/20 Review.

Kudos to the Indian team.
I love cricket. I still howl, scream and clap (and occasionally
whistle) when I see good cricket (one of the signs that marriage has not
definitely changed me :)) The final match between India and Pakistan, the
proclaimed arch rivals, in 20/20 world cup was a dream final to most of the
cricket fans and the finishing was a nail biting one.
Undoubtedly Pakistan also played a very good cricket. My cricket
craziness knows no boundary. Whilst watching the final I was admiring Misbah ul
Haq. The cool and composed way he played till the end of the match. It was
optimistic cricket.
But when Shoab Mallik , Pakistan Cricket Captain addressed the crowd,
he thanked for supporting and further, apologized to the Pakistani people
and to the Muslims around the world for not winning. That attitude
disturbed me. Why did he apologize to the Muslims alone? I am not a Muslim and I
love Pak cricket team. I like Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan... They play
good cricket. But why thanks and apologies to the Muslims alone? Aren't
other people entitled to support them?
The cricket players in a way represent their country. They are looked upon, admired and followed by many people, particularly the younger generation. So when they state something I think they should do it responsibly. They should set an
example of tolerance, rather than compartmentalizing the fans. And
Shoab Mallik is the cricket captain and I think the comment was highly
disappointing, inept, unwanted, unwelcome, unbecoming one.

Love Is In The Air

A PLACE CALLED NIAGRA…

Last weekend we were highly romantic. We were at Niagara... such a beautiful, refreshing place.
We decided to go to Niagara just on a whim. We were severely warned by our dear friends that there is not much to see there except water falls.
And keeping this warning back in our mind we started off early Saturday morning. The 7-hour drive was blessed with rains and sunshine alternatively. The lush meadows, green mountains winding roads added more charm to our journey. The trees without leaves gave the signal of the autumn coming. It was a drive without any break. There was no tiredness and no yawning. Totally mesmerized we drove on, with me continuously clicking the camera.

We reached Niagara by 1' noon. Had a quick lunch and found an abode. Kept our luggage and we were all set to explore Niagara. The lovely maid (of the mist) was stunning and the horseshoe falls breathtaking. Later as the sunset we moved on to see the cove of the winds. That was the ultimate. We spend more than an hour getting drenched. It was so cold and raining yet we couldn’t tear ourselves from the place. We stood there with no concern of time.

The next day plan was to visit Thousand Isles and Finger Lakes. We woke up early by 6' we went for a morning walk with a cup of coffee in hand. The sunrise was beautiful, the breeze cool, promising a beautiful day ahead. We packed back and before returning we thought of seeing the waterfalls once again.


There was a big rainbow waiting amidst slight drizzle and again we lost the track of time. Niagara in day looks so different from what it was night. We just loitered around the place with no intention of visiting Thousand Isles and Finger lakes. We walked around till noon enjoying the three Sisters Island and small bridges. We drove back home wondering about the places we missed in Niagara and promising to visit again. Sometimes I just hate Mondays. It was one such weekend.