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RSS FeedOctober 3rd, 2010
Commonwealth Games 2010 – New Delhi
Ok, finally the Commonwealth Games 2010 are on the way in New Delhi. This is the first time India is hosting an event of this magnitude since the Asian Games of 1982. The media frenzy that preceded the event notwithstanding, the opening ceremony seems to have gone very well and the first videos on Youtube have started appearing.
I feel bad to have missed the opening ceremony, but as far as I was able to read, the conch shells from India, the Tibetan ‘Dung Chen’s and various other musical instruments have left a great impression on the people who witnessed it.
So, what do we make of all the media hoopla leading up to the event? There is a strange case of media bias. Many of the atomic complaints that the media highlights were all true – things lagged, schedules slipped, etc, and the problem isn’t really in reporting that – that is what the media is here for. The bias starts becoming apparent however, when the next day, the same exact information is repeated as “news” with the only addition being perhaps of a quote from one other person. So, the feeling is that the news agencies have to keep a focus on the chaos that existed before. Having found nothing today, they need to keep stretching the ghosts of yesterday. And if some day turned out to be good, the media simply doesn’t have to report it, turning its attention to other important matters of the universe. This is all subjective however, and if it weren’t for a very repetitive pattern, it would really be fine.
CNN takes a different take. It begins with the very neutral headline: Commonwealth Games begin in India “amid security”. One might ask, as opposed to what? Did CNN expect a free movement of people across the parliament, the presidents house and the capital with no security in place. Did the Olympics begin in Beijing (or even in pre-911 Atlanta) without security? Which part of the title is the news?
And then, don’t even get me started on the BBC. I stopped being its reader back when BBC stopped being anti-India covertly (and became overtly anti-Indian). Incidentally – on that note – BBC still hasn’t found any further details on the “gunmen” of 26-11, although it continues to end every piece on India with the standard 3-sentence paragraph about the 3 wars with India’s western neighbor. That’s really great for about two kinds of readers – those who have in coma for about 64 years, and those who want to have 3 sentences for every country so they can get on the big boss or some other reality show. It meets BBC’s agenda of always hyphenating India so that it doesn’t challenge UK’s rightful place (as what, I don’t really know). [I routinely get some emails from UK readers - something like "Please stop equating BBC with UK!" - and I always tell them the same thing - "I cannot distinguish, because BBC is FUNDED by the UK - it isn't just a UK company."]
Anyway, back to the games, the medals tally can be found here: CWG 2010 Medalls Tally.
July 7th, 2010
Spain virtually owned Germany during those 93 minutes
Like most of my other predictions, this one turned out to be wrong as well. But this wasn’t a case where I was JUST wrong, I was COMPLETELY OFF the mark, in fact, I wasn’t even in the ballpark! Spain entirely owned Germany during those 93 minutes, and score could just as easily have been 3:0, rather than my prediction of Germany 1: Spain 0.
Most amazing was the manner in which Germany were beaten into submission, and towards the end, they were not even trying, very happy to be just one goal down. Spain’s one-touch passing simply too precise and tantalizingly close, but always so far from German feet. Spanish offense kept up the pressure ruthlessly and with sadistic patience, their midfield created spaces where they didn’t exist and there defense cleared too strongly for Germany to have crazy ideas. There wasn’t a whole lot left to do except to ponder if Suarez will be back to play against them in the third place playoff.
July 6th, 2010
Is Suarez a Uruguyan hero?
As I watched soccer with my office mates last Friday, my friend and coworker Joseph (who knows more about sports than I will ever know about anything at all) opined that Suarez is instantly a Uruguyan hero. Later while hearing the TV commentators discussing the “appropriateness” of his actions or whether it was in the spirit of the game, I find myself shaking my head and thinking that it is entirely within the spirit of the game. The guy knew what was the penalty for it (the red card and penalty kick) and in those 50 milliseconds was able to analyze and conclude that it was better to pay the penalty than to lose the game outright, and went for it. The penalty is established within the spirit of the game, and therefore his actions which warrant that penalty must be within the spirit as well.
Oh, and while we are on the topic, I do not think Manuel Neuer’s actions were in the spirit of the game – the goal had already happened, only the conning was left to do.
May 17th, 2010
Azlan Shah Hockey Cup 2010
For the first time in the 17 year history of annual Sultan Azlan Shah hockey cup, joint champions have been declared: India, S.Korea share Sultan Azlan Shah hockey Cup.
Quite unbelievable that India continues to do this well in hockey, despite the absence of any sophisticated hockey league. By no means is India in the top 4 or 5 ranked nations in Hockey, but it seems to be consistently in top 10. I am not really sure how to explain this.
On a personal note, I love *watching* hockey, even though I never played it. I love the fast paced nature of this sport, and love to see field goals. Penalty corner goals are OK too, but not as exciting to see as field goals. In the US “hockey” by default means ice hockey, and field hockey is virtually non-existent.
October 13th, 2009
Of Olympics, Rio, Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo (Lessons in Hindsight)
There is a whole lot that has been said about the happenings of the last two weeks. And there is a whole lot left more to be said, in time. But first, let us get a bit graphic:
When 
simply comparing the logos, does the Rio logo not give a more pleasant feeling, with well rounded contours and pleasant colors? The heart/butterfly logo is awesome in conveying warmth and hope. The pointed star in Chicago’s logo does not convey the same sense to me.
Am I suggesting that Rio won because of its logo? Absolutely n
ot. Perhaps Rio won because it was able to put such a unified, well supported bid. Brazilian president Lula De Silva (I know, I know, he is no Nobel Peace prize winner) camped there for multiple days. There was never a question of him not going. He didn’t jet set the last day amid confusion over scheduling and security.
The Olympics venue is chosen by 115 people. Not by millions of people who may show their support in other ways. These 115 people (and these 115 people only) decide the venue. Of course, their friends and family members pressure them. But other than that, there is limited access to them. So, if you were (or I was) one of these people, with specific training on finding where would the Olympics be held most successfully, one couldn’t be oblivious to the infighting in the Chicago, or to the confusion over who would finance them. I believe, even if you are taught to be otherwise, you couldn’t be oblivious to the fact that Olympics were held in another city in the same country within last 20 years (24 years for Madrid).
Hindsight is always 20-20, and I don’t claim I knew this would happen (“Told you so!”), but I bet many people did.
July 21st, 2009
Breathe easy Andrew?
Strauss must be feeling *much* better after the awesome English victory in the second Ashes test. 74 years is a long time waiting, especially at Lords.
He would probably be the first one to accept that the declaration was but a bit premature. A declaration with a target of 580 or 600 just around lunch on 4th day would have been much better, as it would have put victory beyond the reach for Australia, putting them in a defensive mindset. Victory then might have come quicker, and the margin may have been nicer.
That of course needs to be weighed against the fact that there would have been lesser time to bowl Oz out, but 5 sessions really ought to be enough, really, if anything is.
July 20th, 2009
Strauss made a blunder?
As the 4th day of the second Ashes test between England and Australia wraps up, Strauss must be wondering whether he made a mistake with his overnight declaration. Well, let me answer it for you Andrew: Yes! One of the cardinal rules of declaring is that the batting side must squarely see victory as an impossibility. Well, that is certainly not the case right now with 209 runs only left and an entire 5th day of cricket still left to play. Surely, Australia can lose from here, but also 209 with 5 wickets and 1 day left is not a mathematical impossibility.
September 8th, 2007
Why I think Telegraph India is a dumb newspaper
Here I was, trying to find the India Japan game in the Asia Cup semi final. When I go to TelegraphIndia.com, here are the first 5 news it shows in the sports section:
- No change in Team India’s seven-batsman formula
- Sachin awaits crowning glory
- Dravid eyes a perfect finish
- Moores upbeat on Flintoff
- THE ENFANT TERRIBLE (About Shoib Akhtar)
Further, there is NO WAY to navigate to the hockey news. How can a person who is even mildly interested in hockey read hockey news?
News websites often claim they can only highlight what readers are interested in. However the reverse is much more forced: the readers can only be interested in things that they are aware of.
So, the news websites at least have to make all news available. Then, as readers read some news more than others, the news website can choose to prioritize them.
August 13th, 2007
Kevin Pietersen’s class
True, the 3rd test match between India and England is just heading for a draw, but full credit must be given to England for holding out three and half sessions. Too many teams have see the 4th inning fold out in less than a day when facing a task even less daunting than faced by England today.
Remember Australia in India, 2001, second test (that eternally belongs to VVS)?
There was a fair bit of talk for England chasing down 500, pushing for victory. That was a bit unrealistic, but then again, records do get broken, and dreams do come true. It is to England’s credit that such talk was popping up even in the post-lunch session.
The everlasting “better lose series 2-0 than lose 1-0 and not try” comments are always seen in similar situations in the 3rd test, but people tend to agree with them only until the team does lose 2-0. After that, losing 1-0 starts sounding much better. Remember South Africa vs. Australia, 2006, when Graeme Smith gifted the 3rd test to Australia by setting them a target of less than 300?
I do too.