Around the Cricket God!!

Saw the Padma Awardees list, and happy that few of the deserving have got in!! The award has really not lost its worth completely!..

The one which I liked the most is Dr.S.P.Balasubramanyam for Padma Bhushan. I almost worship him :) It’s not just the talent/genuis which makes him great, but the modesty and simplicity which he carries makes my idol, a super star.

He is one singer who has got state awards in most of the languages he has sung. In fact, the Karnataka Govt., literally rejected the award, for the very reason that he not a kannadiga by birth (whatte crap thought by the state!! SPB is divine…. No one gives him an award, they are only honored to do it!!,,. ) And, I, very religiously checked out the state awardees list, every year, till one fine day, I found what I was looking for!!! Even to this day, I remember my happiness in that moment!!

Padma Bhushan for Shri Rudrapatna Krishna Shastry Srikantan, is a very pleasant surprise. He hails from Rudrapatna, a village with rich music heritage. (I would be as much happy as I’m now, irrespective who from that place is felicitated: D , undying respect for Rudrapatna Brothers). The 2 famous musical concerts during Ramanavami are, one in Fort High School, Bangalore and the other is in Rudrapatna, Hassan. What makes Rudrapatna more appealing is the very fact that, for few of the concerts, the stage is simply a "teppa" in middle of river. Listening to fav music, by great musicians, in the moon light and on the banks of Kaveri,,,,, ooh, just the thought, makes me feel ecstatic!!

And the most disappointing one is…….

In spite of so many appealing, recommendations sent by his peers, colleagues, other sportsmen, fans followings, the so called thinkers and even the PMO (basically everyone who appreciates his contributions to cricket), he has not been chosen for Bharat Ratna.. Yes, I’m speaking about the very Indian and The Cricket God, Sachin Tendulkar, and the prime reason why I looked at the list…

When almost everyone thought its right age for Sachin to retire, he came back with a bang, an ever fantasy of every batsman, an unbeatable double century in One day cricket. And the following words, as cited in ICF , so suits his show, not just on that day, but every master piece performance in his career…

"Give a top class artist a canvas. Give him a room and give him a vista. See what he comes up with. For the art produced thereof we credit the artist himself; not the canvas for its whiteness and blankness. Not the room for the comfort it offered. Not even the vista for its having conveniently presented itself. They are all incidental. Art is transcendental. So too is Tendulkar's batting. "

And here is a poem, a must read, by one of my blogger friend about Sachin Tendulkar, a dedication when he completed 20 years (whoaaa!) in the game..

The Little Master

Poise Glows,
Greatness Speaks.
The Willow Caresses.

White or Red it be,
Greeting the leather With,
An Ever So Beautiful Stroke.

Twenty Years,
Spent In a Zillion Overs.
A nation's hopes on his Shoulders.

Him Driving Off and On,
We Win Or We Lose,
Victory Is already Ours.

He Stands along with a Few,
Who nurture our Hope,
Who Humble Us,
Who Unite Us.

What He Has Given,
We Know No One can ever,

As they say,
If the sport be a religion,
He Is God.

Greatness Speaks,
Poise Glows,
The Willow Caresses.

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An Ode to the man,
20 years for India.
If Cricket was A game of One,
We are champions Over and Over.
Forever.

-By Nanda Kishore

No offence intended, Mr.Shashi Kapoor has been awarded Padma Bhushan this year, whereas he is officially retired ages ago. Shouldn’t people be considered for their achievements and rewarded, when they are in the peak of their performance and not sometime later……And, about Sachin, one of the reason we hear is, he is still very young (compared to other awardees!! Grrr,,,), but, whether we like it or not, he’ll retire one fine day, and now is the time to confer!! (hmmm I understand, why people think this award is loosing its worth in the years!!)

Well, World cup season is just around the corner, and as usual, I’m gonna support the Indian Team (needless to say, eh :P ) … I agree Sachin can do wonders, but can’t expect the miracle from Indian team always, as I found, few names in the team this time, are there as part of the management quota (shame!! ) , I only pray my team to perform at their best and I hope to enjoy the great sport.

Flashback time:

The very word “World cup” makes me feel nostalgic.. taking me back to the “League of students” days. It was the name, which I was attracted to, in the beginning. I was lucky enough to live in a typical Vatara (found in old Bangalore areas), and all the kids residing there get a free membership to the League: D.

Eat, Play, watch TV, movies…., heaven was life!! As part of League’s activities, we participated in the summer and winter games, (we had our own tournaments, of carom, chess, other music competitions, quiz and many more).. Having fun was more important than winning it!! And we did it.

The sigh factor for all the elders was, they always knew, kids are always in company, and would be in any of those various houses in the lane.. We all jammed up in one house and watched numerous movies.. .ohooo!! :D ,

And it’s in those days I watched my first World Cup tournament, 1995. No one could stand those hooting and shouting during the match, and the effect: elders never preferred to watch any matches with the kids: D :P (very understanding parents ;) )

We burnt crackers when Jadeja saved India team in Quarter finals against Pakistan, we cried when we horribly lost the match against Srilanka in semis!!

And, in the next season, when India team made hilarious score and defeated the same Srilanka team by 157 runs, we danced!! Typical jumba laka :D

Phew! Watching world cup can never be so much fun ever again!!

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And, for all the fun loving people...