PAPER TIGERS FALL APART - INDIA ALMOST OUT OF CT 2009

BCCI - SAVE THE TIGERS

Hello,

A loss to Pakistan and a game washed out against Australia leaves India hoping that Pakistan win against Australia (a possibility if they play their best eleven) and India beating West Indies (a reversal is possible as they will be playing on the fast pitch of the Wanderers).

The paper tigers were taught a lesson by the Pakis who batted wonderfully and created enough pressure to bowl out India and win by 54 runs.

The paper tigers were struggling against Australia, who had amassed a huge score of 234 when rain stopped play. They were surely heading for a 300+ score and if the match had continued I am sure it would have been a lost cause for the paper tigers.

Gary Kirsten and his team have suggested a great way of getting through the WADA examinations.

No DRUGS just SEX and Testosterone is high.

I believe they are yet to implement it.

I envy the Paper Tigers,

Manoj

WHAT IS WRONG WITH CAPTAINCY - SEHWAG GIVES UP CAPTAINCY OF DELHI DAREDEVILS

Hello Cricket fans,

Does batting actually get affected if the star batsman is chosen to be captain?

Ever wondered what makes star batsmen shun captaincy?

Sehwag is the latest example.

A player who once nurtured dreams of leading India gives up the captaincy of the IPL T-20 team of Delhi Daredevils.

Just months before him, another star batsman of the sub continent Mahela Jayawardane, gave up captaincy of Sri Lanka.

A couple of years ago Rahul 'the wall' Dravid gave up India captaincy.

Not to forget how Sachin Tendulkar stepped down as India captain several years ago.

We can also include Kevin Pieterson in the list.

However, in his case the reasons were different.

Does it actually mean that your skills as a batsman decrease when you are made to think of the other facets of the game as well?

All those who gave up captaincy suggest that they did so to put their entire concentration on their batting. But this appears to be just part of the story. In none of the cases was there any external compelling pressure to resign.

So why?

It will be interesting if somebody actually analyzes the phenomenon.

If we look at the history of cricket, many star batsmen have been great captains as well. Saurav Ganguly, the god of the off-side and Azzaruddin, the magician of the leg side are immediate examples of successful captains and star batsmen.

A case worth studying is Mike Brearly who is undoubtedly the most successful England captain.

A successful batsman in the county matches he never excelled as a batsman in test matches, but as a captain he was par excellence - Brearley captained England in 31 Test matches, of which they won eighteen and lost four; while, of nine series, seven were won, one drawn and one lost. In his eleven years as captain of Middlesex they won the County Championship three times and shared it once, against five and one shared in their previous 89 years in the competition. They were twice winners and once losing finalists in the Gillette Cup; once Benson and Hedges Cup finalists; once runners-up and twice third in the John Player League.

The crowning glory of his captaincy was the 1981 series against Australia - He took over of the 1981 England team, one down to Australia, which had all the look of a beaten side, and transforming it, almost incredibly, into the winner of the rubber by three to one.

But his batting was always below par. Throughout his career as captain of England he was deeply - often inhibitingly - concerned about his batting form. Clear-mindedly recognising his own potential, he was idealist enough to appreciate how far he often fell short of it. Had he played under a captain as sympathetic as himself, the problem might have been solved.

Although he often batted freely and fluently in county cricket, when he played for England anxiety drove him constantly into over-care. This frequently cost him his wicket and made him look inadequate to an extent that people would question his place in the winning side that he lead.

So why? Why does batsmanship and captaincy do not jell?
Interesting question, Is it not?

Respond,
Manoj

Davis Cup - New era of Indian tennis

Hello Tennis fans,

India will play Russia in their first round in the Davis Cup World Group from March 5-7.

This is not the big news.

The big news is that India entered the 16 team world group for the first time in eleven years.

India beat South Africa 4-1 in the play-off and for the first time in many many years India won a Davis cup tie on the basis of victories in the singles.

Som Devvarman, the new rising star of Indian Tennis played his heart and guts out to win both his singles. The results in details show that India won the first two singles very easily but then they had to forfeit their doubles match due to the injury to Mahesh Bhupathi and then we had the magic of Somdev Devvarman unfold in full glory.

R1 - S.DEVVARMAN (IND) def. I.VAN DER MERWE (RSA)7-6(5) 6-3 6-4
R2 - R.BOPANNA (IND) def. R.DE VOEST (RSA)2-6 6-4 6-2 6-4
R3 - J.COETZEE / W.MOODIE (RSA) def. M.BHUPATHI / R.BOPANNA (IND)6-3 3-6 4-0 - Retired
R4 - S.DEVVARMAN (IND) def. R.DE VOEST (RSA)3-6 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-2 6-4
R5 - Y.BHAMBRI (IND) def. I.VAN DER MERWE (RSA)3-6 6-3 6-4

It is said that after being two sets and a break down in the reverse rubber Som went to the bench and said that he would not loose.

The fact that he did not loose speaks volumes about his confidence on his ability.

This is not the championship but it is an achievement that Indians can be proud of. The fact that Yuvi Bhambri won his debut match also augurs well for Indian Tennis.

Russia will be a tough nut to crack. The two countries have met thrice, in 1974, 1982, 1986, and India are 2-1 up head-to-head.

But things have changed and Russia, is a superpower who have advanced to the quarterfinals for the 10th time in 11 years in 2009 before losing to Israel in Tel Aviv in July. They have won the Cup twice (2002, 2006) and have an awesome record of winning 16 times at home since 1996.

Russia will be without Marat Safin but that should hardly affect the team’s chances as they have four players in the top 50 of the ATP rankings, Nikolay Davydenko being the highest at eight. Dmitry Tursunov (38), and Igor Andreev(43) and young Igor Kunitsyn (45) have all shown enormous promise in recent years.

"Russia is an extremely tough team to play in the first round. The task is daunting,” Somdev said.

“But having said that, I feel in Davis Cup everyone has a chance and we will have to prepare really well to take on one of the top Davis Cup nations. ‘We will have to play our best tennis if we have to beat the likes of Davydenko, Youzhny, Andreev in their own back yard.”

So best of luck to the Indian Tennis team.

Manoj

Caster Semenya - A scandal that rocks SA Sports

Hello,

The president of Athletics South Africa has admitted that he lied about gender tests on runner Caster Semenya before her gold-medal win at the World Athletics Championships last month.

Till recently the national sports body has always denied that it agreed to the tests before the race in Berlin, Germany -- an event that kicked off international controversy over the 18-year-old Semenya's gender.

Now South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper reported on exchange of e-mails showing that ASA President Leonard Chuene was aware of the tests.

It is reported that after receiving the results of the tests, the South Africa team doctor told that Semenya should be withdrawn from the World Championship.

Chuene had refused because he felt he was protecting the athlete.

"If we did not let her run, we would be confirming that she is not normal," Chuene told the news conference in the capital, Pretoria.

A controversy has since erupted and after Semenya won the 800 meters in one minute, 55.45 seconds -- the best women's time in the world this year and IAAF ordered tests on her and a decision in the case will come in late November.

There was hue and cry over the test with South Africans rallying behind Semenya. Her relatives and the South Africa team manager have maintained she is female. So much so that the SA minister for women, children and people with disabilities complained to the United Nations about non adherence to international protocols on gender and quality.

Compare it with the case of Santhi Soundarajan of India, whose Silver medal was taken away within two days of the test and you know that the world of athletics is biased against the less powerful sporting nations.

Best wishes,

Manoj

FORMULA 1 - FORCE INDIA TO BECOME MORE INDIAN

Hello F1 lovers,

Force India may acquire some Indian colour shortly.

Force India owner, Vijay Mallya, has confirmed that the team will evaluate both Karun Chandhok and Neel Jani in McLaren’s F1 driver simulator next week.

Chandhok, 25, is currently competing in the GP2 series with Ocean Racing Technology, where he currently lies in 18th position in the series rankings. The Indian received a vote of confidence from Bernie Ecclestone last week when the F1 supremo said that wished for him to take the then-vacant Force India seat.

“Karun is like a son to me. I have known him from when he was a little boy in shorts. If I can give him a chance, I’d be delighted,” Mallya told Reuters.

“But he has to prove that he is also capable. So I’ve told him I’ll put him in the McLaren driver simulator and let me see what you do. And based on that we’ll talk further.”

Mallaya also revealed that former A1Gp champion, Neel Jani, would also be tested on the F1 simulator. Jani, who is half-Indian, has recently expressed his desire to race for the Silverstone-based team in the future.

“He and his dad have been after me for the last one and a half years and he came to see me again,” said the team boss. “The guy is saying give me a chance. I can’t deny him a chance in the simulator so yes, he will also go in.”

However it is thought that Force India will retain both Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi for next season, after both drivers impressed at Monza.
“They are loyal and hard working.” Mallya added, ” They are with the team and part of the team, they are doing their best. Unless I have some compelling reason to change, I ask myself why should I change?

“As of now I am very happy with what I have and the only role open is a test driver role and we’ll see where we go from there.”

So atleast some Indian blood on the wheel at long last. Narain Karthikeyan was the last Indian to take the wheels at F1 as a test driver and we hope that Karun Chandok, who has racing in his blood comes through.

Best wishes,

Manoj

Buffalo Soldier - Serena and Obama

The Pictures that scare the living daylights out of the whites.

Hello,

Back on Serena and the decision to award the penalty.
After hearing what Serena actually had to say to the linesperson the penalty looks justified.

But we should then look at what caused the outburst. When you look at the foot fault call, you realize that it was an atrocious mistake. Look at the fact that it was the semifinals and a crucial point in the match and you realize how untimely it was.

Now answer honestly. Do you think any American Linesperson would have called a questionable foot fault on Andy Roddick or Melanie Oudin on such a crucial juncture in the game? I am sure the answer would be 'no'. Anything different would have resulted in a riot.

Serena, alongwith Venus, has been a victim throughout her career, and this was onother similar instance. They have dominated the Game for a long time now but they are still not accepted as champions in their own country.

During her 2001 meeting with Clijsters at Indian Wells, Serena Williams was booed so badly that she and her family have never returned to the event. In 2004 a call cost Venus a wimbledon match (and cost the umpire in question his participation in the remainder of the tournament) and a series of questionable calls in the similar bad calls in the 2004 US Open led to Serena's loss. One call was so bad that former player and analyst Tracy Austin labeled "quite literally the worst call I've ever seen."

The Williams sisters are the true Buffalo Soldiers. They are proud of their background, do not slink in the shadows, look good and radiate confidence. This is what hurts the White American.

As former President Jimmy Carter said on Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office. "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told NBC News.

"That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply," Carter said. "The president is not only the head of government; he is the head of state. And no matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect."

The White American is hurt when inspite of all the scorn and hurt they have hurled at the champions they have continued to bedazzle the world with their brilliance.

For another white player the same attitude would be called a passionate outburst. For another white player the linesperson would not have erred so badly at such a crucial point in the match.

But the Buffalo Soldier will stand to be counted. Serena proved it by winning the doubles.

Let them keep coming.

Best regards,

Manoj

FORMULA 1- FORCE INDIA ON THE ASCENDANCY

Hello Fi Lovers,

Congratulations to all followers andfans of FORCE INDIA.

Adrian Sutil brings in the car at fourth place earning Force India another 5 points.

The low load meant that he had to make more pit stops and that helped the others take the lead. Early stops from Hamilton, Raikkonen and Sutil played beautifully into the hands of Brawn GP who were one-stopping both their drivers.

Barrichello and Button set a searing pace at the front and a long first stint from both drivers meant that when they rejoined after their pit stops, they were only 16 seconds behind Hamilton who still had to stop.

Hamilton was struggling and unable to build the gap he needed to pit and rejoin ahead and that gifted the lead back to the Brawn drivers for the final stint.

Raikkonen and Sutil ran slightly longer than Hamilton and both pitted at the same time for their final stops. But both drivers had problems!

Raikkonen had a gear selection problem getting away while Sutil over-cooked it into his pit bay forcing his mechanics to re-adjust.

A rejuvenated Rubens Barrichello established himself as Jenson Button’s main obstacle to becoming world champion after he outperformed the Briton in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix to claim his third win. Kimi Raikkonen took third place for Ferrari ahead of Adrian Sutil.

Giancarlo Fisichella, who switched from Force India to Ferrari, came in ninth and Tonio Liuzzi in Force India was doing well before he had to retire.

Things are really looking good for FORCE INDIA.

Well Done,
What do you think they will do in the next race. Something better, special.
Best wishes,
Manoj

WORLD AGAINST THE BUFFALO SOLDIER - SERENA WILLIAMS

Hello Tennis fans,

When we compare the laxity people adopt while dealing with pale skinned people and the strict adherence to rules for the Buffalo Soldiers in the USA we know that Bob Marley was right.

In a bizzare incident Serena Williams was disqualified from the US Open because of threatening a lineswoman. people who have seen John McEnroe rave and rant at linesperson all across the globe know the kind of laxity practiced by the officials. Compare it with the strict adherence to the code in the present case and see who makes the decion and you know what dark colored people are up against.

When the Buffalo Soldiers from good ol Jamaica start winning medals they raise the suspicion of drugs. When Caster Semenya, who is born differently, beats them by a margin in 800 meters they cry sex cheat.

In contrast the laxity for the pale skin can be seen in the fact that the East German records on the track which were obviously performed by drug cheats continue to be mentioned on record books.

Swimming which is still a sport dominated by whites has no restriction on Jaked and Arena aided cheats.

But as time has proved time and again it is the BUFFALO SOLDIER who will dominate sports. Never mind Serena, You'll be back.

Best wishes to all Buffalo Soldiers,
Manoj

TRUE INDIAN CHAMPIONS - VIJENDER SINGH - BOXING

Hello Boxing fans,

India found a true champion in Vijender Singh. When he won the Olympics Bronze in Bejing, it was unique. But his achievement lost part of it's sheen by the Gold won by Abhinav Bindra in Shooting and the Bronze of Sushil Kumar in Wrestling.

In the World Boxing Championships in Milan he made the country proud by being the first Indian to stand on the podium.

His semifinal bout with Abbos Atoev was a case of lapse in concentration in between.The 7-3 score line was mainly made up of a 5-0 score in the second round. The first round going 1-0 to Vijender and the third being tied at 2-2. It should be added that Abbos just tried to stay away in the third. Vijender had earlier beaten Atoev in the Asian Championships in June in China.

So a Bronze it will be for Vijender once again, but whatever it is he is opening doors for Indian Boxers and we are proud of our young lad.


"Obviously, I am a disappointed. But I am glad that I managed to break the jinx for India," said the 23-year-old boxer.

We are sure that with the kind of attitude he has shown we will continue to hear more of him and his success will be replicated by several others.

Good Luck to Vijender and Indian Boxing.

FORMULA 1 - ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - MONZA

Vitantonio Liuzzi and Giancarlo Fisichella

Hello F1 lovers,

The grid for Monza is now finalized and do you see any surprises here:

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes – 1′24.0662.

Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes – 1′24.2613.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari – 1′24.5234.

Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes – 1′24.8455.

Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes – 1′25.0156.

Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes – 1′25.0307.

Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India-Mercedes – 1′25.0438.

Fernando Alonso, Renault – 1′25.0729.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault – 1′25.18010.

Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault – 1′25.31411.

Jarno Trulli, Toyota – 1′23.61112.

Romain Grosjean, Renault – 1′23.72813.

Robert Kubica, BMW – 1′23.86614.

Giancarlo Fisichella, Ferrari – 1′23.90115.

Nick Heidfeld, BMW – 1′24.27516.

Timo Glock, Toyota – 1′24.03617.

Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota – 1′24.07418.

Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota – 1′24.12119.

Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1′24.22020.

Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1′24.961

Well if we can now actually call it a surprise is debatable. Adrian grabs second place after being fastest in Q1.

Force India is here to stay. I will not be surprised if, after Monza, Adrian Sutil also gets an offer from some bigger team.

Hoping that he does better than the last finish by Giancarlo Fisichella.

All the best to Force India, Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi who has shown remarkable temprament to be where he is on the grid. If the past performance of Force India is any indication I will not be surprised with two podium finishes in the same race.

Is it hoping for too much?

Lets wait and watch.

Manoj

Bigger than Drugs - Sex test of Caster Semenya

Hello Fans of the Track,

If you watched the berlin championships then you would have realized that Caster Semenya, the 800 meteres champion from South Africa was different. She ran the fifth fastest of all times.

Well so what you would say; even Usain Bolt is different and if you were watching the finish line of the 800 meters for women and the 200 meters for men, the victory margin was similar. So why such a hullaboo about Caster Semenya.

Caster Semenya was accussed of not being 'woman'.

The gender test results are not yet officially declared but the leaks reveal that she has no ovaries and has got internal testes which is producing a large number of testosterone.

The runner underwent a gynecological examination, blood and chromosomes tests after her face domination in the world championship in Berlin last month. The family of Caster is now claiming that the gender test was done without permission and that they are contemplating legal action.

Gender testing for female athletes started after the blatant cheating of Nazi Germany in 1936, several former Communist bloc nations sending female athletes into competition with questionable external gender characteristics, and the East Germans feeding their female athletes with performance enhancing drugs for more than a decade.

The Caster Semenya case reminds fans of another 800m champion athlete and 2000 Olympic champion Maria Mutola of Mozambique was dogged throughout her illustrious decade long career by ‘that’s a man’ accusations despite passing test after test.

You have to feel for Semenya in this case. The case is attracting eyeballs, done in the most humiliatingly public way possible

Her future now rest on the results of the gender test and an IAAF Council meeting set to take place in Monaco November 20-21.

The case has resemblance to the story of Santhi Soundajaran of India, who went out of sight after her test showed similar results.

Till the offical version is out we are going to see a lot of speculation. However one thing in favor of Caster is that she never cheated. How can she help it if she is made that way.

Not like the drug cheats of a couple of decades back who came from behind the communist wall to create unbelievable records.

Don't you agree?

Best wishes,

Manoj

ARGENTINA - ARE THEY OUT OF WC 2010

Hello Soccer fans,

Argentina under Maradona has played 6 games in the WC qualifiers and after the first two flattering victories they have lost the next six matches with a dismal 6-1 scorline against Bolivia and a 3-1 loss to Brazil.

The top four finishers in this continent automatically go to the World Cup, while the fifth-place team has to win a playoff.

With two games to go, Argentina is in the fifth spot, and there are three other teams breathing down their necks. If they make the fifth-place finish, they’ll play against the fourth North American team.

But first they have to win the home game against the eliminated Peruvians and then travel to Uruguay and win there to be assured of the fifth place.

If they fail it will be a shame for a team of such talented players and the fault will obviously lie on the shoulder of Maradona who has made experiments that defy all logic.

What do you think will be the fate of Maradona if they fail?

As I see it to succeed he has to once again depend on the hand of God.

Best wishes,

Manoj

US Open Tennis, 2009

Hello Tennis fans,

It is India vs. India in the US open. Mahesh Bhuapthi and Leander Paes, wh o once formed the famous 'Indian Express' now clash against each other in the summit clash along with their respective partners.

Bhupathi and his Bahamian partner Mark Knowles, seeded third, eased into the final with a 6-4 6-2 semifinal win over fifth seeds Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Andy Ram of Israel.

Fourth seeds Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy upset top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in the other semifinal.

This is a first in Indian Tennis history and the old warhorses, the several times written off champions are at the forefront.

Long live indian tennis.

With Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza already creating history by entering the second round of both men's and women's competition together for the first time, things are looking up for Indian tennis.

Way to go guys.

Best wishes,

Manoj

ATHLETICS JACKPOT - GOLDEN LEAGUE

Hello fans,

The last leg of the Golden League meet concluded in Brussels on the 4th of September.
American Sanya Richards - 400 meters, Russian Yelena Isinbayeva - Pole Vault and Ethiopian Kenenanisa Bekele - 5000 meters picked up 333,333 dollars each as they shared the one-million-dollar jackpot on offer at the Golden League series after winning the same events at all six Golden League meets in one season. This is in addition to the one kilogram of gold they took home.

World Pole Vault record holder Yelena Isinbayeva managed to clear 4.70 with her first jump that won her the competition and 333,333 dollars. She later failed at breaking her own world record of 5.07 metres.Poland's Monika Pyrek and German Silke Spiegelburg took second and third place respectively with the same height that Isinbayeva cleared. This is the second time Yelena has shared the jackpot.

Richards won the women's 400m race - as she has in all five previous Golden League meets this season - and thus was the first athlete to be assured at least a share of the jackpot. It is the third time that she cracked the jackpot. Richards, who also won the gold at the world championships last month, took first place in a world-best time this year of 48.83 seconds, beating Britain's Christine Ohuruogu into second place by more than a second. Ohuruogu finished in 50.43. Jamaican Shericka Williams was third.

Bekele looked beatable at one stage in the men's 5,000m race at the Memorial Van Damme meet as he seemingly held back, but on the final straight he proved too strong for compatriot Imane Merga, who finished 0.35 seconds behind. Bekele's winning time was 12:55.31 seconds, while Vincent Chepkok took third place.

OLDEST WORLD RECORD BROKEN AT BRUSSELS

The men's Kenyan 4 x 1,500m relay team set a new world record, beating the 32-year-old previous best mark set by Germany in 1977. William Biwott, Gideon Gathimba, Geoffrey Rono and Augustine Choge won in a time of 14:36.23 minutes, to beat the oldest world record on book of the sport's governing body IAAF.

Best wishes,

Manoj

FORMULA 1 - FORCE INDIA IS MAGNANIMOUS

Hello F1 lovers,

Is it Bad or Good news for Force India? Your guess is as good as mine.

The next race on 13th will show who is lucky.

Giancarlo Fisichella has left Force India to join Ferrari for the rest of the Formula One season as a for Luca Badoer, who qualified last and finished no better than 14th in his first two races since stepping in for the injured Massa.

He will be in Ferrari colours when they race at the Italian Grand Prix which takes place in Monza on September 13.

"I'm in seventh heaven,'' Fisichella told Ferrari's website. "I'm still having a hard time believing the fact that the dream of my life is coming true.
"In the last week incredible things have happened to me - the pole position and second place in Spa and now the call from Ferrari... I'm going to give my all to pay back Ferrari for such a great opportunity.''

Fisichella finished second in last weekend's Belgian GP, giving Force India its first points in Formula One.

Force India chairman and team principal Vijay Mallya released him without any financial exchange. "For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream....No one should stand in the way of this". "The agreement will secure Giancarlo's long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this, particularly when Giancarlo has made such a vital contribution to Force India'' .

Force India said it will announce a replacement for Fisichella in the next few days.

If Force India can win points with Adrian Sutil and the new driver it is good news.

Best wishes,

Manoj

XIIth World Athletics Championship - MOVING IMAGES