200*

Sunday, March 6, 2011

scrape through, tie wow, shock loss and thrill win

They are saying, England doesn't deal in dull matches. That, if you have tickets for an England match, you will get your money's worth. And that they are single handedly making these early stages of world cup heart-stoppingly exciting.

Right no?!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Hamburg, Germany

Link here.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Resistance to change?

Certain things are not expected to change. Were. For people like me who watched Spanish football over the years, Raúl González and Real Madrid were indistinguishable. Over the years, the aura might have faded.. but the #7 was a Madridista. Always.

Yesterday, Raúl announced him leaving the club. This does not come as a shock, but it was news Madrid fans did not want to be delivered anytime soon.

Raúl may not the most spectacular player you would see, but the pure passion and grit that you see the left-footer bring to the game, reminds you what gutso and loyalty is. The latter, a soon-to-be forgotten trait in the game. He is a true gentleman, one who never got red-carded in his career.

It is not the end of his playing career, but so strong are certain associations between players and the teams they play for, that you could hardly believe that there is life after that. He did the right thing.. he has accomplished (almost) everything he could at Madrid and would move to Germany for the reminder of his career probably. The fans wish him the best.

For me, Raúl will always be El Siete - the legend from Real Madrid.

P.S. LeBron James, please take note how to leave a team in style.. from the true King.

P.P.S. For the last time, Hala Madrid! Raúl Madrid!

(photo updated: 8.8.10)

Monday, June 28, 2010

So today..

a South American Team will actually be eliminated! Brazil vs. Chile.

The quaterfinals already seem to be so exciting.

P.S. Would be nice to visit the Machu Picchu, pet the Llamas, fly over the nazca lines, (yes, Buenos Aires too - Go Argentina! ).. I am so into the south american spirit! :p

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Angst

From the best batsman in the world, and World Champions, for a good reason.

"If that's what you think take a look at the head-to-heads and see who has got bragging rights. ODI, Tests and Twenty20. Tell me who has got the bragging rights?"

Ricky Ponting bristles when asked if England held the bragging rights following their win against Australia in the second ODI

Source, www.cricinfo.com

Friday, June 25, 2010

This weekend..

shall be a busy one.

FIFA 2010 - Round of 16.
F1 - Valencia
Wimbledon - of course.

Hopefully they'll turn the volume on vuvuzelas down by a notch.. :p

Random lines in papers and social networking sites, I paraphrase:

This world cup is like the WW-II: The French surrendered early, the Americans turned up late, Italy got defamed.. leaving England to fight the Germans!

Monday, June 21, 2010

No no no..

Please don't let him got out like this. Not in the first round of Wimbledon. Not in the centre court. Not to Falla.

Roger Federer down by 2-0.. ok, now 2-1 and still struggling..

He'll get the game back - Hope.

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And he did it..

Vigbert

Originally named Deerghakantha Vinayaka Chenna Reddy, he is a two time national tennis champion and three time winner of the Gaganmahal Open. His signature "over the net" returns have since revolutionalised the art of ungainly balance while facing 150 mph serves. Though widely known as the guy who taught Andre Agassi how to score with chicks, Vigbert has also been instrumental in setting up several support groups around the world for the follicle-ly challenged sportsmen. Now, having retired to a more modest role as a feline enthusiast, he spends most of his time watching Ekta Kapoor serials and chairing the international scouting council for promising Lingocha players.

Sharad Ragas

Often referred to as the "worst badminton player to have never played for India", SR has tormented fans and detractors alike, with his inimitable lack of talent. His on-court verbal assaults on players resulted in two fractured ribs and a broken marriage. He has since drifted to less popular games like cricket, and now acts as career counsellor to out-of-work coaches of the sub continent's cricket teams. Currently under review for inappropriate behaviour at the Domalguda Ganesh Chaturdhi celebrations, if found guilty, could be a part of the next season of Bigg Boss. Likes bhangra songs and curd rice.

Partha

An ardent Ricky Ponting fan, who infamously refused to play for the national cricket team due to differences with the management on the exclusion of "gutthi vankaya koora" from the team's diet menu. He is also notorious for having told Dada off (in Bengali) for his poor off-side play and timid captaincy tactics. His leg spinning option has since never served the national team, and now bowls at the nets to aspiring cricketers in Bermuda. Author of two unpublished books, "If you are an Aussie and you know it, STFU" and "ECB - Saviour of World Cricket", Partha is touted as the next in line for the Booker Prize 2009 for his innovative style of writing and raspy remarks. Sometimes writes for unworthy blogs, as a marketing strategy and wears two pairs of glasses, as his personal fashion statement.

Chaitanya

At the nets of Nizam grounds in the summer of 1994, the lean left arm bowler who used to bowl for India yelled at the batsman, " nee $@##&, dimaag kharaab shaatladutendi bai nuvvu!!" Chaitanya looked up at the bowler, pushed back the glasses up his nose and shouted back "switch hit, anna.. haha!" as he made a fleeting gesture to the South African kid, Kevin.. who was hunting for autographs around the field. Chaitanya has a come a long way from his days on a cricket field, and now is an academic genius who mental flosses on blogs sometimes. No picture of Chaitanya exists. Pictures of Kevin however, can be found on Google under "Bangalore Royal Challengers".