What do Jack La Motta, John Higgins, Will Carling, Oscar Pistorius and hmmmm Martina Navratilova have in common. Well may be add more names, Jack Nicklaus & Sir Jackie Stewart, Andy Murray, Michael Owens, Billy Jean King.
Commong theme is sports, art of winning,faith, belief, legacy, proving that there is more to life than simply success or drive, but that there are sacrifices. Ok for more, we better read these interviews chaperoned and each one tells us stories from these different personalities from the remarkable world of sports.
Note: If you don't know a name, still read the column, it tells more than just about the personality.
Jack Nicklaus & Sir Jackie Stewart
Jack La Motta (Raging Bull - the movie remember)
Martina Navratilova
Billie Jean King
Michael Owen
Jonathan Edwards
Oscar Pistorius
Andy Murray
Ronnie O'Sullivan
John Higgins
Will Carling
Luol Deng
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Master's 'Magic'
Sachin Tendulkar is a Master, he is master of his own class, he is world's top cricketer, ... he is jinxed. Wait a moment here, somebody also mentioned his last innings in Mohali where he got out on 99 as 'master choke'. How can anybody be so silly to make such a remark. Was Bradman a "super master choke", not getting an average of 100.
405 matches, 395 innings, fifteen thousand eight hundred and thirsty five runs (yes 15835 in figures might be small for some but not in words for sure), made with average of 44.23 at strike rate of 85.40, with highest score being 186 not out, and then somebody tags him as jinxed or choke. Are you insane or what?
In this figure add today's score of 97 as well.
To top he has master classed the ball to hit the boards with his straight drives, cover drives, cuts, flicks and paddle sweeps, 1741 times. Even that piece of leather stitched between a circumference of 22.5cm and weighing about 160gms would not have felt so worthy of being touched or whipped. And take stoke of another moment, those 166 times that same piece was thrown over the boundary, that included those straight ones or mid wickets one in Operation Desert Storm in Sharjah against Aussies, or that slap on Caddick in World Cup where ball had to be called from outside the walls of stadium and then unforgettable time to hit the fastest one over the cover against arch rivals Pakistan in World Cup. Add to these statistics today's ninety-six against the same opponents. Yes one more in 90s, yes 6th time this year, yes still that elusive 42 not there with just one match to go this year, chances are bleak. So what? Remember, it is only this magic wand of this master, that this is possible. Witness it cherish it and appreciate it.
We better cherish each of these magic strokes before record books stop editing on the name Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Let the next generation witness those cuts, whips, walks down the pitch, those delicate touches. Failure, when nothing looks improbable just makes it humane. Isn't sport alive because of this factor only, adore the masters and still acknowledge life brings with itself a few failures at important junctures. But, finesse lies only in rising again and doing it one more time. Anyone remember story of King Bruce and the Spider?
And please try to create new stories, we have reached such a stage with this new team that thankfully Tendulkar alone can't be held responsible for any loss. But there are new stories about this team now. Why aren't we interested in that, Dhoni and Yuvraj partnership, which is flourishing like killing 1-2 combination.
Sachin, we shall wait for 42nd one, keep the brush stroking new scapes.
405 matches, 395 innings, fifteen thousand eight hundred and thirsty five runs (yes 15835 in figures might be small for some but not in words for sure), made with average of 44.23 at strike rate of 85.40, with highest score being 186 not out, and then somebody tags him as jinxed or choke. Are you insane or what?
In this figure add today's score of 97 as well.
To top he has master classed the ball to hit the boards with his straight drives, cover drives, cuts, flicks and paddle sweeps, 1741 times. Even that piece of leather stitched between a circumference of 22.5cm and weighing about 160gms would not have felt so worthy of being touched or whipped. And take stoke of another moment, those 166 times that same piece was thrown over the boundary, that included those straight ones or mid wickets one in Operation Desert Storm in Sharjah against Aussies, or that slap on Caddick in World Cup where ball had to be called from outside the walls of stadium and then unforgettable time to hit the fastest one over the cover against arch rivals Pakistan in World Cup. Add to these statistics today's ninety-six against the same opponents. Yes one more in 90s, yes 6th time this year, yes still that elusive 42 not there with just one match to go this year, chances are bleak. So what? Remember, it is only this magic wand of this master, that this is possible. Witness it cherish it and appreciate it.
We better cherish each of these magic strokes before record books stop editing on the name Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Let the next generation witness those cuts, whips, walks down the pitch, those delicate touches. Failure, when nothing looks improbable just makes it humane. Isn't sport alive because of this factor only, adore the masters and still acknowledge life brings with itself a few failures at important junctures. But, finesse lies only in rising again and doing it one more time. Anyone remember story of King Bruce and the Spider?
And please try to create new stories, we have reached such a stage with this new team that thankfully Tendulkar alone can't be held responsible for any loss. But there are new stories about this team now. Why aren't we interested in that, Dhoni and Yuvraj partnership, which is flourishing like killing 1-2 combination.
Sachin, we shall wait for 42nd one, keep the brush stroking new scapes.
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