LINUS FERNANDES

Bishan Singh Bedi: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“When the players have been bought like slaves at an auction, they just can’t have rights.”

Bishan Singh Bedi minces no words in taking the BCCI to task for its hypocritical stance on the ‘club versus country’ debate.

What he really meant:

“The IPL is no EPL.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The BCCI functions democratically and IPL franchisees are democracies.”

Daniela Hantuchova: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“I was really unlucky—I always had to face the Williams sisters."

Daniela Hantuchova feels that she was hard done by the draw in her previous majors.

What she really meant:

“I wasn’t good enough on those days to beat the Williams.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Caroline’s as good or better than the Williams.”

Club Over Country:Insular Indians wake up to dangers of IPL

Let’s go ahead and admit it.

India, as a cricketing nation, is insular.

In the great ‘club versus country’ debate, Indian fans did not blink an eye when Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard figuratively gave the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) the finger and plonked themselves at the IPL in the furnace-like heat of an Indian summer.

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Michael Berrer: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

“I have to work on that, definitely, I need to be tougher. Like in Germany, we have a saying that an injured deer has to fall. So that was what I should have done today.”

Michael Berrer, explaining his less-than-ruthless attitude towards Andy Murray in his third round match at the French Open.

What he really meant:

“Andy’s getting injured should not have stopped me going for the kill.Unfortunately, it did.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’ve seen the movie ‘Ruthless People’ like a zillion times.”

French Open 2011:WTA forms No.1s Anonymous (Satire)

Dinara Safina

PARIS—

The Womens’ Tennis Association (WTA) have sanctioned the forming of a mutual aid society , No. 1s Anonymous (Who Have Never Won A Major), whose primary purpose is to help players stay focused (and No.1) and to help past and present No.1s clinch majors.

The self-help body is co-founded by Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic and Dinara Safina.

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Roger Federer: What he meant, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"I don’t have a Grand Slam in my pocket (this year), but if I win one, it changes everything."

Roger Federer, on his chances at the French Open.

What he really meant:

“I have large pockets and I can definitely fit in a major or two—this year.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Majors are loose change jangling in my pockets.”

French Open 2011: A realm of possibilities in the women’s section

No Kim Clijsters, no Caroline Wozniacki, no Samantha Stosur.

The women’s round of 16 has a threadbare appearance.

Three big upsets in the first week tells a tale of the unpredictability visited on the WTA tour—absent the Williams sisters.

Fans are so used to seeing Serena Williams perched atop the rankings that they failed to note the depth in the lower rungs.

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Harsha Bhogle: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

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What he said:

“They are trying to be half-hour players; but for that, you’ll need to first be a good four-day player!”

Harsha Bhogle believes that T20 players have to be good at the longer formats first.

What he really meant:

“Longer version players can always adapt to the shorter version of the game. Vice-versa not quite!”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Half-an-hour of T20 and IPL will keep the selectors at bay.”

Chris McKendry:What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he definitely didn’t:

“I can play better than Victoria.”

Surprises in Indian Test team for WI tour in notable absentees, not selections

The Indian Test team for the West Indies tour has been announced.

In a surprise move, Indian selectors rested Sachin Tendulkar. The master batsman  will not feature on the entire West Indies tour. West Indian cricket fans are denied an opportunity to catch one last glimpse of Tendulkar before he bids farewell to the game.

The controversial shoulder injury to Gautam Gambhir and the sudden illness of Yuvraj Singh mean that this is one of the weakest batting sides to tour abroad in recent times.

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