LINUS FERNANDES

Shashank Manohar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“It is not as if the BCCI is a closed-door body.”

BCCI President, Shashank Manohar, defends the cricket board’s right to stay independent. The Indian sports ministry is seeking to classify the richest sports body in the world as a national federation under the proposed National Sports (Development) Bill 2011. It is believed that the move would make the BCCI accountable under the Right To Information (RTI) act—a view contested by the BCCI.

Manohar reacted claiming that the BCCI “being a non-governmental organization, which has its own constitution and generates its own funds” does not fall under any of the applicable categories.

“In fact, there are two orders passed by the country’s Chief Information Commissioner wherein it has been clearly stated that the RTI Act doesn’t apply to the BCCI."

The Board President contended:

“All said and done, cricket is the best administered sport in the country.”

What he really meant:

“How can we have a closed door policy? There is no door. Lalit Modi’s generous tweets and disclosures (from UK) battered it down.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The BCCI is sanctioning the building of a fresh office—all glass.”

Rafael Nadal: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I doubt their intentions.”

Rafael Nadal has a healthy mistrust of dogs.

What he really meant:

“I look at dogs and wonder, ‘What are they thinking? To bite or not to bite? To bark or not to bark? To chase or not to chase?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“A dog is man’s best friend.”

Jose Mourinho:What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I should have lived 100 years ago.”

Jose Mourinho, in an interview to Spanish daily, El Mundo, believes that there are “very few people who have truth as a fundamental principle, non-hypocrisy”, something which existed “during the era of our grandparents and great-grandparents”.

The Real Madrid Manager said:

“It’s precisely the opposite now: people are hypocritical, you don’t say what you think, you’re not sincere, you’re not honest, you think about surviving however you can.”

“I may be mistaken but I always say what I think, what I feel, without fear of the consequences.”

“And not many people accept that. I will never change. Yes, I should have lived 100 years ago.”

Mourinho added:

“I think it was Nietzsche, and this more than 100 years ago, who said that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That is what is happening to me.”

What he really meant:

“There was no television then.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Heavens! I forgot there were no big soccer clubs either.”

Jose Mourinho: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"The other day a friend suggested to me that with all the stones thrown at me you could build a monument."

Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, is unrepentant for poking Barcelona assistant coach, Tito Vilanova in the eye during a 2-3 loss to Barca. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) have instituted an inquiry into the incident.

Mourinho told Spanish newspaper El Mundo:

“"In contrast to other leagues where I’ve managed here I feel like there is a campaign against me.”

What he really meant:

“If I had the time and the inclination, I’d collect these ‘stones’ and put them to good use in a memorial.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m quitting coaching and going into construction.”

Paul Nixon: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I know all the Leicestershire players inside out, but I held Josh Cobb in my arms when he was born, which is scary. Luckily I didn’t drop him.”

Leicestershire wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon—on his retirement—discloses that the hardest catch he ever held was young ‘un, Josh Cobb, when he (Cobb) was a newborn. Nixon quit the game on a high with his side clinching the Friends Life T20 title beating Somerset by 20 runs.

What he really meant:

“I know it’s time to quit the sport when I find (erstwhile) coddling babes toddling alongside me.”

What he definitely didn’t say:

“Now I’m dismissing batsmen off Cobb’s bowling. Oh, how times have changed.”

Darren Lehmann:What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“They’re going to have to play with plans to face all those sorts of bowlers, and really live or die by the sword.”

Former cricketer, Darren Lehmann, has words of advice for the current Australian team on how to tackle the Sri Lankan tweakers on slow home pitches.

Lehmann adds:

“Whatever plan it is, have it, believe it and implement it.”

What he really meant:

“If cricketers are gladiators, then willows are sabres. Wield them like rapiers and scythe through Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Hoist yourselves on your own petards and collapse upon your wickets.”

Ryan Harrison: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I didn’t break any racquets; I didn’t say swearwords on court.  It could have gotten better and I could have been better.  I didn’t really go nuts.”

Ryan Harrison has an entirely different view of his on-court behaviour in his first round straight-sets loss to Croatia’s Marin Cilic on the first day of the US Open.

What he really meant:

“I was quite decorous in my on-court behaviour, wasn’t I? Look, no broken rackets, no abuse. Commendable, eh?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m that transparent, am I? What, my skidding my racquet gave me away?”

Andrea Petkovic: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“I would be Jessica Alba and seduce all men.”

Andrea Petkovic believes that Jessica Alba is superhuman. The German tennis star answered as above when asked what super hero ability she would want.

What she really meant:

“Don’t tell anyone but I don’t buy into that WTA poster campaign ‘Strong Is Beautiful’.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Tennis stars aren’t heroic?”

“Jessica Alba isn’t really Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman?”

Lee Westwood: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"Glad Sharapova’s not playing in Crans this week! They’d hear her in Geneva! Come on Watson finish her off for the sake of our eardrums!"

Golfer Lee Westwood tweets his support for Britisher, Heather Watson, during her first round encounter with Maria Sharapova at the US Open on Monday, the 29th of August, 2011.

What he really meant:

“Hell! I’m glad Maria’s not a golfer. Picture the havoc she’d wreak on our games with her shrieking and grunting after each stroke.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Bring on the vuvuzuelas as well!”

Petra Kvitova: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she  said:

"It was the head."

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has an explanation for her first round loss at the  US Open to Romanian, Alexandra Dulgheru.

What she really meant:

“I understand psychology and physiology—if the head doesn’t function, the body parts follow.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m gonna practice some soccer style headers with a tennis ball to prevent a recurrence.”