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Scott Styris: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Seeing Southee open the batting for Essex tonight and score 74 off 34 balls is enough to drive anyone to give up the game!”

Scott Styris is jocular about his reasons for quitting the game.

What he really meant:

“If Southee can play better cricket than me, I might as well quit.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Tim Southee is so much better than Virender Sehwag.”

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

What he said:

"I’ve been in trouble with [my temper] since I was young.When I was 5, 6 years old, every single time I got mad or threw a racket, I had to do 20 push-ups. And it wasn’t that I stopped the racket throwing or getting mad — I just did a lot of push-ups."

Ryan Harrison, the hope of American men’s tennis, admits he has a temper from an early age and was penalised for it—often.

What he really meant:

“I’ve always had a vile temper.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I love doing push-ups.”

Sanath Jayasuriya: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"When you play as a cricketer, they all love you as a unit. When you go to a [political] party, naturally it’s divided. So I need to face that.Just before I came to politics, I thought of that, and I know it’s going to be a half-half situation – unless you’re a very big fan of mine."

Sanath Jayasuriya accepts that he will not be adored unconditionally as a politician, as he was when he was merely a cricketer. The Sri Lankan legend is a member of parliament on a  ticket from President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

What he really meant:

“Politics is divisive and so are politicians.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I do things by half.”

Aravane Rezai: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“We are not machines, we are human beings.Every player has their personal problems. Me, I have them, too, a bit more than the others, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go on a court and win matches.”

Aravane Rezai says that although she has her problems, it does not mean she throws matches.

What she really meant:

“It’s tough to play with personal problems—for anyone.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Just call me Robo Rezai.”

Lalit Modi, BCCI and ICL: Why did Modi reveal all?

If it had not been the BCCI that first linked him to the Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL), his recent disclosures about the Indian Cricket League (ICL) could have been construed as yet another attempt by Lalit Modi to turn the spotlight back on him.

The ex-IPL honcho projects an impression of missing the glory, accolades and kudos that came his way when he was the high-flying architect of the biggest organizational success story in international cricket since Kerry Packer‘s  World Series Cricket (WSC).

The Indian television media, as expected, went overboard on his revelations. Arnab Goswami of Times Now button-holed the IPL founder on prime time. Lalit Modi flatly denied any connection with the Sri Lankan league—direct or indirect.

To attribute altruistic considerations  to Lalit Modi’s revelations—as Arnab rightly pointed out—is foolish. However, to dismiss the allegations as ravings of a disgruntled ex-BCCI employee or to term him a liar is foolhardy.

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John McEnroe: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Viv Richards was the Rod Laver of cricket.”

John McEnroe shows that he’s not just a tennis buff. Vivian Richards is the cricketing version of Rod Laver, according to the legend.

What he really meant:

“Yeah, I know cricket and I know Viv Richards and, sure as hell, do Rod Laver too.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Rod Laver is the Viv Richards of tennis.”

Shahar Peer:What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:
”Tennis can be atrocious sometimes… BUT i have to keep going!!!”

Israeli tennis player, Shahar Peer, tweets her reaction to her first round loss at Wimbledon.

What she really meant:

“One bad day  at the office does not mean that I’m a lousy player.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“The sport is atrocious and so are tennis players.”

Andy Murray: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"In golf you are always in control and in tennis, like today for the first set and a half, I wasn’t in control of what was going on out there!"

Andy Murray feels that he did not draw any lessons from golf’s latest sensation, Rory McIlroy, at this year’s US Open. He feels that in golf, the player is always in charge. In tennis, you are sometimes at the mercy at your opponent.

What he really meant:

“I guess, I can always win despite not being in total control throughout the match.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Total control, total domination. That’s me.”

Ross Taylor: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I missed the phone call from John Buchanan. I was trying to pick wedding songs for this coming Saturday. I had the music going a bit too loud.”

Ross Taylor was too busy preparing for his up-coming marriage to bother with a phone call from John Buchanan, informing him that he’d been chosen captain of the Kiwi cricket team.

What he really meant:

“The stereo was cranked up. I did not hear the phone ring.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Can you turn up the volume, please?”

Serena Williams: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“Nah,I’d have a heart attack first."

Serena Williams is under no illusions about her fighting spirit—on court. When asked if she’d concede match if requested by her mother, Oracene Price—fearing for her health, the four-time Wimbledon champion categorically replied in the negative.

What she really meant:

“I’d rather die.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m a Purple Heart.”