sports

Sports, Champions and Celluloid

A couple of sports-related articles from the Mint.

http://www.livemint.com/2010/02/11211942/Weissmuller8217s-Tarzan-is.html?h=A3

http://www.livemint.com/2010/02/10210525/Champions-born-or-made.html?h=C

One details how many sportspersons have made the transition from the field to celluloid.

The other talks about the similarities in champions across nations and generations.

Have a great day!

India Vs SA – First Test – Results & Selections

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Two posts on the India Vs SA series.

First, a point to be made. Even the most fanatical Indian cricket team fan would admit that after losing 3 top draw players in Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Laxman and then having Rohit Sharma injured at the last minute, it was going to take all the effort the team could muster to make a draw of the game, let alone  win it. In the end, SA ended up winning comfortably. Also, Dale Steyn proved that quality fast bowling can only be negated by quality batting, not dead pitches!

A +ve for India was Badrinath proving that he is competent enough to be a part of the Indian test team.

Tendulkar and Sehwag scored hundreds , but could not get the middle order to bat around them. A question arises again: Is Tendulkar playing only for the record books? Does it seem that way because he makes batting look so easy, when he’s out there?

Dhoni & Gambhir were not able to stand up and be counted when it mattered!

That’s all for now!

Let these posts say the rest!

http://shortofalength.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/cricket-prophecy-fulfilled-prediction-cent-percent-accurate/

http://the22yard.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/raina-sreesanth-and-karthik-in-for-eden-test/

Have a great day!

Cool Running!

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After doing the 6 km run this year, I will attempt the 21 kms next year, i.e. Jan 2011.

I have located a few web-sites on running that give tips and schedules as how to prepare for both a marathon and a half-marathon. All said, running a marathon or a half-marathon is about endurance. It does not matter how much you run but how long you run! The longer the better!

Of course distance counts but if you are a  beginner, like me, then you should not concentrate on the distance and/or speed but focus on increasing the time spent running i.e. running non-stop. You can of course, choose to fortify yourself with water and small snacks. Hydration is very , very important. Carry a water bottle with you especially for the longer runs.

Some interesting sites to look at:

http://www.marathontraining.com

http://coolrunning.com

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hydration-key-to-exercise-success

http://www.halfmarathons.net

and of course

the Mumbai Marathon web-site

http://www.mumbaimarathon.indiatimes.com/

As for myself, I will be training by running 3 times a week, supplemented by cycling 2 times a week (to reduce the wear and tear on my knees) and some light weight-training! Bulking up is out – makes it harder to run!

You can find a program to follow on the web-sites listed or use them to create one tailored for yourself!

Also, do not try to be rigid about your running schedule. Listen to your body! Rest when your body tells you to! Also, start early, so that you can compensate for slippages. Or sick time. Ensure that you have good running shoes. Change them as needed.

Do check with your physician before starting any vigorous physical exercise! Start slow, be steady! Don’t rush where angels fear to tread!

Have a great day!

Professional Cycling!

Image by .mw via Flickr

A post on professional cycling!

Have a great day!

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

India Vs South Africa

A quick preview of the upcoming India-South Africa test series.

Courtesy not-yours truly!

Have a nice day!

Sehwag does it again!

Why doesn’t he just bat?

More here>>>

Have a good day!

Risk Management & IPL

For all the hullabaloo about how the Pakistani players were snubbed at the IPL players auction, it just seems a case of smart risk management on the part of the IPL team owners.

Risk is about uncertainty and exposure.

There was uncertainty if the Pakistani players would be available to play for the IPL teams, for various reasons.

Was there exposure? Yes, if you had a Pakistani player on your team.

So, it was risk management and the reason why it appeared pre-planned was because it seems that all the IPL team owners looked at the situation through the same lens.

No cricketing logic to it! Just not cricket, as they say! But then who says the IPL is just about cricket? Are any of the IPL team owners cricketers?

Have a good day!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

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Different Strokes

Cricket commentary of a different kind!

Good Day!

Mumbai and Ranji

Just a thought:

With the Ranji Trophy final  between Mumbai & Karnataka drawing to a close, (what an engrossing finale!), instead of wasting time lauding an Indian cricket team that does not perform in crucial matches, isn’t it time we celebrated the Mumbai cricket team, that has gone on and on , performing as a unit, over the past decade with almost no superstars in their midst?

Surely this team embodies the spirit of Mumbai, more than anything else?

PS: Mumbai completed their 39th Ranji Trophy win. See http://www.cricinfo.com/ranjisuperleague2009/content/current/story/444048.html

A Song and Dance about Tiger!

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A dialogue between Tiger Woods and his estranged wife Elin Nordegreen, using lyrics of popular songs:

Tiger:

(Song Islands In The Stream – Kenny Rogers)

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha

Elin:

(Song: Please Release Me – Engelbert Humperdnick)

Please, release me, let me go,
For I don’t love you anymore.
To waste our lives would be a sin,
Release me and let me love again.

Tiger:

(Song : Kiss Me Quick – Elvis Presley)

Kiss me quick, while we still have this feeling
Hold me close and never let me go
‘Cause tomorrows can be so uncertain
Love can fly and leave just hurting
Kiss me quick because I love you so
Kiss me quick and make my heart go crazy
Sigh that sigh and whisper oh so low
Tell me that tonight will last forever
Say that you will leave me never
Kiss me quick because I love you so
Let the band keep playing while we are swaying
Let’s keep on praying that we’ll never stop
Kiss me quick just can’t stand this waiting
‘Cause your lips are lips I long to know
Oh that kiss will open heaven’s door
And we’ll stay there forevermore
Kiss me quick because I love you so

Elin:

(Song: Outsider – Cliff Richards)

Someone else is in your arms tonight
While Im all alone and blue
Someone else will kiss and hold you tight
Just the way I used to do
I used to be your love
And now Im your used to be
Outsider, thats me
Youll be dancing cheek to cheek with her
To our favorite melody
And the tender words you speak to her
Will be words you spoke to me
Once I was in your hearts
Now someone else holds the key
Outsider, thats me
*I want you so much (so much)
I can look (you can look) but must not touch
I keep waiting for the phone to ring
But I know its all in vain
When you left me you took everything
But the memories and the pain
I used to be your love
And now Im your used to be
Outsider, thats me
(Repeat from * )
Outsider, thats me

Tiger:

(Song: Miss You Nights – Cliff Richards)

I’ve had many times
I can tell you
Times when innocence I’d trade for company
And children saw me crying
I thought I’d had my share of that
But these miss you nights
Are the longest
Midnight diamonds
Stud my heaven
Southward burning
Lie the jewels that burn my place
And the warm winds
That embrace me
Just as surely kissed your face
Yeah these miss you nights
Are the longest
How I miss you
I’m not likely to tell
I’m a (wo)man and cold day light
Buys the pride I’d rather sell
All my secrets
Are a wasted affair
You know them well
Thinking of my going
How to cut the thread
And leave it all behind
Looking windward for my compass
I take each day as it arrives
But these miss you nights
Are the longest
Lay down all thoughts of your surrender
It’s only me who’s killing time
Lay down all dreams and themes once remembered
It’s just the same
This miss you game
Yeah these miss you nights
Are the longest.

Elin:

(Song: It’s All Over – Cliff Richards)

It’s all over, didn’t even cry,
I just stopped living when you said goodbye.
It’s all over, didn’t feel a thing,
I just stopped living – couldn’t stand the pain.
Heather grows like leaves in September
Looks as fresh in spring
Love that warms like summer sun
Shouldn’t die when winter comes.
It’s all over, didn’t even cry,
I just stopped living when you said goodbye.

Tiger:

(In High Falsetto)

(Song: Goodbye Sam , Hello Samantha – Cliff Richards)

(Requiem to Golf & Guys anthem)

Goodbye Sam hello Samantha
Goodbye Sam hello Samantha
Sam, I’m leavin’ the gang
so don’t come around for me on Sunday.
Joe, I want you to know
I’ll have to skip the game on Monday.
Had a whole lot of fun
but now the time has come
I need the sweet touch of a woman’s love.
Goodbye Sam hello Samantha
goodbye Joe hello Joanne.
suddenly need a new kind of company
someone to love me.
Goodbye Sam hello Samantha
goodbye Lou hello Louise.
From today there’ll be new games
for me to play
So good luck and goodbye Sam.
Guys you ought-a get wise
there’s more to the world than pool and fishin’.
easy ridin’ is fine
but look around see what you’re missin’.
girls are waitin’ in line
and now has come the time
I’m goin’ out and I’m gonna get me some.
Goodbye Sam hello Samantha
goodbye Joe hello Joanne.
suddenly need a new kind of company
someone to love me.
Goodbye Sam hello Samantha
goodbye Lou hello Louise.
From today there’ll be new games

for me to play
So good luck and goodbye Sam.

________________________________________-

Have a good one!