Stories

Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I was getting paid to play crosswords, having tea brought to me and having my every whim taken care of. It was brilliant.”

Graeme Swann, ruminating on the perks , believes that representing England in cricket is the best job in the world.

What he really meant:

“I’m grateful I’m a cricketer, not a typical nine-to-fiver.I’m really spoilt.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m pitching cricket—as a profession.”

Simon Katich: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“He [Sachin Tendulkar] is an inspiration to all of us older guys, because he was written off a couple of years ago, ironically by one of our selectors, and the fact is he has proved him wrong.”

Simon Katich informs the Australian press that selectors are not infallible, pointedly referring to Greg Chappell’s comments on Sachin Tendulkar in the past. 

What he really meant:

“If Sachin can bat, bowl and field—at his age—with the abandon of youth, can’t I, too? A big X for Greg.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Greg prodded and spurred Sachin to greater heights.”

“Saurav Ganguly will vouch for Greg’s excellent track record.”

Andrew Strauss: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"It’s one of the better items of post you get through the letterbox – certainly better than a gas bill."

English Test skipper, Andrew Strauss, is suitably chuffed at being annointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

What he really meant:

"Are you enthused about bills, especially utilities? Not me. This is one piece of post I’m thrilled to receive."

What he definitely didn’t:

"The sun never sets on the British Empire—not the cricketing one."

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

What he said:

“I have a problem calling anything where you have to wear formal pants a sport.”

Andy Roddick says that cricket cannot be a sport because you have to wear full-length trousers.

What he really meant:

“I don’t have the patience for cricket. The formal pants are merely an excuse.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Golf’s not a sport as well.“

Simon Katich: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

“If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.”

Simon Katich makes no bones about his displeasure at Cricket Australia’s selection policies in a press conference outlining his cricketing future.

What he really meant:

“Australian selectors are chimpanzees.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m very ape with Cricket Australia’s decision not to renew my contract.”

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

What he said:

“I am the same Paul that I used to be before IPL.”

Paul Valthaty claims that success in the IPL has not changed him.

What he really meant:

“I’m still Paul.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The P in IPL stands for Paul.”

Imran Khan: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"This case is another suicide attack on Pakistan cricket."

Imran Khan slams the public row between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Shahid Afridi.

What he really meant:

“The national cricket board and their cricketers are always at loggerheads—to the detriment of Pakistani cricket.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Sue—I side.”

Sepp Blatter: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“Why I am the man here, because there was no other option. They had to elect a president and at the end I was the only candidate.”

Sepp Blatter reveals the secret behind his re-election as FIFA President while speaking to CNN’s Alex Thomas.

What he really meant:

“Both you and I know that Hobson’s choice is no choice at all.”

"It’s good to win even against no competition.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Monopoly? What’s that? A board game, isn’t it?”

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

“…he was a ‘bomb about to explode’”

Yuvraj Singh writing in the BCCI quarterly newsletter describes his impression of MS Dhoni prior to his World Cup final assault on Sri Lankan bowlers.

What he really meant:

“Dhoni was as wound up as a compressed spring.Once the pressure peaked, he would burst.”

“Dhoni needed a mere trigger to go off—he was primed—and the World Cup final was it.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Dhoni’s a human bomb.”

“Dhoni’s a bombshell.”

Jacques Rogge: ‘Shoe throwing could become an Olympic sport’ (Satire)

LONDON—

Jacques Rogge, President of  the International Olympic Committee has given his backing to shoe-throwing making a bid to become an Olympic sport.

Rogge said he would welcome an application from the International Shoe-Throwers Association (ISTA). If successful, shoe-throwing could feature at the 2020 Olympics.

Shoe-throwing is a recent phenomenon and has gained popularity across the globe in recent times.

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