How to weed this out?

In Punjabi culture, comparing a person to a plant or tree is considered extremely offensive and is an extremely racist slur. The entire Sikh and Punjabi community, and indeed India is up in arms over this racist slur by one among the pack of wild dogs (not my comparison call Peter Roebuck!). The nation is demanding that this racist slur be punished to the fullest!

OK so I am kidding. But it seems like these guys just can't learn to keep their mouths shut. Its gone beyond disgust now and just become a really bad taste in the mouth that keeps recurring. It seems like there really are no boundaries to the arrogance, audacity and maliciousness of this Australian team. As a cricket fan again I'm quite aghast at what this Australian team has reduced the game to, trampling its spirit into the mud and brazenly claiming this as a victory for sport at the altar of patriotism. The reception most Australian players save Brett Lee will get in India will be interesting to say the least.

Om namaha

I am reproducing a short news story that appeared in the Times of India today:

Indian cricketers turn to bhajans

Melbourne: Indian cricketers are turning to devotional songs to calm their nerves in the ongoing tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka here. ‘Bhajans’ of popular singers such as Lata Mangeshkar, Hari Om Sharan and Anup Jalota are much in vogue among cricketers, who are finding this as an useful exercise to deal with the stress of media and opponents on the field. The trend, which started after losing the Sydney Test, has gained wider acceptance among cricketers since they have withstood the test of last few weeks remarkably well. Cricketers are being offered CDs which range from devotional to patriotic songs and even holy chants or Vedanta shlokas. Once they have selected the song of their choice, they have been told by experts to sit cross-legged on the floor and then concentrate on the middle of a chart which has several rounded layers in various colours. Cricketers are being asked to concentrate on the centre of the chart to the best of their ability and as they do so, the song of their choice is played in the background. AGENCIES

Teams around the world get the best sports psychologists, bio mechanical experts et al and we hand out CDs of bhajans. I love it. However, not discounting our ancient and learned culture if this turns out to be the secret weapon which propels our spoilt, pampered men in blue to conquer test series and world cups, then so be it! But something tells me the players must be cracking obscene jokes about this scheme in the change room. Viru & Yuvi listening to shlokas over a big tandoori chicken? Ha! I love my India.

The last one

I promise this is the last of my posts on "monkeygate"...I couldn't resist sharing this one! Sorry! :-)

Tribute

It seems that Andrew Symonds has still not moved on with his life, now dabbing eyes and sniffling in public saying " I am a straight forward guy " and other such rubbish. Hypocrisy at alarming levels that. All this rubbish by Symonds, Ponting and sections of Australian fans and the media have completely eclipsed what should have been a shining guard of honour for two cricketers who will surely go down as all time greats.

Shaun Pollock quietly announced an end to an incredible career over which he managed 3800 test runs and 421 test wickets.

And of course Gilly. Gilly who inspired and entertained and delighted. Arguably the best wicketkeeper batsman of all time. Thanks Gilly: take a bow...they don't make 'em like you anymore.