Bloodsport

Someone very wise once said that sports doesnt develop charater . It brings out character... Amen.

The most ironic moment of my sunday was when before the Brazil - Aussie showdown , a commentator on ESPN - who definately looked like he needed a gym membership for a birthday present made a unsavory comment about Ronaldo's weight . @#$%!

I guess everyone cant be a hero ..some of us have to stand in the stadium and clap ..but when the gloves come off and the claps turn to blows ..does anyone really have a good perspective on the psyche of an athlete and what it takes to make or break it ? The similarities and differences between Ronaldo's current and previous form lie one Goal away .

I cant help but think back to early spring - when shell shocked I watch show after show in India complain , crib and fall one step short of slandering Sachin .

It upset me to no extent . People at work ..on the street ..in the malls ..it was like a black shadow everywhere . None of these same people - have ever played a competitive sport of any sort ..leave alone play it at a national / international level .So it bears no surprise - the complete lack of understanding and disregard fo health , sports related injuries , mental strenght and other hurdles in the way of athletes .

I remember one specific headline that said that Sachin didnt have killer instinct . This weekend - I had gooseflesh on my arms reading a similar one that said Ronaldo couldnt convert goals.

Sachin was a shy school kid who I've seen at the nets in MIG Cricket Club . That same year - when he debuted , my brother remarked that it was the same guy from MIG .When he wasspending days, weeks , years trying to get a break in the politically dominated and class consious cricket team india had in the yester years - where were these reporters?
When Ronaldo was born in his abject neighbourhood in Rio and spent night after night practicing his legwork and played for league after league ..every victory a step closer to his dream :
Where were these reporters ?
How can you talk about his inablity to convert a goal when you werent in the picture while he converted his freaking Life ?! ...Beats me .

Someone at work asked me last week as I nervously watched Ronaldinho warm up before the match why soccer and cricket were so popular among Indians . I said its because they were sports of the poor people . One out of 22 people or sometimes more needed a ball ..or a bat to play . All you really needed was a dream. You could have 2-3 matches going on the same ground even ..forget the ground ..garages,long corridorrs and streets would do as well.

Which is why Sachin changed the face of cricket for so many of us . Personally - I cant breathewhile the guy steps onto the pitch to bat .

In my cube at work pinned to my softboard - I have an article from the Hindustan Times. Dated March 22 2006 . Titled " Let him be ..Let him choose" ..I wish I could type out the entire article . Every sports and cricket fan needs to read this .

Khair - what is basically says is that we live our lives vicariously through theirs .We grew up along side Sachin ..watched as the boy became a man ..the man became a legend and the legend became a God ...and then selfishly as magic flickered , got upset as the talisman that was supposed to last foreveer ..faltered ..showed signs of being human .

Coming back ..
We keep saying that the name on the front of the jersey matters more than that on the back ..yet selfishly we burden these poor athletes with the responsibility of the entire game -

Have you noticed - when Sachin scores a century - he doesnt look at the stands at the scores of people or flashing reporters ...he looks at the sky . When Ronaldinho steps out on the field ..you cant miss the sombre sign of the cross and his looking up at the blue too .

Have you seen them break into smiles ? in the middle of the game .
Thats how dangerous these athletes are . Anyone who has ever been in any kind of showdown - corporate , civil , or sport related will tell you that there is nothing more disarming or lethal than an adversary who smiles at you . Because while you may be in the game for your own reasons - he's in there just for love ..
Truth is - these players are living their dream , loving their Gods ..and we are nothing but lucky to be the presence of immense talent.

I'm 27 now . Definately more cautious and risk averse than I was when I was 19 . When a 19 year old athlete steps out onto the greens - its different than a 27 year old doing the same . Its not about the age - its the experience . While experience is the best teacher of them all - what it also does is make us aware of more than anything ..of things that can go wrong , chances that may not come our way again ..and the moments that cause a split second hestitation .

Then the media goes beserk and drops words like killer instinct , guts , fighting spirit and what not . Any Given Day - from stars to soul khadi . All in a days work.

But trust me ...when push will come to shove and when its mayday ...what is not going to matter is the size of the dog in the fight ..whats going to change everything .
...is the size of the fight in the dog .
And something tells me theres a lot of fight left .
Meanwhile - I fold my hands and pray .