4th...er, 1st-5th

Firstly, the first fourth umpire. On second thoughts, standing first in the fourth umpires we know of- Prem Panicker blogs, and I am glad.

Secondly, thank you to Rahul Bhatia for pointing me thataway.

Thirdly, also discovered another Uncut worth biting into. Especially for what it potentially could offer.

Fourthly, 'Fourth Umpire' finally has some credibility (after DD's violent murder of the term)

Fifthly and lastly, I must remember my childhood dislike for numbers and stop this tedious post.

A Red Istanbul, indeed

I missed it, and it seems to have been one amazing match. If you have a final as big as the Champion’s League that features 6 goals, you know it must have been unbelievable. When you know that the 6 goals did not separate the two teams, and penalties decided the day, you cam imagine the drama. When you see that one team lagged 3-zip at half time, you know you should have stayed up at night.
This is one of those areas where I invariably enjoy the pleasures of neutrality. Ok, so I had a soft spot for Liverpool going into the finals, but not enough to sit up and watch the match into the wee hours. AS it turns out, I really should have. Now I must await the replays. To see Maldini (53seconds???!)and Crespo score; Gerard, Smicer and XabiAlonso script a stunning comeback, and then see Milan crumble under the pressure of penalties.

Bah to Wenger, Ferguson, even Mourinho. Benitez is the man.

ps-It is a system I cannot claim to know the intricacies of, but a setup that does not allow champions to defend their crown is surely a flawed one. I thought the shouting about Liverpool's title defence before the finals was a bit prematurem, but surely this win should prompt a rethink.
While the FA ruled themselves out of salvaging the situation a while back, there are still calls galore for a review of the rules, and hope for Liverpool yet.

A quote

Greg Chappell is now india's coach (and we all have something to say about it).

One of the first things we read about him, besides his committment to excellence, are his opinions on apna Sachin. It is interesting to see how the same quote has been interpreted by different editorials. First, what he has said:
"Everyone goes through different phases in their career;...He's been around for about 15 years and most of those 15 years have been extraordinary. He's had some down periods recently. He's had some injuries. He's perhaps had a bit of a crisis about what his role is in the team...";
"I just need to sit down with him and work out where he's at and where he wants to go, what expectations and goals he has. Hopefully I can motivate him and present him with some new challenges."

"I don't think he's ever going to be the player he was...You change. You're a different person in your 30s compared to when you're an 18-year-old. You just have to learn to play accordingly. In many ways you can be better, in many ways you can't be, because you're not as flexible in body and mind as you used to be. There are other things going on in his life that he didn't have as a young player. All he needs is to feel welcome, wanted and to have a meaningful role in the team.
..I'm sure he can bounce back, maybe not to the great heights he reached before, but bounce back and play an important role. To work with a player of that quality will be a privilege and an honour."

Cricinfo's report on these quotes is headlined "I am sure Sachin can bounce back".
Like the report, it is a simple statement of a quote. In fact, if anything, the headline would give you the impression that Chappell admits that Tendulkar is not at his best, but is also sure that he can regain his touch. Effectively, a positive statement.

Rediff's report was headlined(a bit dramatically)"Tendulkar may not regain earlier form:Chappell"
Again, this was just a simple quote turned to a headline, but the impression one would get is that poor ol Chappelli had just rubbed a lot of Indian fans the wrong way by devaluing their Master's worth. Pretty much a negative statement.
They have, since, said that if we (the readers) had thought Chappell was saying something shocking, we may be wrong because of Gaekwad, Wadekar and Mongia's reactions to this.
To be fair, Rediff did not make any statement. But I just believe the way headlines scream out at youwhen you are surfing plays a fair role in your interpretation of a report or, in this case, quotes. Since, they have gone on to make a bit more of an issue of this by asking us whether we think the new coach is being unecessarily harsh:
"Do you agree with Chappell's assessment of the batting genius? Or do you think that the new coach has started on the wrong foot by commenting on India's biggest sporting icon?"

'Batting genius', leading us to on the path that a (foreign, new, unfamiliar) coach is making a statement about or pride and joy, the great Sachin. 'Started on the wrong foot...commenting on India's biggest sporting icon"= how can Chappell start by a (negative) statement about our hero?

The guy made a simple remark which, to me, a lot of people wish a lot of other people would understand about Sachin and Indian cricket- that he cannot be the dominant force of the 90s, his role is different, he has changed as a person etc.

I guess this is a long post to make a small point, but it just seemed that the same quote has been habdled very differently in two different places.

Full

my, I am stuffed
have been eating all these words of mine, you see...
:)

coaching a decision

In a few hours the Committee that ‘interviewed’ the candidates hoping to be India’s next cricket coach are expected to make an announcement. It has clearly and conveniently been stated that the announcement will be merely that-an announcement; it is hoping for way too much to expect anything conclusive to be revealed. Rediff, though, seems to be a little more optimistic. In the same breath that they say June 15 is the deadline, they say the coach may be named today. The BCCI as I know it will announce the coach just before a good night’s sleep on June 15. If not later. (If I have to eat these words, I am perfectly fine and hungry)

Cricinfo’s account of things (the only report I have read thus far) paints a helplessly predictable picture. Delays in the process. One candidate spending about three times the amount of time he was allotted, and another being rushed due to prior appointments (with the PM, no less- mostly about tax exemptions for the Champions Trophy, amongst other things, I am sure. Of course, The Honourable Shri Dalmiyaji was present not only at the interviewing process but was accompanying Ranbir Mahendra to the PMO. Or is Mahendra the one who was tagging along?)

Jimmy Amarnath has been, quite frankly, a bit of a pain in recent times. One had just begun recovering from his singing exploits on Fourth Umpire last month, and now he’s been cooing inanities on the coaching issue- the use of Fair&Lovely to enhance his coachin“I don’t have a laptop, but I have a lap”, and clichés about an Indian coach for the Indian team. Before I sound completely prejudiced, I do not dislike the guy. But really, there is nothing much to suggest (scroll down to the bottom) that he makes good coach material; and the noises in favour of him (made mostly by himself) are sadly for the wrong reasons. As is the biggest pull for haynes- the fact that he knows the West Indies, and we play the next World Cup there. Er- what about Tests, then?

What's interesting is how both sides of the process d the contenders) state that money is not a concern. If that is true, hallelujah for passionate cricket Boards and coaches. (hmmm, why am I not convinced...)
I guess Chappell seems the most likely to get it, though I wouldn't bet my money on anything here. Something in my gut says Moody would do a good job, and is more likely to instill the attitude and professionalism that is the Australian Way, but then- what do I know.

-If yesterday was anything to go by, don’t be surprised if the decision is made an hour or so late on account of faulty air conditioning or something.
-and how come Sri Lanka is waiting for India to complete their process before fixing on their coach?

Madrid, and sport

Ah, a passionate footbal fan returns to the blogosphere.

Though it is more like he has just arrived.

Shane's ton

Warne's got a hundred, and a smashing one at that!

Jolly jolly. This is good. It has been long overdue, and though I have my doubts, he still harbours hopes of retiring with Test hundred under his belt.
Before all that though, he has Strauss and Pietersen to get out, even if it is not much of a challenge for ol' Warney. (that is, iof Pietersen gets to play in the Ashes)

a blot

If people are so jobless, why can't they create a worthwile blog?
(er...stupid question, sorry)
Wankers.
Sania fake

bravo, smith

The Smith- Bravo controversy is really threatening to get nasty (if it is not already).
Both Boards have backed their players in an issue that is supposed to have been resolved by the Match referee's hearing. Apprently not, for Smith has taken this allegation to heart, and is ready to make a fist of it. Which, somehow for me, is in keeping with his gritty, almost squabbly nature that I perceive.
I guess for Smith, where he is coming from, this sort of an allegation is not merely a question of his conduct but raises many more layers that would seem uncomfortable given the racial issue back home. So it is understandable that he get worked up, but as Will points out, why would these guys make up something like this? (well, that's one oway of saying I hope these guys are not making it up)

What I wonder is what he means by "he will take it further"...? Sounds nasty, but what does he plan to do, then?