So after an unintentional sabbatical from blogging, today seems an appropriate time to reflect back on the second half of 2011 considering it's the NFL playoffs and there are no night games scheduled.
Let's see, since the last post, the following happened, in no particular order.
- Made a trip to the Northeast (Boston) and to the Northwest (Portland) in a span of 2 weeks for professional and personal reasons.
- Moved from Vernon Hills to Prospect Heights, leaving behind a fully-furnished apartment to a clean-slate whiteboard (literally, the paint in this house is snow-white).
- NFL season started and ended (September to January) and thus the exile from blogging.
- Joined a Fantasy Football league and for a change, won the regular season and finished 3rd overall for a rookie season.
- Gave in to a long-standing demand and got a good deal on ...wait for it....An Apple product. We are officially in the Apple cult. Proud owners of a 4th generation iPod Touch. Somewhere Steve Jobs is saying; "I Win" (evil laughter all around).
A note about Fantasy Football. While the excitement about the league was palpable, it took the fun out of the NFL games. Instead of enjoying the great season, it made all the Pseudo-General Managers (Read: the suckers who lost valuable Sundays) battle it out for individual glory and the few superstars to earn their position in the team. Heartbreaks and blowout victories of a made-up league has unfortunately lost a customer; I am no longer playing Fantasy Football starting next year. This is a commitment I intend to fulfill for myself and for K, who has given me dirty looks all throughout the season for trying to stare and refresh the GameCenter website and the FF App on the iPod Touch for the best part of 4+ months, just in the hope that my player is going to score and score big.
More importantly, 2011 was probably the quickest year to fly past me in recent memory. The whole year was a blur with lots of great times and anxious moments. Welcomed the new year in the company of relatives and we are off to a fast start once again (it's already the 8th).
Here's to a great 2012 to all of you. Spend the year enjoying life because once December comes along, let's hope for 2 things (1) That the Mayan Calendar is wrong and (2) If they happen to be correct, there are no regrets for the life we spent on this Earth.
Cheers and Go Pats!!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday, July 10, 2011
4th of July - NJ, PA, NYC
DISCLAIMER: The post is ridiculously long even for my standards, continue at your own discretion. Just kidding.
Ahhhh - the joy of July!!!
4th of July weekend, a trip to NY/NJ to meet who else - you guessed it. S, S, Y and A {identities protected as these folks are VIPs and are in the witness protection program of a high profile case}.
With that out of the way, K and I left town on Friday night in a highly tension-filled ride to Milwaukee with traffic problems ensuring that we almost missed our flight to LaGuardia. But, of course we made it to the airport on time (got to say, Kirti ran like a deer to the terminal) and we were on our way.
Flew with Frontier for the first time and must say, in spite of staying true to the words "Discount Airline", the warm and delicious chocolate chip cookies was a welcome surprise.
An hour's drive from LGA to Mahwah gave the 4 of us some much needed face time. It is always fun to meet Sam and Such and this time was no different. After a great dinner (chicken biryani), we sat down (or should I say stood up) for some play time on Sam's newest toy - the Kinect. Thank God for my experience with the Wii, the games were fun, add to it the 55" Samsung flat-screen, it was an awesome night. Called it a night a little past 2:30 AM.
The next day, after picking up Y and A from Newark, the 6 musketeers (or should I say, proud members of T-Group) were off to Edison for lunch. Next stop - Manalapan, NJ for some outdoor Laser Tag. The greatly forested area seemed like a training camp for the US Army with folks in fatigues and the guns resembling the real deal. After a good 2.5 hour fire-drill, without knowing where folks are firing at you and you pretty much staking out your post, it was time to head back home. Overall, the experience could have been better had the playing field been smaller. But if you are not into regular workouts, this was a great way to lose some of the unwanted "areas of ridicule".
After a smooth ride back home with Captain Sam at the controls of the flight a.k.a The Highlander, it was time for some great food (Thank you Such, again) and a round of Carrom. Its been nearly 10 years since I last played, but it was good to get the fingers have some fun as well. Called it a night well past midnight with a promise to get out of home early for our planned trip to the Poconos.
And it was Sunday, clearly 2+ hours behind schedule and the heavens wanting to explode. And explode it did, with the 2 hour journey to the Poconos (Bushkill Waterfalls, in particular) almost sabotaged by the downpour. It was deja-vu all over again (Re: Memorial Day disaster) but this time, nothing was going to stop the determined group. With the plans to go river-tubing washed aside, we concentrated on our efforts to enjoy Bushkill to the max. And boy, it did not disappoint. Great hiking trails and a terrific waterfall (I am talking to you, Bridesmaid Falls), it was a fantastic way to spend a rain-drenched holiday weekend. All 6 of us took turns underneath the tremendous power of the falls, with the boys spending some extra time right near the feet. Looking at us, a few more folks braved the water and jumped in. Normally it would be Sam taking the lead, but this time it was Yog who egged Sam to join him. K's constant pestering about me being careful in the rains (considering what happened last time around I was getting all macho) was to no avail as I too had no reservations about taking a dip.
Thank God, my health stayed the course and I was not a nuisance to the rest of the gang. After completing the 2 hour trek, we went to a shooting range where we actually fired real weapons. Another first for me and K, we shot a 44 mm revolver and were just about to fire an AK-47 when it was time and the range closed. So close, yet so far. The recoil from the 44 mm Magnum Research was so powerful that it was unbelievable at first but then the "macho" in me brought back a sense of control.
It was time to head back to NJ and cap off the night with some Malaysian food at Penang (when K insists, all the horsemen bow down to the queen).
Next day with our return trip to Chi-town looming, we headed to NYC and explore some unvisited locations, namely Wall Street, Ground Zero and Central Park. With those in the bank, we bid adieu to Y, A, Sam and Such and spent another 2 hours at LGA with our flights delayed.
We finally got back home and dreaded the next 4 days of work. I was praying that the workload be light and guess what, the Lords up above listened. While starting tomorrow, the pains of a grueling schedule will try to take its toll, the weekend trip with these guys gave us a much needed break and a fresh start to July.
Until next time, Good Night and Good Luck!!
Ahhhh - the joy of July!!!
4th of July weekend, a trip to NY/NJ to meet who else - you guessed it. S, S, Y and A {identities protected as these folks are VIPs and are in the witness protection program of a high profile case}.
With that out of the way, K and I left town on Friday night in a highly tension-filled ride to Milwaukee with traffic problems ensuring that we almost missed our flight to LaGuardia. But, of course we made it to the airport on time (got to say, Kirti ran like a deer to the terminal) and we were on our way.
Flew with Frontier for the first time and must say, in spite of staying true to the words "Discount Airline", the warm and delicious chocolate chip cookies was a welcome surprise.
An hour's drive from LGA to Mahwah gave the 4 of us some much needed face time. It is always fun to meet Sam and Such and this time was no different. After a great dinner (chicken biryani), we sat down (or should I say stood up) for some play time on Sam's newest toy - the Kinect. Thank God for my experience with the Wii, the games were fun, add to it the 55" Samsung flat-screen, it was an awesome night. Called it a night a little past 2:30 AM.
The next day, after picking up Y and A from Newark, the 6 musketeers (or should I say, proud members of T-Group) were off to Edison for lunch. Next stop - Manalapan, NJ for some outdoor Laser Tag. The greatly forested area seemed like a training camp for the US Army with folks in fatigues and the guns resembling the real deal. After a good 2.5 hour fire-drill, without knowing where folks are firing at you and you pretty much staking out your post, it was time to head back home. Overall, the experience could have been better had the playing field been smaller. But if you are not into regular workouts, this was a great way to lose some of the unwanted "areas of ridicule".
After a smooth ride back home with Captain Sam at the controls of the flight a.k.a The Highlander, it was time for some great food (Thank you Such, again) and a round of Carrom. Its been nearly 10 years since I last played, but it was good to get the fingers have some fun as well. Called it a night well past midnight with a promise to get out of home early for our planned trip to the Poconos.
And it was Sunday, clearly 2+ hours behind schedule and the heavens wanting to explode. And explode it did, with the 2 hour journey to the Poconos (Bushkill Waterfalls, in particular) almost sabotaged by the downpour. It was deja-vu all over again (Re: Memorial Day disaster) but this time, nothing was going to stop the determined group. With the plans to go river-tubing washed aside, we concentrated on our efforts to enjoy Bushkill to the max. And boy, it did not disappoint. Great hiking trails and a terrific waterfall (I am talking to you, Bridesmaid Falls), it was a fantastic way to spend a rain-drenched holiday weekend. All 6 of us took turns underneath the tremendous power of the falls, with the boys spending some extra time right near the feet. Looking at us, a few more folks braved the water and jumped in. Normally it would be Sam taking the lead, but this time it was Yog who egged Sam to join him. K's constant pestering about me being careful in the rains (considering what happened last time around I was getting all macho) was to no avail as I too had no reservations about taking a dip.
Thank God, my health stayed the course and I was not a nuisance to the rest of the gang. After completing the 2 hour trek, we went to a shooting range where we actually fired real weapons. Another first for me and K, we shot a 44 mm revolver and were just about to fire an AK-47 when it was time and the range closed. So close, yet so far. The recoil from the 44 mm Magnum Research was so powerful that it was unbelievable at first but then the "macho" in me brought back a sense of control.
It was time to head back to NJ and cap off the night with some Malaysian food at Penang (when K insists, all the horsemen bow down to the queen).
Next day with our return trip to Chi-town looming, we headed to NYC and explore some unvisited locations, namely Wall Street, Ground Zero and Central Park. With those in the bank, we bid adieu to Y, A, Sam and Such and spent another 2 hours at LGA with our flights delayed.
We finally got back home and dreaded the next 4 days of work. I was praying that the workload be light and guess what, the Lords up above listened. While starting tomorrow, the pains of a grueling schedule will try to take its toll, the weekend trip with these guys gave us a much needed break and a fresh start to July.
Until next time, Good Night and Good Luck!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Weekend in Chicago
With the summer - or sort of summer - kicking in, pollen season is in full bloom. And just like Phoolan Devi wrecking havoc in her heydays, Pollen Devi was leaving a trail of sneezers and wheezers on the war path. Your's truly truly had a disastrous few days beginning of June emptying boxes of tissues along the way and making Walgreens a tad bit happier with my spending on medications. I cannot remember the years prior to this whether my health was this bad, but I am thinking I am not immune to these allergies. Sundays have been particularly bad - for K - considering I have been bed-ridden almost 2 straight weekends - while she took on the regular Sunday-tasks upon herself. Poor soul :)
But (hopefully) I have conquered the elements now. To celebrate that and the fact that the Taste of Chicago was happening this weekend, K and I decided to make a trip to the city to have some fun with cuisines from Chicago.
After a round of samplers from various outlets, we took a lesson in making tasty Potstickers from Ms. Ying (from Ying's Kitchen - who repeatedly reminded us that she has been teaching Asian cooking for the past 12+ years). The funny part was when she showed us a map of China and to the amusement of the audience indicated that China was shaped like a chicken with no feet. It is actually true - China does look like a chicken with no feet. By the way, did you know that Beijing is the neck and Shanghai is the breast and Ying is from the head.
I must admit that I have never seen quite a few places in downtown even though I have been there a few times. Guess I can check off Buckingham Fountain, Magnificent Mile, Water Tower Place and Hancock Observatory from my bucket list. Beautiful weather and a non-cranky K made my day worth it. What a wonderful city Chicago is to walk and spend a day out with folks who can tag along. Probably the only things left to do in the city is take the architectural tour on a boat and eat at one of the restaurants on the River Walk.
The peace on the ride back home was interrupted by a group of tweeners who kept to themselves (loudly) but didn't do the other tired travelers a favor by keeping quiet and in the process taking the award for Most Obnoxious Person/Group Traveling in a Train.
July 4th weekend is next up and K and I cannot wait to get out of the city. Next up: New Jersey.
But (hopefully) I have conquered the elements now. To celebrate that and the fact that the Taste of Chicago was happening this weekend, K and I decided to make a trip to the city to have some fun with cuisines from Chicago.
After a round of samplers from various outlets, we took a lesson in making tasty Potstickers from Ms. Ying (from Ying's Kitchen - who repeatedly reminded us that she has been teaching Asian cooking for the past 12+ years). The funny part was when she showed us a map of China and to the amusement of the audience indicated that China was shaped like a chicken with no feet. It is actually true - China does look like a chicken with no feet. By the way, did you know that Beijing is the neck and Shanghai is the breast and Ying is from the head.
I must admit that I have never seen quite a few places in downtown even though I have been there a few times. Guess I can check off Buckingham Fountain, Magnificent Mile, Water Tower Place and Hancock Observatory from my bucket list. Beautiful weather and a non-cranky K made my day worth it. What a wonderful city Chicago is to walk and spend a day out with folks who can tag along. Probably the only things left to do in the city is take the architectural tour on a boat and eat at one of the restaurants on the River Walk.
The peace on the ride back home was interrupted by a group of tweeners who kept to themselves (loudly) but didn't do the other tired travelers a favor by keeping quiet and in the process taking the award for Most Obnoxious Person/Group Traveling in a Train.
July 4th weekend is next up and K and I cannot wait to get out of the city. Next up: New Jersey.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Memorial Day 2011
Between India's World Cup victory and now, there have been quite a few significant "world" events - like the Royal Wedding and the death of OBL - but I just thought there is nothing new to share about these topics anyways. For one, I still hold a grudge against England for all those years of colonial rule and the bloodshed that resulted in splitting an undivided India. Secondly, writing about OBL was just too sensitive (even for my blog) but more importantly there was nothing that I could have written that would have been even remotely interesting.
So finally, with the advent of summer, it was that time of the year when the sunrise feels just a little bit happier and the evenings a lot more longer - Memorial Day Weekend 2011. Just like last year, Kirti and I met with few of our closest friends from New Jersey (Sam and Such) and from Nebraska (Yogesh and Anuja).
The planning for the trip began much earlier in late March when a casual conversation turned into where to do we meet this year. Little did we know Y&A had already reserved their train tickets to Chicago with a simple IM on G-talk saying "we booked the train tickets...see you soon". What followed soon after that was a mad scramble to get S&S their flight tickets.
April flew by and May was just beginning to warm up and we couldn't wait to get them here. With a little bit of confusion (Y&A) and a whole lot of delays (S&S), the six of us finally were at one spot. While we met S&S last year and Anuja had (with a weird twist of fate) come home last year, it was a long time for Sameer, me and Yogesh to meet up. The last time was in Minneapolis - and that was ages ago.
We planned on going camping to a place called Oregon (roughly 90 miles from home and about 25 miles south of Rockford) - to Lowden State Park. We had rented a cabin for couple of days and had barbeque on the menu for both days. With Chef-in-chiefs (Yogesh and Such) being so good at what they do (prepping the chicken), the rest of us got to work with packing and getting ready on Saturday morning. Additional items on the menu included - corn, bhel, kababs, burritos and drinks, of course. With 2 cars packed to the rim, the ladies (driven by Kirti) and gents (driven by yours truly) were on our way out of Chicago. With one anxious moment (Kirti would vehemently disagree), we reached our destination (the cozy cabin with comfy bunk-bends and a double bed) with the weather gods threatening us with rain.
Undeterred by the gloomy climate, Sam started the grill and we followed his lead. Chomping on juicy chicken and corn for about an hour, we decided to get some action (by way of playing some tennis, cricket and hiking). The guys - went their separate ways playing tennis at a local school tennis court - while the ladies ended up with hiking and photo sessions.
At night, we fired up the grill again and had a nice bonfire where drinks were served and songs of old filled the evening. Once the wood turned to ash, we turned our attention to playing cards and Pictionary inside the cabin, wee hours in to the morning. The fun we had while playing Pictionary was a sight to behold as each one of us had a varying degree of emotions while trying to convey to the team the word on the card (anger, frustration, total confusion were just some of them) with the sand-clock reminding us of the impending time.
While we got away relatively unscathed on Saturday, the heavens reminded us that Mother Nature still holds all the power. She unleashed such an unrelenting downpour that we had no option but to wrap things up on Sunday afternoon and head back home. While K, A, Such and Y had at least got to brush their teeth and freshen up, Sam and I had to enjoy the bhel and coffee as-is.
We got home to Chicago on Sunday afternoon and feasted on veggie burgers and fries - what an awesome answer to crappy weather. Unfortunately, yours truly fell victim to a terrible cold that did not go away until after the weekend was over. Determined to work my way out of misery, I took my share of medications and felt just good enough to venture out for dinner. After a good time spent at TGIF, we came back home for another round of Pictionary and a card game called - Kaali ki Tirri.
While I was a spectator to what was unarguably the funniest round of Pictionary ever - Sameer imagining an Octopus to be an Amoeba, misinterpreting and funnily enough for the rest of us - calling the word Sundae a spelling mistake and venturing out to draw a wall calendar - which pretty much looked like a temple or a multi-storey building. Words cannot justify the fun that we had that night.
Soon enough, it was Monday and it was time for Y&A to head back to Nebraska (after spending a few hours in downtown Chicago). After barely making it in time for their train to downtown, Sam and I went back home and the four of us went out to lunch and ended up going to Wilmette to the Baha'i temple. While the ladies were keen to get some good pictures, Sam and I were more interested in the lovely beauties (architectural, that is *wink wink*). Despite signs of "no photography allowed", there was no dearth of aspiring photographers (including Sam) willfully and intentionally breaking the rules of the meditation place. With that all wrapped up, we had a nice round of mini-golf and we called the night with couple of hours of bowling.
Tuesday came quickly and alas, with all good things, this trip also came to an end. Kirti went to work early so that she could make it back in time for the drive to Milwaukee to drop Sam and Such.
We wish we could have more of these days everyday but memories of such an awesome and relaxing time are with us only in the photos and videos. We had a terrific time with you guys and we always wish for more.
Thanks Yogesh, Anuja, Sam and Sucheeta for spending a fantastic weekend with us.
Time to think about the July 4th weekend now. Oh wait, isn't that already done. Nevermind.
So finally, with the advent of summer, it was that time of the year when the sunrise feels just a little bit happier and the evenings a lot more longer - Memorial Day Weekend 2011. Just like last year, Kirti and I met with few of our closest friends from New Jersey (Sam and Such) and from Nebraska (Yogesh and Anuja).
The planning for the trip began much earlier in late March when a casual conversation turned into where to do we meet this year. Little did we know Y&A had already reserved their train tickets to Chicago with a simple IM on G-talk saying "we booked the train tickets...see you soon". What followed soon after that was a mad scramble to get S&S their flight tickets.
April flew by and May was just beginning to warm up and we couldn't wait to get them here. With a little bit of confusion (Y&A) and a whole lot of delays (S&S), the six of us finally were at one spot. While we met S&S last year and Anuja had (with a weird twist of fate) come home last year, it was a long time for Sameer, me and Yogesh to meet up. The last time was in Minneapolis - and that was ages ago.
We planned on going camping to a place called Oregon (roughly 90 miles from home and about 25 miles south of Rockford) - to Lowden State Park. We had rented a cabin for couple of days and had barbeque on the menu for both days. With Chef-in-chiefs (Yogesh and Such) being so good at what they do (prepping the chicken), the rest of us got to work with packing and getting ready on Saturday morning. Additional items on the menu included - corn, bhel, kababs, burritos and drinks, of course. With 2 cars packed to the rim, the ladies (driven by Kirti) and gents (driven by yours truly) were on our way out of Chicago. With one anxious moment (Kirti would vehemently disagree), we reached our destination (the cozy cabin with comfy bunk-bends and a double bed) with the weather gods threatening us with rain.
Undeterred by the gloomy climate, Sam started the grill and we followed his lead. Chomping on juicy chicken and corn for about an hour, we decided to get some action (by way of playing some tennis, cricket and hiking). The guys - went their separate ways playing tennis at a local school tennis court - while the ladies ended up with hiking and photo sessions.
At night, we fired up the grill again and had a nice bonfire where drinks were served and songs of old filled the evening. Once the wood turned to ash, we turned our attention to playing cards and Pictionary inside the cabin, wee hours in to the morning. The fun we had while playing Pictionary was a sight to behold as each one of us had a varying degree of emotions while trying to convey to the team the word on the card (anger, frustration, total confusion were just some of them) with the sand-clock reminding us of the impending time.
While we got away relatively unscathed on Saturday, the heavens reminded us that Mother Nature still holds all the power. She unleashed such an unrelenting downpour that we had no option but to wrap things up on Sunday afternoon and head back home. While K, A, Such and Y had at least got to brush their teeth and freshen up, Sam and I had to enjoy the bhel and coffee as-is.
We got home to Chicago on Sunday afternoon and feasted on veggie burgers and fries - what an awesome answer to crappy weather. Unfortunately, yours truly fell victim to a terrible cold that did not go away until after the weekend was over. Determined to work my way out of misery, I took my share of medications and felt just good enough to venture out for dinner. After a good time spent at TGIF, we came back home for another round of Pictionary and a card game called - Kaali ki Tirri.
While I was a spectator to what was unarguably the funniest round of Pictionary ever - Sameer imagining an Octopus to be an Amoeba, misinterpreting and funnily enough for the rest of us - calling the word Sundae a spelling mistake and venturing out to draw a wall calendar - which pretty much looked like a temple or a multi-storey building. Words cannot justify the fun that we had that night.
Soon enough, it was Monday and it was time for Y&A to head back to Nebraska (after spending a few hours in downtown Chicago). After barely making it in time for their train to downtown, Sam and I went back home and the four of us went out to lunch and ended up going to Wilmette to the Baha'i temple. While the ladies were keen to get some good pictures, Sam and I were more interested in the lovely beauties (architectural, that is *wink wink*). Despite signs of "no photography allowed", there was no dearth of aspiring photographers (including Sam) willfully and intentionally breaking the rules of the meditation place. With that all wrapped up, we had a nice round of mini-golf and we called the night with couple of hours of bowling.
Tuesday came quickly and alas, with all good things, this trip also came to an end. Kirti went to work early so that she could make it back in time for the drive to Milwaukee to drop Sam and Such.
We wish we could have more of these days everyday but memories of such an awesome and relaxing time are with us only in the photos and videos. We had a terrific time with you guys and we always wish for more.
Thanks Yogesh, Anuja, Sam and Sucheeta for spending a fantastic weekend with us.
Time to think about the July 4th weekend now. Oh wait, isn't that already done. Nevermind.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
World Champions - Once Again!!!
Let me start with this: INDIA IS THE WORLD CHAMPION OF ONE-DAY CRICKET.
We have waited 28 years for this day, having come real close in 2003. Lets just say that this victory, more so the path taken for this victory has re-ignited the passion and interest in me as a cricket fan which I was a few years back. Its been a case of redemption for the 2003 team members who played their best cricket during this edition of the World Cup. Sachin, Zaheer, Viru, Nehra, Yuvraj primarily come to mind from the feeble memories of the heartbreak in 2003.
While the league phase of the World Cup was nothing but ordinary due to the horrendous planning, the knock-out phase was just mind blowing. Knocking out your chief nemesis in the Quarters (the once mighty Australians), dismissing your arch rivals in the Semis (the always unpredictable Pakistanis) and holding your nerve to edge out possibly the best team in the tournament (the never-say-die Sri Lankans), I am truly delighted for Team India: THE MEN IN BLUE.
What once was an obsession during my teen years in India, Cricket had taken a back seat in the US with Team India focusing more on individual achievements rather than the team concept which is a must-have to win big tournaments. Sure, we won tours overseas and held our own in hostile environments in Australia and South Africa, but it was never gripping enough for me as a huge India fan to think of it as substantial victories. Growing up in India, if you did not win the World Cup, then moral victories are baseless - unless of course if you beat Pakistan.
I want to concentrate this post only on India's success in the knock-out rounds as that was when the Real World Cup started. While the drama of the group phases meant India faced Australia in Round 1, none of the other Quarter-Final games had the intrigue or the tension of a real contest. Never in the die-hard fans' wildest imagination would this scenario have unfolded that India's path to World Cup glory would have to pass through these opponents.
Australia vs. India - Ahmedabad:
Nerve-wracking from start to finish.
Did India have it in itself to withstand a century from one of the greatest players? - Check
Did India's famed batting lineup have the self belief to counter a deadly pace attack led by Brett Lee? - Check
Did we finally get the right combination of batsmen and bowlers that would have to adapt at every tense situation to come out on top? - Oh YES (Thanks for including Suresh Raina, the guy along with Yuvraj were masterful).
Did we finally feel relieved to get the "Cannot beat Australia" monkey off our backs? - HELL YEAH!!! (while this was not hard to believe as India had been on the upswing for a while everyone knew Australia is a different beast in WC cricket).
On to the next one.
Pakistan vs. India - Mohali:
Must have been scripted in the heavens.
India took their 4-0 record against Pakistan in World Cups and threw it out of the window. In past WCs, India's victory over Pakistan meant the WC is won, even if the eventual champions of the tournament would be Australia or in the case of the 1992 edition, Pakistan themselves. While everyone knows how the match turned out, it was interesting to see what happened at our company here. The Wipro team here planned to set up a conference room to broadcast the 2nd innings live. What an atmosphere!!! 50-70 people crammed in a room with laptops searching for any available "link" to the match - just in case if the primary link had stopped working. Cricinfo open on every available viewer's computer to catch ball-by-ball updates. Americans unfamiliar with the game, learning the nuances, the rules, the 'everything' of cricket in about 3.5 hours.
Thanks to some poor fielding during India's innings, a respectable score was on the cards for India's bowlers to defend. The start of the Pakistan innings was eerily similar to the Quarter-Finals in 1996 when Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar were blasting runs off of the Indian pacers. Then Venkatesh Prasad happened and the rest is history.
In this match, while wickets were steadily falling and there was no obvious hero for India in the bowling department, Misbah-ul-Haq happened and the rest is history.
While India has traditionally been incapable of throttling opponents with their bowling, this time around they smelled blood and went for the jugular. Dhoni, while accepting that he mis-read the pitch and turned to pace for the game, couldn't have fumbled with his game planning any worse but the master-stroke was getting Nehra in the side for R Ashwin and it worked wonders for India. The game was won in what we thought was unnecessarily made into a tense encounter by giving up easy runs in the field during the Pakistani innings. We lost Nehra to a broken hand but we were in the Finals.
Manmohan Singh did not show much emotions during or after the win, maybe because while Madam Gandhi and Rahul Baba were enjoying themselves with the public, they forgot to inform MMS that he too can savor the victory and enjoy the proceedings. What do we say, right, Puppet PM.
The Gods had smiled again and India moved on to what would be one of the greatest matches ever played in WC Finals History.
Sri Lanka vs. India - Mumbai:
Played under heavy security cover - and rightfully so, India played their strongest and most complete opponents in the form of the Lankan Lions who had won their Semifinal game against a wily New Zealand team that once again found themselves on the wrong side of the match. 6 WC Semifinal appearances and no victories to be proud of.
Dhoni vs. Sangakkara. Flair vs. Technique. Attitude vs. Grace.
Sachin vs. Murali. Champion vs. Champion.
WC hosts have never won a final - screw that. A Final's centurion has never lost a game - what humbug!! (Although, due credit to Mahela Jayawardena for a brilliant knock).
Had the makings of a truly memorable game and it did not disappoint one bit. While there will be many many news reports about the match in itself, the key thing would have been the number of people around the world who would have tuned up for this match. No matter who you are - a die-hard India or SL fan or just a die-hard cricket fan or a casual fan who would watch a game if shown or a once-passionate fan who wanted a reason to cheer for his team (I include myself in this group) - YOU SAW THIS MATCH. And it did not matter if the game started at 4:00 AM or 2:00 AM, you were not going to miss this for anything. The game was worth every bit of the hype. While "out-played" is not the right word, India clearly held their nerve in a nail-biter.
Thanks to Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Captain Cool, we won the game with a flourish and a huge six to crown India - WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS for the 2nd time.
In the post-match interview, some one asked Virat Kohli why the team carried Sachin on the shoulders and the response was simply brilliant. He said, "Sachin has carried Indian Cricket for almost 21 years, it was about time he was carried around". The greatest batsman of all time is finally a CHAMPION of the ODI format and that too in his home ground. Does this mean a farewell is on the cards? You never know with the Master Blaster. He is one ton away from a 100 hundreds.
So while India sits today as a 20-20 Champion, #1 Ranked Test Team and now ICC Champions, the only question I have now is - Where the hell is Poonam Pandey?
We have waited 28 years for this day, having come real close in 2003. Lets just say that this victory, more so the path taken for this victory has re-ignited the passion and interest in me as a cricket fan which I was a few years back. Its been a case of redemption for the 2003 team members who played their best cricket during this edition of the World Cup. Sachin, Zaheer, Viru, Nehra, Yuvraj primarily come to mind from the feeble memories of the heartbreak in 2003.
While the league phase of the World Cup was nothing but ordinary due to the horrendous planning, the knock-out phase was just mind blowing. Knocking out your chief nemesis in the Quarters (the once mighty Australians), dismissing your arch rivals in the Semis (the always unpredictable Pakistanis) and holding your nerve to edge out possibly the best team in the tournament (the never-say-die Sri Lankans), I am truly delighted for Team India: THE MEN IN BLUE.
What once was an obsession during my teen years in India, Cricket had taken a back seat in the US with Team India focusing more on individual achievements rather than the team concept which is a must-have to win big tournaments. Sure, we won tours overseas and held our own in hostile environments in Australia and South Africa, but it was never gripping enough for me as a huge India fan to think of it as substantial victories. Growing up in India, if you did not win the World Cup, then moral victories are baseless - unless of course if you beat Pakistan.
I want to concentrate this post only on India's success in the knock-out rounds as that was when the Real World Cup started. While the drama of the group phases meant India faced Australia in Round 1, none of the other Quarter-Final games had the intrigue or the tension of a real contest. Never in the die-hard fans' wildest imagination would this scenario have unfolded that India's path to World Cup glory would have to pass through these opponents.
Australia vs. India - Ahmedabad:
Nerve-wracking from start to finish.
Did India have it in itself to withstand a century from one of the greatest players? - Check
Did India's famed batting lineup have the self belief to counter a deadly pace attack led by Brett Lee? - Check
Did we finally get the right combination of batsmen and bowlers that would have to adapt at every tense situation to come out on top? - Oh YES (Thanks for including Suresh Raina, the guy along with Yuvraj were masterful).
Did we finally feel relieved to get the "Cannot beat Australia" monkey off our backs? - HELL YEAH!!! (while this was not hard to believe as India had been on the upswing for a while everyone knew Australia is a different beast in WC cricket).
On to the next one.
Pakistan vs. India - Mohali:
Must have been scripted in the heavens.
India took their 4-0 record against Pakistan in World Cups and threw it out of the window. In past WCs, India's victory over Pakistan meant the WC is won, even if the eventual champions of the tournament would be Australia or in the case of the 1992 edition, Pakistan themselves. While everyone knows how the match turned out, it was interesting to see what happened at our company here. The Wipro team here planned to set up a conference room to broadcast the 2nd innings live. What an atmosphere!!! 50-70 people crammed in a room with laptops searching for any available "link" to the match - just in case if the primary link had stopped working. Cricinfo open on every available viewer's computer to catch ball-by-ball updates. Americans unfamiliar with the game, learning the nuances, the rules, the 'everything' of cricket in about 3.5 hours.
Thanks to some poor fielding during India's innings, a respectable score was on the cards for India's bowlers to defend. The start of the Pakistan innings was eerily similar to the Quarter-Finals in 1996 when Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar were blasting runs off of the Indian pacers. Then Venkatesh Prasad happened and the rest is history.
In this match, while wickets were steadily falling and there was no obvious hero for India in the bowling department, Misbah-ul-Haq happened and the rest is history.
While India has traditionally been incapable of throttling opponents with their bowling, this time around they smelled blood and went for the jugular. Dhoni, while accepting that he mis-read the pitch and turned to pace for the game, couldn't have fumbled with his game planning any worse but the master-stroke was getting Nehra in the side for R Ashwin and it worked wonders for India. The game was won in what we thought was unnecessarily made into a tense encounter by giving up easy runs in the field during the Pakistani innings. We lost Nehra to a broken hand but we were in the Finals.
Manmohan Singh did not show much emotions during or after the win, maybe because while Madam Gandhi and Rahul Baba were enjoying themselves with the public, they forgot to inform MMS that he too can savor the victory and enjoy the proceedings. What do we say, right, Puppet PM.
The Gods had smiled again and India moved on to what would be one of the greatest matches ever played in WC Finals History.
Sri Lanka vs. India - Mumbai:
Played under heavy security cover - and rightfully so, India played their strongest and most complete opponents in the form of the Lankan Lions who had won their Semifinal game against a wily New Zealand team that once again found themselves on the wrong side of the match. 6 WC Semifinal appearances and no victories to be proud of.
Dhoni vs. Sangakkara. Flair vs. Technique. Attitude vs. Grace.
Sachin vs. Murali. Champion vs. Champion.
WC hosts have never won a final - screw that. A Final's centurion has never lost a game - what humbug!! (Although, due credit to Mahela Jayawardena for a brilliant knock).
Had the makings of a truly memorable game and it did not disappoint one bit. While there will be many many news reports about the match in itself, the key thing would have been the number of people around the world who would have tuned up for this match. No matter who you are - a die-hard India or SL fan or just a die-hard cricket fan or a casual fan who would watch a game if shown or a once-passionate fan who wanted a reason to cheer for his team (I include myself in this group) - YOU SAW THIS MATCH. And it did not matter if the game started at 4:00 AM or 2:00 AM, you were not going to miss this for anything. The game was worth every bit of the hype. While "out-played" is not the right word, India clearly held their nerve in a nail-biter.
Thanks to Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Captain Cool, we won the game with a flourish and a huge six to crown India - WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS for the 2nd time.
In the post-match interview, some one asked Virat Kohli why the team carried Sachin on the shoulders and the response was simply brilliant. He said, "Sachin has carried Indian Cricket for almost 21 years, it was about time he was carried around". The greatest batsman of all time is finally a CHAMPION of the ODI format and that too in his home ground. Does this mean a farewell is on the cards? You never know with the Master Blaster. He is one ton away from a 100 hundreds.
So while India sits today as a 20-20 Champion, #1 Ranked Test Team and now ICC Champions, the only question I have now is - Where the hell is Poonam Pandey?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Frustrations of a Different Kind
What have we allowed ourselves to become? How have we become so insulated from all the (crazy) things that have happened over the past few months? I guess we (Indians) will probably never have back problems. Why? Coz we don't have a spine.
We allow the scums to carry out their "work" and in due course, these become what we have become so accustomed to - SCAMS. Commonwealth Games SCAM, 2G Spectrum SCAM, Adarsh Society SCAM, Nira Radia, Lalit Modi, Aarushi Murder Case etc. Few years ago, the basic necessities of the common man were Food, Clothing and Shelter. Add a new "requirement" to the list .
In 50 years, I predict (no Nostradamus here) that India either will self-destruct or we will have another "East India Company" type takeover. Everyone is going to become so greedy, so corrupt that we are going to lose hope of any law and order and more importantly self belief.
Villains like Suresh Kalmadi, A Raja blatantly challenge the public, the media, the courts to audit them, but what has happened. Nothing. The way these individuals refuse to step down from their esteemed positions gives an idea how powerful these violators have become. Why? Because we have allowed this to happen.
Tonnes and tonnes of onions have been rotting in government storage allowing prices to spiral out of control. Things have become so bad that we have to import onions from Pakistan, of all the places. Why isn't Sharad Pawar (Honorable Minister for Agriculture) being questioned for such a crime? Few years ago, it was Wheat rotting, now it is Onions? Tomorrow it might be something just as basic as Cotton, then what?
The Cricket World Cup is less than a month away, but the World Famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata is not even ready, subsequently forcing the BCCI (in turn forced by the ICC) to shift the 3-4 matches (1 featuring India) to be moved to an alternate location. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) chief has vowed to get the stadium ready in time, only to be shot down (up until today). I think this just has to scare the public out of their wits, considering the CWG fiasco that almost put the lives of spectators and the athletes in serious jeopardy. How can someone or some organization which has advance knowledge of the World Cup schedule mess up planning in such a disastrous way. The blame must be shared by the BCCI top-honchos for this debacle.
The blazing economy, the rise of the middle class, the earning power of the people of India, all good things for the outside world to see. Now, we have the ignominy of sharing these "breaking news" with the rest of world to ridicule us to no end.
There is no accountability for anything. The Supreme Court can keep questioning but nothing ever happens. And in due course, the public will forget as newer and newer scams will replace the stale ones. A villain will rise (for a short time) and he too shall fade in memory. Come election year, I don't know how the UPA wins it for the 3rd consecutive time. Their actions, rather the obvious lack of it, on these "Bharatpremis" will once again be overshadowed by the promise of Roti, Kapda, Makaan and inadvertently - Scams.
We need change, in a bold way, in a way where every India holds every man accountable for his actions, responsible for every corrupt decision that empties the treasuries of the Government of India. Until that change happens, we will continue to allow these politicians, these babus to screw us, left, right and center.
I can continue to hope that things will be alright in the future, for us, for our kids and for generations of Indians. Until that happens, let us build the frustrations inside us only to be floored (and angered) by the next wave of "This just in....".
The clock is ticking.
We allow the scums to carry out their "work" and in due course, these become what we have become so accustomed to - SCAMS. Commonwealth Games SCAM, 2G Spectrum SCAM, Adarsh Society SCAM, Nira Radia, Lalit Modi, Aarushi Murder Case etc. Few years ago, the basic necessities of the common man were Food, Clothing and Shelter. Add a new "requirement" to the list .
In 50 years, I predict (no Nostradamus here) that India either will self-destruct or we will have another "East India Company" type takeover. Everyone is going to become so greedy, so corrupt that we are going to lose hope of any law and order and more importantly self belief.
Villains like Suresh Kalmadi, A Raja blatantly challenge the public, the media, the courts to audit them, but what has happened. Nothing. The way these individuals refuse to step down from their esteemed positions gives an idea how powerful these violators have become. Why? Because we have allowed this to happen.
Tonnes and tonnes of onions have been rotting in government storage allowing prices to spiral out of control. Things have become so bad that we have to import onions from Pakistan, of all the places. Why isn't Sharad Pawar (Honorable Minister for Agriculture) being questioned for such a crime? Few years ago, it was Wheat rotting, now it is Onions? Tomorrow it might be something just as basic as Cotton, then what?
The Cricket World Cup is less than a month away, but the World Famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata is not even ready, subsequently forcing the BCCI (in turn forced by the ICC) to shift the 3-4 matches (1 featuring India) to be moved to an alternate location. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) chief has vowed to get the stadium ready in time, only to be shot down (up until today). I think this just has to scare the public out of their wits, considering the CWG fiasco that almost put the lives of spectators and the athletes in serious jeopardy. How can someone or some organization which has advance knowledge of the World Cup schedule mess up planning in such a disastrous way. The blame must be shared by the BCCI top-honchos for this debacle.
The blazing economy, the rise of the middle class, the earning power of the people of India, all good things for the outside world to see. Now, we have the ignominy of sharing these "breaking news" with the rest of world to ridicule us to no end.
There is no accountability for anything. The Supreme Court can keep questioning but nothing ever happens. And in due course, the public will forget as newer and newer scams will replace the stale ones. A villain will rise (for a short time) and he too shall fade in memory. Come election year, I don't know how the UPA wins it for the 3rd consecutive time. Their actions, rather the obvious lack of it, on these "Bharatpremis" will once again be overshadowed by the promise of Roti, Kapda, Makaan and inadvertently - Scams.
We need change, in a bold way, in a way where every India holds every man accountable for his actions, responsible for every corrupt decision that empties the treasuries of the Government of India. Until that change happens, we will continue to allow these politicians, these babus to screw us, left, right and center.
I can continue to hope that things will be alright in the future, for us, for our kids and for generations of Indians. Until that happens, let us build the frustrations inside us only to be floored (and angered) by the next wave of "This just in....".
The clock is ticking.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas
Wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope the new year brings you all that you hoped and prayed for.
Stay safe and have fun!!
Stay safe and have fun!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Au Contraire
Whatever I said last week about snowfalls, please do me a big favor and throw that "good feeling" out of the window. I guess I jinxed it as Mother Nature was not happy today (She still isn't done) and everyone is feeling her wrath. A weekend in snowy, wintry Chicago will change the perception as to how you look at the upcoming season.
So strong was the blizzard this weekend that the New York Giants football team was stranded in Kansas City and they were not even scheduled to play the KC Chiefs. They were to play the Minnesota Vikings at the Mall of America Field (previously the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) in downtown Minneapolis. A terrible snowstorm did not even allow travel near the state of Minnesota and the old stadium could not withstand the pounding.
Here is how the stadium would look on a good day.
And here is the stadium today.
The city got pounded with snow and unfortunately the storm dragged its feet all the way to Chicago and the rest of Illinois. Sitting inside my house, the noise outside is so scary compounded by the constant rumbling of the trees and the swirling effect of the windy snow that it has made yesterday (26F and pouring rain) look like a distant dream. And oh, it is coooold outside.
You must have wondered, one week he talks about all the "joys" of snowfalls and Christmas decorations and the very next week he writes horror stories about incessant blizzards and scary noises. I am as taken aback by the level of destruction that such a day can cause and frankly, it plays tricks on your mind. You do realize that I did not harp about the bitter cold last week. I would save that for another day (in February). Last week it was all about sharing the joy, today it is all about sharing the pain.
There is however one good news to share. The University of Akron won its first NCAA tournament. We are the champions of College Soccer.. While it may not be the biggest NCAA sport as compared to Football and Basketball, but who cares, it is our day and I am damn proud of being from Akron U. Go Zips.
In unrelated news, my cousin got married this weekend and I called him to wish him good luck on a happy married life. One of the first things he asks me is "Brother, give me some tips" and I told him "You are on your own". Guess that was not the inspiration he was looking for. But being a veteran of a 5 1/2 year marriage, I would say to him, be ready to make a lot of sacrifices, treat her well, don't take her or yourself for granted just because you are married and most importantly, have a good time.
So strong was the blizzard this weekend that the New York Giants football team was stranded in Kansas City and they were not even scheduled to play the KC Chiefs. They were to play the Minnesota Vikings at the Mall of America Field (previously the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) in downtown Minneapolis. A terrible snowstorm did not even allow travel near the state of Minnesota and the old stadium could not withstand the pounding.
Here is how the stadium would look on a good day.
And here is the stadium today.
The city got pounded with snow and unfortunately the storm dragged its feet all the way to Chicago and the rest of Illinois. Sitting inside my house, the noise outside is so scary compounded by the constant rumbling of the trees and the swirling effect of the windy snow that it has made yesterday (26F and pouring rain) look like a distant dream. And oh, it is coooold outside.
You must have wondered, one week he talks about all the "joys" of snowfalls and Christmas decorations and the very next week he writes horror stories about incessant blizzards and scary noises. I am as taken aback by the level of destruction that such a day can cause and frankly, it plays tricks on your mind. You do realize that I did not harp about the bitter cold last week. I would save that for another day (in February). Last week it was all about sharing the joy, today it is all about sharing the pain.
There is however one good news to share. The University of Akron won its first NCAA tournament. We are the champions of College Soccer.. While it may not be the biggest NCAA sport as compared to Football and Basketball, but who cares, it is our day and I am damn proud of being from Akron U. Go Zips.
In unrelated news, my cousin got married this weekend and I called him to wish him good luck on a happy married life. One of the first things he asks me is "Brother, give me some tips" and I told him "You are on your own". Guess that was not the inspiration he was looking for. But being a veteran of a 5 1/2 year marriage, I would say to him, be ready to make a lot of sacrifices, treat her well, don't take her or yourself for granted just because you are married and most importantly, have a good time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)