99, 93

SRT scored 99 and 93 in his last two innings vs South Africa in Ireland. His 99 was a fighting knock in bowler friendly conditions while his 93 was an attacking thoroughly enjoyable knock where he used the pull shot with great effect against the quicks Ntini and Nel. And while his critics either have their feet stuck firmly in their mouth, or are busy writing sunny reports about the ‘return’ of the master batsman, the fact remains that we was never ‘gone.’ He has always been a consistent performer, an unselfish team player, a thorough gentleman on and off the field, playing with the same enthusiasm that he played with 17 years ago. Nothing pleases me more than the sight of SRT raising his bat towards the pavilion.

For the statistically inclined, check this post in cricinfo: 15000 and counting. Some excerpts and my take:
When Sachin Tendulkar reached his fifty in the second ODI against South Africa, he went past another milestone in a career chequered with record-breaking moments. Tendulkar became the first batsman to accumulate 15,000 runs in ODIs - he was the first to 10,000 runs as well. In the 189 ODI innings he has played when India has won, Tendulkar has scored 9061 runs at an average of 56.98, with a strike-rate of 89.72, all figures higher than his overall average. Which means his contribution has been vital for India wins. Conversely, India wins if SRT performs well.
He averages 47.96 in 36 finals (of tournaments involving three teams or more). Which means the weak argument that some critics present that he is not a big match player is horse shit. He averages 89.10 at a strike-rate of nearly 100 when the team has won in a final. Which could mean, the only time that we have probably won a tournament final is thanks to SRT.

Bald eagle soars off endangered list

Bald eagle soars off endangered list. Also read: Bald Eagles No Longer Endangered, U.S. Says

Today there are nearly 10,000 bald eagles in the contiguous 48 states, compared to a documented 417 in 1963 when the bird was on the verge of extinction everywhere except in Alaska and Canada where it has continued to thrive.

The eagle is my favorite bird. I am extraordinarily fascinated by them. Look at these pics. Aren’t they magnificent?

All pics are from www.baldeagleinfo.com.

Here is some interesting info:
The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of American, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent. Incidentally, while the eagle has been officially recognized as America's national bird, there have been dissenters who feel the bird was the wrong choice. Benjamin Franklin wrote:

I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly, you may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him.... Besides he is a rank coward; the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest. . . of America.. . . For a truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on.

The TURKEY? Just so that we are on the same page, and there is absolutely no room for error, this is the bird Benjamin Franklin is talking about.

Sigh...

For more pictures and info on the Bald Eagle check this link.

Bong hits 4 Jesus

Anybody follow the Bong hits 4 Jesus case?
The Supreme Court ruled against a former high school student Monday in the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner case -- a split decision that limits students' free speech rights. Joseph Frederick was 18 when he unveiled the 14-foot paper sign on a public sidewalk outside his Juneau, Alaska, high school in 2002. Principal Deborah Morse confiscated it and suspended Frederick. He sued, taking his case all the way to the nation's highest court. The justices ruled that Frederick's free speech rights were not violated by his suspension over what the majority's written opinion called a "sophomoric" banner.

What I find funny is that this incident happened in 2002. Frederick is halfway across the globe, teaching English to students in China. Now 24, he told reporters in March that he displayed the banner in a deliberate attempt to provoke a response from principal Morse, by whom he had been disciplined previously. But Frederick claimed his message of free speech is very important to him, even if the wording of the infamous banner itself was not. "I find it absurdly funny," he said. "I was not promoting drugs. ... I assumed most people would take it as a joke."

Yeah, well you shouldn’t have sued then.

Feeling Blue

JetBlue Airways founder and Chairman David Neeleman admitted Tuesday that he wasn't pleased when his company's board forced him to give up the CEO spot in May, and said he believes he'd still have the job if not for the ice storm and service meltdown that hit the airline in February

Strange are the boardroom machinations. I do understand such decisions are taken in the ‘best interests of the stockholders’ and considering the competitiveness of the corporate world, the decision may be right. What bothers me is that he is the founder of the company. For me, it’s like saying, “Thanks for designing and building this wonderful vehicle that we are all riding in. We just don’t want you driving it anymore.”

Aint no sunshine when she’s gone…

I am always perplexed by the amount of print space Paris Hilton occupies. Anyway, this is what Smoke Signals has to say about the whole charade of sending her to prison and the unnecessary media attention.

CNN—the most trusted name in news noise—covers CNN covering Paris Hilton— who was thrown in jail for being a drunk, then released after just five days inside because the LA county sheriff ‘feared for her condition’. News, clearly, of such paramount importance, that CNN decided to dump an interview with Michael Moore, maker of a movie on the American health industry, to make room for the ditz with more money than sense.

The iPhone and all that jazz

Are you ready for the iPhone launch? Check out the cost associated with owning an iPhone. And here is a hilarious document that AT&T is circulating.

Can’t wait to get your hands on one? For $100 to $300, you can pay someone to stand in line for you outside a local Apple or AT&T retail store.

The reviews raise some expected complaints. Surfing the Web on AT&T's Edge network is sloooooow, and its cell phone service is unreliable. (Pogue: "If Verizon's slogan is, "Can you hear me now?" AT&T's should be, "I'm losing you.") USA Today's Edward Baig, attempting to demonstrate the iPhone live on CNBC, couldn't get Internet access. The iPhone is also missing some features, such as voice dialing and voice recognition. And although it has a built-in camera, you can't send pictures to other cell phones. (You can send it via e-mail, but only if the other cell phone can receive e-mail and photo attachments.)

Market challenges you ask?

Further, the phone's starting price tag of $499 is also a deterrent, especially considering the features that consumers typically look for in cell phone. In fact, only 1 percent, or 2.6 million of mobile phone subscribers said their next cell would have to have e-mail access, Internet, and the ability to play music and video, according to a survey conducted last year by Forrester Research Inc.

Another potential hindrance is Apple's exclusive carrier agreement with AT&T. In order to get the phone, customers who use other service providers will have to either shell out money to break a contract or pay for more than one contract. In a survey of 465 people conducted by IDC, 60 percent of respondents said they were interested in the iPhone but were not likely to buy one in the near future because of its price tag and the costs associated with switching carriers.

And while the iPhone is expected to be popular in the consumer market, it faces serious challenges in the corporate world - at least initially.For security purposes, companies have so far been hesitant to outfit the phone with the software that allows other devices like the BlackBerry and Treo to sync with corporate e-mail systems. Apple is expected at some point to release a business version of the iPhone, but it's not clear when that would be available.

There are always other options.

If you're ready to spend at least $500 for a cell phone, what else should you consider? In the $500 to $800 price range is the Prada-branded cell phone from LG and the HTC Touch; both also feature a touch screen. German says the Nokia N95 is a "really powerful smart phone" with a 5-megapixel built-in camera (the iPhone's camera is 2 megapixels); it also has a music player, e-mail capabilities and "other productivity applications." And if what you want is a phone that does double-duty as an mp3 player, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia all have phones that fit the bill.

I would rather wait for the second generation phone, when the bugs are resolved, the competitors have launched their versions, and the prices have been slashed.

Riding the coaster?

For all you grown ups looking for reasons to stick to the kiddie rides when in Six Flags, here is an unfortunate incident you can cite to justify your fear - Girl horribly injured on Six Flags ride

Story Highlights:
• Injured girl in stable condition in Nashville, Tennessee, hospital family says

• Girl's feet were severed on ride at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville

• Authorities, hospital declined to say whether her feet were reattached

• Family says no one from park has contacted them; park disputes that account

FYI - there were more than 15,000 amusement ride-related injuries in 2005 in the U.S. From 1987 to 2000, there were an estimated 4.5 amusement ride-related deaths per year.

For the curious few, here is a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Caught with your pants down?

For every Shilpa Shetty – Richard Gere episode in India, you have ‘the case of the missing pants’ in the US. “Justice prevailed” as the dry cleaner won in the $54M pants case.

Incidentally, if this reminds you of the famous McDonalds coffee lawsuit, here is where you can get your facts right.

Ireland ODIs

The general opinion about the ODIs in Ireland has been that it’s a waste of time in an already jammed Indian cricket calendar. But one man’s poison is another man’s candy. Ireland captain Trent Johnston says this weekend's one-day internationals against India and South Africa are of "vital importance to Irish cricket". I agree. It will definitely help promote the game in Ireland and generate some interest in the next generation cricketers.
Andrew White's only quibble? "I think the unions have got it wrong on this occasion. It should be a closed Saturday throughout Ireland because it will probably be the only time cricketers here will get the chance to see Tendulkar batting against Ireland."

The Cost of War

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. – Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

The cost of war in Iraq (for the US) is $436 billion and rising. I am curious to know how this cost is calculated. How is the price of a loved one’s death calculated? Is this “price” baked in to this “cost of war”? More than 3800 Coalition troops and anywhere from 65,000 to 70,000 Iraqis have lost their lives in this war. You know when it really hits you? When you put a face to the number…

Apologies to all.

Rushdie was knighted by the Queen for his services to literature. When I think of knights, I think of armored warriors on majestic stallions with weapons a little mightier than the pen. Anyway, I would think with this knighthood, his fans would be happy, his critics would congratulate him while cleverly slipping in some snide comments, the Queen would ask her PR guy - again - what is it that Rushdie did exactly before commending him on his achievements and knighting him, Rushdie would be “thrilled and humbled,” and change his business cards to read Sir Salman Rushdie, people like me who don’t give a rat’s tailed behind would read about it and move on to the sports section.

If only life were this easy. Apparently the knighthood scratched some itchy areas. Pakistan and Iran condemned the British knighthood, there were diplomatic and political protests, anger, fatwas, death threats, burning of effigies (this never gets old), well you get the picture.

Here is the scary part though. Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz-ul-Haq said that the knighthood could be used to justify suicide bombings!

Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz-ul-Haq again said his comments on Monday, that the knighthood could be used to justify suicide bombings, were not meant to incite violence. But he said it was a fact that the honor could motivate potential suicide bombers, and added that the knighthood should be withdrawn and Britain should apologize to all Muslims.

I don’t know about the UK, but I apologize to Mohammad Ejaz-ul-Haq, and all the Muslims in the world for anything I may or may not have done.

Bedi's Doosra

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.

Bedi – a great left arm orthodox spinner in his time – certainly talks… a lot. So here he is making his trademark controversial statement of the month. Gavaskar a 'destructive' influence - Bishan Bedi.

This is the same Bedi, who in 1990, had a brief stint as coach of the Indian national team. He was the first person to be appointed to this job in a full-time capacity. Following one cricket tour where India had played poorly, he famously threatened to dump the entire team in the sea on the return journey.

His past verbal diarrheas include: Muralitharan looks like a good javelin thrower and ‘Chucking is a bigger threat than bribing or betting.'

I know being a celebrity is not easy – especially with the millions most of them make, but I would expect them to stick to their core competency. If you are a sportsman, play your sport and leave the media to your spokesperson.

Want more? Read: The malaise of bitterness

Invited on stage at the Wisden International Awards to present a special achievement award for the Australian team to their coach John Buchanan, Bedi started by asking Buchanan provocatively whether he considered Wisden really to be the Bible of cricket. He then repeated a statement by Ian Chappell questioning the role of the coach in cricket, before lobbing down this arm-ball: "Tell us, John, have you made this Australian team great, or have they made you?" Buchanan had the grace to deal with the situation, and the hostess had the wit to intervene and ask Bedi to get on with the job.

See what I mean?

Quantifying love

So you think some things in life can’t be measured? Read “The price of loved one's death.” Here is the clincher though: Economists say they hope it will provide legal courts with a way to more fairly award damages.

I will have $100 worth of love this weekend please. And while we are at it, could we also serve $500 worth of shame to the BCCI?

Fredalo, Shredalo.

But looks like Indian cricket is not the only laughing stock of the world. Read this sequence of events.

Fredalo wrecked World Cup - Vaughan (June 5)

"I didn't captain as well as I should've done because of the pressure I put myself under. I'd admit that. But I couldn't switch off because away from the field there was so much going on - with Bob Woolmer and 'Fredalo'."

So basically, Vaughan is blaming England’s poor performance, his wretched form, and poor captaincy on Woolmer and Flintoff.

Cumbes (Chief Executive of Lancashire) says Vaughan's comments 'despicable' (June 5)

"I think it is completely out of order, I think it's despicable, I think it stinks against a guy (Flintoff) who has given blood for England these past three or four years," Cumbes said. "He was the talisman in the Ashes series in 2005...this fella has given blood for England and I think it is appalling he's been treated in this fashion."

Note that Flintoff has “given blood” for England. Use the same words (like blood, sweat, service etc) with Indian players and we talk about the fat paychecks they receive.


Vaughan claims he was misquoted over Flintoff (June 6)

"I never used the word 'Fredalo'," said Vaughan. "As soon as you mention that, you are pinpointing one person. I'll be having dinner with him in an hour's time. It [the article] has been blown out of all proportion. One word changed the whole context of the article, a word which I didn't say."

This I didn’t expect. Especially when the reporter was sitting in front of him with a recorder the size of his brain. Or maybe that’s the reason he didn’t see it.


And here is the clincher.
Paper defends itself over Vaughan 'misquotes' (June 7)

But the paper's recording of the interview between Vaughan and the journalist Donald McRae shows Vaughan did use the word "Fredalo" to describe Flintoff's capsizing of a pedalo after a night of drinking in St Lucia. After Vaughan said that incidents affected the morale of the team, McRae said: "Was it ... ?" Vaughan replied: "Fredalo. It's bound to affect team spirit." He is also heard to use the term a second time later in the conversation.

Surprisingly, the English media mentioned Vaughan’s suspect memory of his choice of words and moved on with their lives. No sting operations, no headlines, no chaos, no talk about factions within the team, no issues with seniors, no dressing room gossip, no mud slinging, no destroying reputations. What a bore.

The Witch Hunt continues...

This is too funny to comment on...

Graham Ford to be India's next coach Jun 9, 2007
Ford turns down India job June 11, 2007
Another day, another crisis June 11, 2007
Emburey rules himself out of India's search for a coach June 12, 2007
Borde appointed manager for England tour June 12, 2007
BCCI surprised by Ford snub: Shah June 14, 2007

Why Emburey?

Mukul Kesavan couldn’t have done a better job of summing it up for all the perplexed individuals like me.

It's your way of saying to the team: "You're so slavishly fixated on the idea of a foreign coach that you'd pick a lamp post over over an Indian. So here's your lamp post."

Dileep Premchandran calls this a no-contest.

On the surface, it's as unequal a contest as Mike Tyson against Carl "The Truth" Williams. One man with 16 Test wins and eight losses (five of them to that team under the Southern Cross) pitted against another who failed to hack it as county coach. Saturday's meeting should be a formality then? Not quite. This is India, and the team could still end up saddled with a coach who's the cricketing equivalent or worse of Steve McClaren.

You can’t handle the truth!

A lie told often enough becomes the truth. – Lenin.

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani would sure be hoping so. I am a big proponent of keeping your stupidity to yourself, but Mani recently announced – publicly – that the 2007 World Cup was the best. I waited a week – in vain – for another press release from Mani apologizing for insulting our intelligence

In case you missed the World Cup fiasco:

1. Awesome Australia but awful organising

2. Barbados taxpayers foot bill for finale - Closing ceremony cost US$750,000.

3. Speed apologises for light chaos

4. Pure ignorance

Organisation ...or lack of
The quotes speak for themselves
"Malcolm has been living in Dubai for too long. As I've said before, they've got a hotel under the sea there and a ski resort in the desert. It's too far away from reality."Ian Chappell lashes out at Malcolm Speed for turning a blind eye on some obvious issues about hosting the World Cup in the West Indies

"We had to rely on the advice of the local organising committee to establish the prices of the tickets. It is, in retrospect, a little too rich for the local palate." Malcolm Speed washes the ICC's hands of responsibility for empty stands throughout the World Cup. Others weren't so convinced.

"This has been a World Cup for the organisers, the visitors and the players but certainly not for the people. That's why the stadiums are empty and that in itself is a con job. It's the biggest con job ever passed off in this region." Jack Warner, the head of the Caribbean's footballing fraternity, takes a swipe at the World Cup

"I thought Aleem was having a bit of a joke with us when he said it looks like we'd have to come back tomorrow and play three overs. I said: 'Mate, we've played the 20 overs, we've actually finished the game.'" Ricky Ponting on the final's farcical finish that just about summed up the tournament.

The Indian Which Hunt

Which candidate to go with is the multi-million dollar question facing the BCCI. Whatmore – with all his obvious interest for this job, which he made amply clear through the media, public, players, and post-it notes – was surprisingly left out of the race. Lets face it, the man has the necessary credentials. Anyway, that googly aside, now it’s down to two candidates, John Emburey and Graham Ford. Obviously “The One” will find the perfect opening combination, smack Sehwag on his balding head every time he has a fling (outside the off stump), fix Irfan’s bowling (just how the heck can you “forget” how to swing the ball beats me), fix the “senior” problems, teach Ganguly how to play the short stuff or get him – and the entire city of Calcutta – a nice retirement package, give Dravid a spine and some imagination, explain Yuvraj twice a day that he is not a super star yet, keep Bhajji out of the team till he looks like he might get a wicket, beat Australia in Australia, make the Indian team unbeatable, win the next three world cups, and live happily ever after.

Read this article on Cricinfo: Emburey – a surprise choice.

His lack of success at two counties, and the rather similar manner in which both roles ended, suggested that his future contribution will be away from direct day-to-day first-team coaching. All that makes India's interest surprising, unless all they were merely seeking to add substance to a one-horse race.

I have a queasy feeling about this whole selection process… What I would give to be a fly on the wall when the committee interviews the candidates!

Change is good.

Or bad. But mostly, change is just change. Anyway, there are some proposed changes to the game. The ICC will decide whether to implement these measures. More and more rules favoring the batsmen. Personally I like the idea of placing 3 fielders outside the circle in 2 powerplays. Also, the batting captain choosing a powerplay sounds exciting. I would think most of the captains would want to block the 45-50 over slot so they have their sloggers in with only 3 fielders outside the ring. With players like Dhoni, Afridi and Symonds on the international scene, we will need some lively bowlers to bowl in the ‘death’ overs.

Also read: ‘Spare a thought for the bowlers.’