The games we play

As kids we were pretty creative in making our own games. I remember playing “cricket” with a dirty rag rolled into a ball and an old notebook or exam pad used as bat. Then there was box cricket, Chinese cricket etc. Another favorite pastime was playing “tennis” on the road with old chappals as the “net”, while our hands served as a “racket” to hit an MRI ball across. Fun times.
Nowadays, kids are playing different kinds of games. Apparently some kids are playing the “choking game" in which they try to experience a fleeting "high" by cutting off the oxygen supply to the brain. U.S. says 82 youths have died in "choking game".

The report, the first effort to track this nationwide, identified the deaths of 82 people ages 6 to 19 from 1995 to 2007 that appear to have been caused by the choking game. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the report likely underestimates the toll. Boys accounted for 87 percent of the deaths in 31 states, the CDC said, with the greatest number of deaths among boys ages 11 to 16.

It also is known as the "blackout game," "passout game," "scarf game" and "space monkey," the CDC said. The CDC does not think publicity caused by the report will lead to more children trying the practice, Toblin said. "We chose to go ahead with the report because we think it's critical that parents, educators and health care providers become aware of this phenomenon so they can look for the warning signs of it."

Warning signs that a child may be trying the practice include bloodshot eyes, marks on the neck, severe headaches, the presence of ropes, scarves or belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor, or the unexplained presence of dog leashes or choke collars.

What would be interesting is to find out what is influencing the kids to play this game? Is it because of the perverse crap they see/read on the internet? How do you educate such kids and prevent this from happening? And more importantly, how do you teach someone not to kill themselves?

Doesn’t anyone play ball anymore?

Dilip Sardesai

Former India Test batsman Dilip Sardesai died in Mumbai after suffering a multiple organ failure. He was 66. For a warm tribute to this great player read: Playing with head and heart

Dilip Sardesai's peers paid glowing tributes

Incidentally read Faroukh Engineer’s "tribute"

He was a very defensive batsman, though technically correct than me. But he would always ask me how I could manage to hit boundaries and sixes. I would get sometimes frustrated at his inability to rotate the strike as he couldn't drop the bat and take the single which I did. He would sort of plead, "I'm trying". But he was a lovely opening partner, and just like my other opening partner Sunil Gavaskar, he had tremendous confidence and patience.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Faroukh’s verbal diarrhea doesn’t exactly sound like a tribute to Dilip Sardesai. Is it that difficult to say a couple of nice things about a guy who has passed on? Is it that difficult to focus on somebody else for a minute? Maybe Faroukh was excited on getting a call from a reporter.

Rest in peace Dilip Sardesai.

Brian Lara retires from ODIs

“You tell me” – Brian Lara a few months ago on being asked when he would retire.

WI has lost all 4 of their super 8 matches so far. As is the norm, just about everybody – from fans to past cricketing greats – is screaming for Lara’s blood.

For instance:
Joel Garner calls for Lara to quit
Michael Holding urges Lara to quit

Well, guess what? Lara retires from ODIs after the world cup. Now we will have the same people writing about how he is the best batsman in the world and why he shouldn’t retire. Yet another example of not appreciating something when you have it and longing for it once it’s gone.

Dravid's Bangladeshi fans

And here is why Bangladeshis can't stop singing Dravid’s praises. That’s the difference between a good player and a great player. Playing the game like it should be played – in the right spirit.

Putting things in perspective

Read an article which talks about how batsmen are instructed to lift their bats towards the pavilion each time they crack a fifty to ensure adequate TV exposure for the brand plastered on it as well as twirl around to allow enough time for photographers to capture the image. Bats are also not hung down when a player walks to the pavilion after a good knock as he has instructions to wave it to the crowd and the cameras milking additional publicity. The longer the time spent and more the runs scored all have performance based clauses which influence the way the batsman behaves out in the field. Personally, I don’t care and don’t understand what the big deal is. It’s not like this “behavior” is affecting the way they play. But since the media is after the Indian cricketer’s throats right now, maybe this following story might help put things in perspective…

Apparently the British captive soldiers (now released) are making money by telling their stories to the media. The controversial decision taken by the Ministry of Defence to allow the fifteen sailors and soldiers captured in Iran to sell their stories is causing uproar among Britain’s armed forces. Read British sailors tell media of Iran ordeal. Beat that.

The Minivan Part 2.

I shared the minivan episode with LN. I delivered the punch line with obvious buildup. And get this, I said, JB says, perfect for me and MY BAG!!!!
Then, I waited for LN to – a) Roll on the floor laughing (literally or I could have just said ROTFL)
b) Say something like JB is hilarious and she couldn’t wait to tell this story to all her friends.
c) Get into a philosophical discussion of how we (mankind in general) are becoming more and more materialistic and don’t value what we have – family, friends, health etc.
d) In case she didn’t care, say “that is so funny” like she meant it.
e) Any of the above
f) All of the above.

LN’s response? Dreamily, “She has a really pretty Gucci bag she got last week.”

The Minivan

JB was complaining about her Honda Odyssey. She has 3 kids and it proves to be a practical option but she is sick of it now. I think she associates her minivan with her kids, and the noise, fighting, luggage, cartoon dvds arguments etc that go with it. Her husband – a smart man – thinks they shouldn’t get a new car till the kids are young enough to set the leather seats on fire. Since advice and burnt coffee is served free in this country, I advised her that when the time comes she should get something funky like maybe a BMW roadster.

Me: Get a Z4. It’s a BMW so the performance is obviously awesome. Obviously you husband will love it. The best part is that it has only 2 seats. No room for anything or anyone else! Perfect!
JB (dreamily): Yeah! Just 2 seats. Perfect for me and my bag.

SRT

Here is an interesting read. Excerpts:

But my concern here isn’t the “should he be dropped” debate, it’s the very ugly nature of the criticism directed at SRT over the years. I’m aghast at the irresponsibility of most of India’s sports media in this respect. Through discussions with sports-journo friends and acquaintances, I know that there’s a strong current of anti-Tendulkarism in these circles – has been, in fact, for several years, even going back to the days when he was the country’s best cricketer.
Whenever India suffers an embarrassing loss, don’t we all know what photographs we’ll see blown up on the front page of every newspaper the next day? Tendulkar getting out bowled. (Admittedly, that is an enticing photo option, especially when he’s down on his haunches.) Tendulkar walking forlornly back to the pavilion, a huddle of excited opposition players in the background. A beaten/dispirited Tendulkar, used as a symbol of our supposed National Failure. The Man Who Let Us All Down. Once again.

A different perspective

When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. - Dale Carnegie.

“X” told me the other day – "I am a very proud person. You piss me off once and I will never forgive you. I haven’t talked to my brother for 20 years now and I don’t even remember why we fought."

Me (gulping down all my questions and pity - with the rest of my cola - for reasons ranging from apathy to mild horror) - "Cool"

Marketing yourself

Marketing is what you do when your product is no good

Read a senseless article the other day – you know the articles that get printed because of freedom of speech? The ones that have no data to support them, no statistical evidence or facts? The ones that get printed to spark some kind of controversy or help sell something (newspapers, magazines etc)? The ones that get printed in the gossip papers lined up next to the check out lines at the grocery stores? Is Angelina Jolie secretly married to the Sheikh of Uzbekistan? You get the point… So according to this article apparently SRT’s fan club is dwindling and only the loyal fanatics remain (I am in the latter group).
So Tendulkar is not at his best right now (in tests. He struck back with a ferocious century against WI last week and followed up with a century in the Ranji final). Every player goes through a lean trot. But since all eyes are always on SRT, a couple of tests without a century is a calamity of gigantic proportions. And this is a guy with 35 test centuries, carrying Team India on his shoulders for the past 17 years.

A smart friend of mine made an interesting comment the other day. “After Mark Mascarenhas’s death, Tendulkar’s career hasn’t been the same”. Got me thinking, what the hell has that got to do with SRT’s game? Well granted, he was more than a friend to SRT, but what’s that got to do with his game??
“Well” my friend said, “he did market him as the best. It was only Tendulkar back then, but now you have other cricketers endorsing reputed brands and are just as popular.”
Interesting point. SRT is the best in the business. He does not have to “market” himself as the best player in the world. But marketing is important. I remembered a quote from ‘American Beauty’ - “In order to be successful, one must project an image of success at all times.” Think about it. Its so true!
And if SRT has to market himself, then so do we. In everything we do. Its not important whether you are good, its important that everybody else thinks you are good.

Its true at work. Let’s face it: Its not important whether you work hard, its important that your boss thinks you work hard.That’s true in friendship and in relationships. Girls like to hear “I-love-yous” and guys think “If I love you and you know it, why do I have to say it?” I know a guy who was not into public display of affection (PDA). But his girlfriend made him hug and kiss her in public so his friends know that he is serious about her! They loved each other, but it was important for her that other people know that too. Maybe in order to be happy, one must project an image of being happy all the time?
I can go on and on, but the fact remains – whether you like it or not, you have to market yourself in every thing you do.