Category Archives: Not Cricket

Sports, Sportswriting & The Celebration Of Being Alive ..

Posted on April 9, 2009 by

Long hiatus and can’t possibly be sure if its a resumption of the blog from its spontaneously combusted state. Its just that earlier this morning (admittedly days after it was published first in the Times UK), I happened to read … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebration, General, Not Cricket, Simon Barnes, Sports, Writings | 5 Comments

Of wounded Tigers …

Posted on June 24, 2008 by

For years Roger Federer has steamrolled, dismantled, and humbled his opponents with consummate ease. The ranking of the opponents or the stage of the tournament didn’t really matter. The comments that followed from the vanquished ranged from ‘I played my … Continue reading →

Posted in Federer, heroes, Not Cricket, Rahul, Sports, Tiger Woods | 2 Comments

9.something …

Posted on May 6, 2008 by

Running a race is the closest a human being can come to feel and express one’s natural abilities. It’s a pure show of physical strength and stamina sans any artificial extensions like a tennis racket or a cricket bat. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Asafa Powell, Athletics, China, controversy, Debate, Not Cricket, Olympics, Rahul, Soccer, Tyson Gay | 3 Comments

In other news …

Posted on March 18, 2008 by

JP Morgan Chase have bought Bear Sterns for a price less than what LA Galaxy paid for David Beckham …

Posted in America, Debate, General, Not Cricket, stories | 3 Comments

Getting an earful …

Posted on March 13, 2008 by

Evander Holyfield won his title but lost a part of his ear to Mike Tyson’s hunger. Photograph from Sports Illustrated by Jed Jacobsohn

Posted in controversy, Not Cricket, photographs, WtF | 4 Comments

The eerie sound of silence…

Posted on February 7, 2008 by

The silence on the blog has not been because one has been divorced from sport. Or too busy. Or too indifferent. Truth is that the events surrounding the cricket in Australia have been numbing. And tiresome. Its not what one … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, controversy, Cricket, Not Cricket, Personal, Sports | Leave a comment

Check De, India !

Posted on October 1, 2007 by

There’s no point in getting into arguments about who India’s greatest Sportsman is. Those kind are just interesting talking points and blog posts. But Vishwanathan Anand’s sponsors’ NIIT call him India’s Mind Champion. Anyone feel like arguing ? Many years … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebration, heroes, Not Cricket, Rohit Brijnath, Vishy Anand | 7 Comments

The King Of The Sports Page …

Posted on August 6, 2007 by

The thing about Jim Murray is that he lived “happily” but somebody ran off with his “ever after.” It’s like the guy who’s ahead all night at the poker and then ends up bumming cab money home. Or the champ … Continue reading →

Posted in Clippings, heroes, Media, Nostalgia, Not Cricket, Sports, stories, Writings | 5 Comments

G’day mate …

Posted on July 13, 2007 by
Posted in Australia, Captain, controversy, Cricket, Debate, heroes, Not Cricket, waugh | 6 Comments

May the best man win …

Posted on July 11, 2007 by

Michael Jordan takes on the Knicks

Posted in heroes, Not Cricket, photographs | 4 Comments

History is now also his story …

Posted on July 9, 2007 by

Out on a sunny Centre Court enter two men that are different. As different as red clay is to green grass. So different you’d think they were from different planets or at least different eras. And yet both here chase … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebration, Federer, heroes, Not Cricket, Tennis | 6 Comments

The Venus Rosewater Dish …

Posted on July 8, 2007 by

Seriously, thats what the Wimbledon Women’s trophy is called. The one that Venus Williams is deservedly holding. All this she did, as she quashed young (“My dad used to put up some targets, if I touched the targets, I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Not Cricket, stories, Tennis | 2 Comments

07-07-07 ; The Tour De Force

Posted on July 7, 2007 by

Its a great day. Possibly the toughest sporting event of them all, the Tour de France flags off today. Different each time. Yet similar in its 23 days. And its unflinching demand. If you don’t believe me click on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Armstrong, heroes, Not Cricket, photographs, stories | Leave a comment

A Few Good Men …

Posted on July 6, 2007 by

I eat breakfast three television yards away from four thousand bloggers who are trained to pick me off. So don’t think for one second that you can come down here, flash a bit of cricket knowledge, and make me nervous. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cricket, Media, Not Cricket | 6 Comments

Hard punches need Soft Hands …

Posted on July 5, 2007 by

Luis Sarria made his living with his hands, as Muhammad Ali’s long term masseur. From the Sports Illustrated Collection.

Posted in Not Cricket, photographs, stories | 3 Comments

Its that pain for gain. Again …

Posted on July 4, 2007 by

January, 1998. SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL; Serena Williams Stuns Davenport … (Serena) Williams, only 16 and ranked No. 96, trailed 1-6, 2-5 and faced two match points at 15-40 when she grabbed control with a combination of wily play and youthful athleticism. … Continue reading →

Posted in Clippings, controversy, Debate, Not Cricket, stories, Tennis | 21 Comments

Could you teach us how to win ? …

Posted on July 3, 2007 by

Graham Arnold is coach to the Australian Socceroos. Apart from having played in 4 World Cup campaigns, he’s been assistant coach to the Aussie team when they were being coached by Guus Hiddink. Oh, and he’s also played a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Coaches, Cricket, heroes, Not Cricket, stories, waugh | 3 Comments

Play it again, Sam …

Posted on June 29, 2007 by

Its in every newspaper I guess, but loved the photograph so here it is. Sam Alexis Woods. 12 Majors. 79 Professional wins in all. As the line in the movie goes : I’m so excited, I think I’ll brush all … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebration, heroes, Not Cricket, photographs, stories, Tiger Woods | 11 Comments

The Grass is Greener There …

Posted on June 26, 2007 by

You could get ground into the red clay at the French Open like Pete Sampras did (one semi-final in 13 attempts. 3rd Round-2nd Round-2nd Round-1st Round-2nd Round-1st Round – his last six attempts there) but 7 Wimbledons (and 5 US … Continue reading →

Posted in heroes, Not Cricket, Rohit Brijnath, stories, Tennis | 7 Comments

Tee Off the Summer …

Posted on June 23, 2007 by

India play Ireland today … So here’s a true (I pommish) Irish story.. On a golf tour in Ireland, Tiger Woods drives his BMW into a petrol station in a remote part of the Irish countryside. The attendant at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Attempts at humour, Cricket, Not Cricket, stories | Leave a comment

Yes, I read and re-read to make sure too …

Posted on June 12, 2007 by

I’m speechless. We’ve come up with Chandu Borde as the answer? 72 years young and long may he live… (Take care, sir. The game’s changed a fair deal and they say that the schedules are a bit tight these days. … Continue reading →

Posted in BCCI, Coaches, Cricket, Not Cricket | 12 Comments

King Rafael, III

Posted on June 11, 2007 by

This is what Roger’s father had to say after the match. “It was a game against history, for both of them. Only Rafa was good enough.” He turned 21 last week. (And already has an asteroid named after him)

Posted in Federer, heroes, Not Cricket, Tennis | Leave a comment

Art on Clay ….

Posted on May 30, 2007 by

Its tennis season. Things go kind of crazy. Earlier this month somebody spent 19 days (and $1.63 m) to prepare a court which was half grass-half clay. And then matched Federer and Nadal in an exhibition game on it. Nadal … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebration, Federer, Not Cricket, Rohit Brijnath, Sports, stories, Tennis | 4 Comments

Look Ma, No Hands .. (nor feet of clay)

Posted on May 21, 2007 by

Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam under Peter Lundgren’s guidance. Wimbledon 2003. Six months later, they parted ways. In Feb 2004, without a coach, Federer became World no 1. He also won 3 more Grand Slams. All except the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dreams, Federer, Not Cricket, Rohit Brijnath, Sports, stories | 4 Comments

First, Trust Yourself …

Posted on May 18, 2007 by

Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven consecutive times. He’d earlier won against cancer in 1996. Lance Armstrong knew about winning. This, though, is a bit about his first year while defending what he’d won. Its not the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Armstrong, Celebration, Clippings, Cricket, Not Cricket, Rohit Brijnath, stories | Leave a comment

So, Today I have a dumb question …

Posted on May 16, 2007 by

For everybody with reshaping domestic league and academy ideas ….  If the English Premiership with its fantastic viewership worldwide and the Spanish La Liga are amongst the two best in the world, attracting and showcasing the best soccer and inspiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Cricket, Debate, Not Cricket, Sports | 24 Comments

Its all about coaches today ..

Posted on May 15, 2007 by

First it turns out that Tom Moody’s going back to Western Australia. Then it seems that an Indian family had something to do with that decision. Well, at least in some part. Or thats the way we like to paint … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaches, Cricket, General, Not Cricket, Sports | Leave a comment

My Spider Sense is Tingling ….

Posted on May 14, 2007 by

Even if one ignores all the events of the past few years, and just looks at the past few weeks and the frenzy thats been whipped up, its hard not to get the feeling that there’s a strong possibility of … Continue reading →

Posted in BCCI, Cricket, ICC, Not Cricket, Zee | 5 Comments

Roger Federer …

Posted on May 10, 2007 by

I think the reason that I look at Cricket the way I do is because it symbolised a lot. And so a lot of excellence that one sees, one likes to equate with cricket. And so, even tho I might … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebration, Clippings, Federer, General, Not Cricket, Sports | 8 Comments

A 100 Sledges …?

Posted on May 9, 2007 by

This is the great Sir Don Bradman on sledging. “I played under Alan Kippax in New South Wales for some time, I played under Jack Ryder in the Test series in 28-29, I played under Bill Woodfull in 1930 until … Continue reading →

Posted in Cricket, General, Not Cricket, stories, Uncategorized, WtF | 1 Comment

Pardon the noise, Mr Kalam.

Posted on May 1, 2007 by

Or Mr Murthy … Or whoever.. And sorry but this isn’t cricket either – but am a huge fan of the sport and even if this is  a figment of someone’s imagination, its good enough for me .. a F1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Dreams, F1, India, Not Cricket | 10 Comments

The Underarm Delivery ..

Posted on April 27, 2007 by
Posted in controversy, Cricket, Greg Chappell, Not Cricket | 1 Comment

Not Quite Cricket..

Posted on April 25, 2007 by

But lightning doesn’t always strike twice. Maradona 1986. Messi 2007.

Posted in Not Cricket | Leave a comment