Sunday, July 30, 2006

Life in the U.S - A Wood Anniversary Memoir

Exactly five years ago today, I came to the US for the first time. Still remember the day as if it were yesterday. The burnt orange Texas sun, people driving on the “other” side of the road, my first glimpse of the Forty Acres (Univ. of Texas at Austin) are the memories I have of that day. Wow, what a journey it has been since!

I have been a student, a part-time employee, an intern, a TA, and a professional during this period. I have had rough times and smooth and have taken the rough with the smooth, most times. It is unbelievable that I have spent 5 of my 26 years in life, in the US. It doesn’t feel that long. The highlights include having a whale of a time studying and teaching at UT, Graduation Day in Dec 2003, watching the Aus-Ind cricket series without a job, moving to Houston, thousands of miles in road trips, vacations and settling down (for now) in sunny Orlando. The lowlights and “this too shall pass” moments have been few and far between and when they have happened, they have made me come out of them a tougher man. As I try to compare this life with my score of years in India, I cannot say one is better than the other. All I can conclude is that they are merely “different” from each other. They are almost like two people, each with their own flaws and merits. I do miss home but then I wanted to come here when I was home. As they say “The other side of the grass, is indeed, always green”.

What’s left to say but “While the path trodden thus far has been rose-strewn, there’s still a lot of miles to go before I sleep…”

PS: I just remembered that today was end of 5 years and said to myself “what the heck; let me fill my blog up with something philosophical and reflective that I will have a good laugh at, a year or two from now!”

Sunday, July 23, 2006

The Lost Charm of F1 Racing

There was a time I was addicted to F1 racing. It was between ’98 and ’01 (courtesy: proliferation of cable networks in India). After all, who wouldn’t love to watch cars that could go 300 – 350 kmph (200+ mph) when the reality out on Chennai streets was more like 60 kmph (38 mph, that’s a generous estimate, as many Chennai-ites would testify). The sight of a sleek, aerodynamic marvel burning the tarmac on the straights and the roar of the engines signified the conquests of automotive giants around the world. The drivers in their special suits littered with a slew of sponsor logos, were icons to be revered. The competition was hot between Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher.

Fast forward to 2006, Ferrari has dominated the Constructors’ Championships and Michael, the driver’s championships from 2001 – 2004. After the first 2 races of a season, you can virtually predict the winner by just knowing some variables. Tires, Engine and Pit Strategy. The driver is almost a non-factor. The best machine gives the driver the best chance to post a great qualifying time and secure pole position. Once there, negotiate the first corner without incident (or accident) and you are on your way. To me, it is a machine-dominated sport and Michael’s dominance is hardly surprising. Upset victories are virtually non-existent. How many times have Minardis even finished in the top 6 over the last few years? I wonder how successful would Michael be driving a Minardi? Not very, I would venture to say. Just to draw a simple parallel, I’m sure Tiger Woods would have won the British Open whether he used his clubs or some player from the top 50.The equipment should be a side-kick, not a hero.

It is also pitiful that each team designates one of their drivers to be a primary driver. For instance, Barichello is contractually obligated to finish behind his teammate (and primary driver), M Schumacher, no matter what. This is a killer and absolutely takes the competitive spirit out of the sport. Borders on match-fixing, only officially approved! Why go ahead with season at all? Why rob the fans?

One thing that I always wonder about, is how many gallons of fuel these races (NASCAR included) consume? Now, I am no expert, but even I know that the mileage of an F1 car cannot be more than 4 mpg. Regardless of the green design of these engines, it still uses gasoline and it emits greenhouse gases. The western world should stop rapping the Third World countries for using more fuel and failing to stop pollution. “Practise, then Preach” should be the message to the West. Though I understand that these races and their fuel consumption may be a drop in the ocean compared to fuel consumption of a country, races have high visibility among the peoples and hence any positive message will have a great effect on the Third World.

Something to think about!

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright...

The inimitable Tiger does it again!! Another Major (11th) and another rung up the ladder that will eventually carry him to Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors and beyond. Get this folks, he is 30! His 11th major equaled Walter Hagen’s 11 and there is nobody between him and Jack now. To give you an idea of Tiger’s dominance, the Great Jack Nicklaus had won 8 majors by the age of 30. Tiger has 11 and a shot at a PGA Championship in Chicago in August (before he turns 31). It is widely agreed that 30s are the most productive years for a golfer. Jack won 9 majors between 30 and 40 years of age. If Tiger can emulate Jack in performance, only sky is the limit for this genius.

Tiger’s detractors try to make something out of nothing by saying how “he never wins coming from behind and how all of his major victories were achieved by just protecting the lead”. I have a bone to pick here. When Tiger is “in the zone”, he plays immaculate, creative golf consistently. Like this week at Hoylake, he hardly played a hole horribly. There is no way he was going to trail at any point. You need to come from behind only if you get behind. Tiger’s golf today at the Royal Liverpool was sublime. He did lead coming into Saturday and Sunday at The Open Championship. Four under-par rounds, with three in the mid-60s were simply stupendous and earned him the Claret Jug for the third time.

Usually, Tiger’s wins are credited to his long and powerful drives. He proved that theory wrong too this week. He used his driver exactly once (for a bad result) in 72 holes of golf. His extraordinary iron play and putting (oh! that silken-smooth putting) won him the Major today. In other words, finesse, not power!

May be I can pick up a golf tip or three when he returns with The Jug back to his Isleworth Community home in Windermere, 5 miles from my humble abode! Crossing my fingers! Sorry, I could not resist this snippet!

Friday, July 21, 2006

Cricket Rewind – Indo-Pak Chennai Classic

Prelude

The historic bi-lateral test series between India and Pakistan in 10 years got off to a sizzling start in the winter of ’99. What better place to host the match than Chepauk? The hallowed turf that almost always produces a result and ensures an even contest between bat and ball. Pakistan won the toss, batted and were dismissed for 200-odd before stumps on Day 1. India’s repartee matched Pakistan’s efforts and effectively reduced the match to a one-inning contest. Pakistan’s 2nd innings total was largely due to a typical blitzkrieg from Afridi who scored half of his team’s 286 and overshadowed Prasad’s excellent 5-fer on a 3rd day Chepauk strip. India needed 271 to wrest the initiative in a titanic series, if ever there was one. Time? More than anyone could ask for. Two full days and a few uncomfortable overs in twilight to take a 1 – 0 lead.

The D-Day

This was a Sunday unlike any. If you needed proof, you needed to be around Marina Beach. The normally buzzing beach-front was as calm as the Bay of Bengal by which it sits. The maidan cricket games by the shore, conspicuous by their absence, bore testimony to the marbles at stake just a mile or two away at Chepauk. Two bitter foes to battle it out for a historic Test victory. Both teams had enough reasons to back themselves. India needed 231 runs with Dravid, Sachin, Azhar, Sourav, Mongia and the Chennai crowd rooting for them and they were going against the skilful (if not plain scary!) trio of Wasim, Waqar, and Saqlain.

The throng of spectators outside the gates of the stadium was a sight to behold. They arrived in every possible way, walk, bicycles, two-wheelers, cars and the metro’s game-day buses. Most were in search of those non-existent tickets. A few managed to get in, many could not. You could feel the tension in the air, it was palpable. Though all ticket-holders had a seat in theory, this was an all-day “stand, watch and applaud” affair and guess what, nobody was complaining!

Act One

At a minute or two to 10 o’clock, Dravid and Sachin walked out to a deafening ovation that echoed all across India. This was a time when Dravid was still a man who had answers to most good balls, but did not always reap the rewards by penalizing the bad ones. With time out of the equation, India’s strategy must have been Dravid sealing one end up and others batt(l)ing around him to get that win. As is his wont, Wasim Akram stood in the way. With his signature short run-up and acceleration that would put a Kentucky Derby thoroughbred to shame, he made Dravid’s life a misery. He amply demonstrated his sorcery with the ball with two deliveries that he bowled to Dravid. The first one, swung in late, and a close LBW shout was negated. Akram must believe in euthanasia, for he decided to end Dravid’s misery the next ball. This one pitched in line but swung the other way and dislodged the off bail and just like that, Akram threw a spanner in India’s works.

Azhar came and went. Sourav suffered a freak non-dismissal. One of his fierce cuts ricocheted off silly-point and bounced in front of ‘keeper Moin, at which point, he swept it off the ground and as expected, appealed! A casual spectator on the top tier sipping piping hot masala chai could have seen this. Somehow, umpire Ramaswamy at square-leg, with his dark sun-glasses on, could not, and Sourav was back in Anna Pavilion. At that moment, I thought, yes, we do need two neutral umpires in all games! Whatever happened to “Benefit of the doubt to the batsman” adage that has been one of the tenets of cricket since time immemorial.

The Resurrection

India was on the back foot at this juncture, for sure. With Sachin and Mongia at the crease and 190 more runs to get, it was going to be an uphill climb. Wicket of Mongia would have made it a torturous climb with no oxygen tanks! Sachin’s wicket, well… we all know the climax to that plot and its better left unsaid. Saqlain’s bowling was like a beautiful “Urdu Shaayri” in the second essay. His metronomic consistency in length complemented by the variety of off-spinners and doosras. The Master had to play with caution and Saqlain had the command for a considerable length of time. The cat-and-mouse game was on and the two of them swapped roles quite often. One cannot even begin to verbalize the pressure that Sachin must have felt on his over-burdened back, having carried India to the Promised Land, many a time. Sachin played a lot of ground strokes and kept feeling his back. He played a copybook defensive shot and winced. He uncorked a gorgeous drive and winced again. Something was amiss. In the joy of watching India creep closer to the target, the back incident did not register in any of the fans’ minds. With chants to Sachin, The God, and drum rolls as punctuations, life was all hunky-dory again in the stands and across the nation.

Denouement

Mongia, who played a good hand, got out to a bizarre, uncharacteristic stroke and left the door ajar. Sachin’s spasms were now clearly bothering him and a till now, cautious, monk-like Sachin decides to back his genius and instinct to go for the last 50 runs in aggressive fashion. His back was probably a major reason and Mongia’s dismissal just made the decision easier. The aggressive approach imparted pain and pleasure in equal measure to the fans. It was stuff not meant for the faint-hearted. Only 17 runs were now required and the moment, that fateful moment, that every Indian feared most, happened. Sachin goes for one too many off Saqlain and miscues one to Akram at mid-off. As the ball made its way down, the will of 40,000 people at Chepauk and a billion all over India, could not make Akram drop the skier. Sachin was pain-stricken, in every sense of the word. There was still hope that the tail would knock off the runs, but, unsurprisingly, it proved to be an ephemeral one. The 3 remaining bowlers were dismissed like the 3 remaining pins that you topple to get a “spare” at a bowling alley.

Epilogue

A distinct “hush” fell over Chepauk. As the Pakistanis kissed the turf in celebration of victory, fans didn’t know how to react. Just then, Pakistan Coach Javed “wily” Miandad, displays the temerity to coax his team to take a victory lap around the ground. Under normal circumstances, it is not a huge incendiary gesture. However, given the long standing animosity between the nations, and Miandad’s character (or lack thereof), his gesture was clearly aimed at instigating the crowd. What followed still gives me the Goosebumps. The Chennai crowd instantaneously broke out into an applause acknowledging the efforts of both embattled teams in general and the victory-lapping Pakistanis in particular. This can neither be planned nor be taught. This sort of reaction is innate and is a manifestation of the culture of the city, and to an extent, the country. Many Pakistanis were in fact very pleasantly surprised (including Miandad and Akram). They were expecting a neutral reaction, at best. It makes me proud to say that I’m a Chennai-ite and an Indian. It is often quoted that “Cricket” was the true winner. It was apt on this occasion.

In hindsight, I always wonder what would have happened, had Dravid been in Sachin’s role, late Sunday. Would Dravid have endured the pain and ground out his way to ensure an Indian victory? I say this because he could not have made the decision to back his talent and aggression against Saqlain, Akram and Waqar, as Sachin did (fair assumption). Mind you, I’m not questioning the commitment of either Great. Sachin simply had two options and Dravid just one. Sachin went for the quick fire option. Did Sachin’s decision cost him and India? On the other hand, we did witness the collapse of the tail. So, was Sachin vindicated? We can only ponder, we will never know.