Playing is an activity long forgotten by the current child generation of India. Yep, seeing kids play just like that is such a rare sight that now schools have started celebrating ‘Play Days’ only to encourage little pranksters to get back to their default settings and play!

But hey, no kid is willing to do that. Kyonki TV hai na? The growing influence of the idiot box on the progenies has been ignored for a long time by parents and the harm will be serious. Blame it on the work lives of the progenitors that they rely on leaving their kids with a TV program rather than a babysitter (who they always fear to be a paedophile). Or maybe it is the space crunch? Insufficient number of parks? Or perhaps, the kids are now just too lazy to stretch those muscles.
The lack of outdoor activity is leading to social, psychological and physiological problems in children. They are unable to pay complete attention, the flitting focus changes like the channels on the idiot box. Temper tantrums and eating troubles are also seen.

My personal problem is – Kids are not behaving like kids anymore; running around, going wild and having fun. Can anyone tell me where exactly is the play?
Via ibnlive

China sure will be the talk of the global town all this year. First, it was the anti-protestors stance then the earthquake and now the Olympics. Seems like they are trying a little too hard with the historical sporting event, maybe with the intention to make the world forget the demerits that the country has been laced with over time.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the absurd steps that China has taken to make the 2009 Olympics a ‘grand memory’.
1.    The fireworks ceremony held at a jam-packed National Stadium on August 8 was not all that it really looked like. The much touted incredible event was a mere illusion. After a controversy broke out over the issue, the game organisers admitted having used a series of illusions that even included a pre-taped footprint shaped fireworks segment.
2.    The venue managers were given instructions to use volunteer cheerleaders to fill empty seats in the stadium. A consequence of which was that the athletes’ families were unable to obtain the tickets for some events.
3.    But the most insensitive one of them all was when a seven-year-old girl was replaced because officials felt that her face was not suitable for the opening ceremony. An older girl was asked to lip-synch the Ode to the Motherland instead, which was recorded in the voice of the youngster.
4.     And didn’t we hear a few days ago that the Chinese authorities have asked girls with plump legs to wear black stocking.
What do I say about the facade that is being presented to the world? I wonder what exactly China is trying to prove here.
via ibnlive

On Monday, India got what was long overdue. The Olympic Gold medal that had been eluding us all this time. Abhinav Bindra has made a nation swell with joy and ecstasy. He has done something no Indian has ever done before and we all are so proud of him. 

So what did it take for Abhinav to make history at the Olympics? Here are a few ingredients I could list down. Determination, dedication, hard work, proper guidance, coaching and equipment, to name a few. But to get that perfect blend for a Gold medal, you would need additional spices like personal investments, security, financial backup and awareness. Then only will the recipe work.  

I am in no way trying to take away any part of the glory that Abhinav Bindra has achieved but we know he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. At the age of 14, he used to drive a Mercedes. He has his personal shooting range at home. His injuries are taken care of by the best doctors in the world. His family has spent a lot to make 11th August 2009 possible. The point here is, that he has the backing that allows him to pursue his dreams and, like we saw, even achieve them.  

Being a nation of a strong 1 billion people, it’s very unlikely that there is a dearth of talent. But following the dream that Bindra did is a risk very few people can afford to take. And incidents like the one involving Monika Devi bring out the loopholes in the system time and again. If we recall our school life, we have all seen raw talent amongst us waiting to be nurtured. Now we find them working in a 9 to 5 job. Why didn’t they pursue their dream? Or should I ask, did they ever dream?  
 

Via sify 

Seeing Monika Devi, the Indian Weightlifter crying at a press conference in a helpless, or should I say infantile effort to emphasize her innocence in the latest doping controversy made me wonder how we comprehend the act.  I feel that she is innocent, not because of the tears she shed but because of the fact that Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is backing her claims of innocence plus the shoddy way in which dope testing is done in India is not news anymore. In addition to that, the politics and regionalism involved in Indian sports is no secret. But does crying in front of the nation help? I seriously don’t think so, and neither do statements like ‘shoot me if I am found guilty’. You internationally acclaimed sports people are our national heroes and  represent our country to the world outside. You are an inspiration to thousands of aspiring sportsmen. You carry hopes of a nation whenever and wherever you perform. Can’t you remain composed for a press conference? I am sorry but you don’t have my sympathy. Rather, what you did is lamentable. And the feeling was ‘pity’ in case of the infamous Kapil Dev episode. As the scenes of the conference are shown again and again on all news channels, the only two words I would utter, if at all, would be ‘poor girl’. 
The fact is, many believe that she should not have been part of the squad going to Beijing, because Shailaja Pujari was a better performer as per the trials. Monika had found the berth because of the politics involved. I guess now its déjà vu for her!

Via cnnibn

Jermaine Defoe is the man in news as far as the world of soccer is concerned. Kevin Keegan has started a bit for this Tottenham striker to bring in his first signing to Newcastle. Apparently, Defoe has been asked by the Tottenham manager to leave the club. If the buzz is to be believed, Portsmouth has already had a bid accepted for Defoe but looks like the English international will prefer a move to St. James Park where he would be playing in front of 52,000 fans.

Now, whichever club Defoe ends up joining he will have to face competition with Portsmouth which has Kanu, Benjani, Utuka and Nugent who all play up front. Let’s not forget Newcastle too with Ameobi, Owen, Martins and Viduka on its side. And when I say this, I also maintain Defoe is a player Keegan will not like to lose out on because of his blistering pace.

Tottenham will quote $5-8 million as Defoe’s fee. It will definitely argue that Defoe is an English international who has proven his potential on field. So, Newcastle and Portsmouth will be easily able to afford Defoe as money has never been an issue for either club especially not for Keegan.

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Well-known cricket umpire Steve Bucknor’s recent ouster by the ICC has raised many eyebrows. No, it’s not about the mannerisms of the gentleman’s game alone. But also the age of the umpire. And the one to blame is none but the ICC.
For the uninitiated, Bucknor was originally a refree at the FIFA World Cup. And that was way back in 1988. Wonder why isn’t he still there? Well, FIFA has a compulsory retirement age of 45 for its umpires. The reason is simple. The FIFA authorities realize that the job of an umpire requires certain physical qualities that recede away with growing years.
Perhaps, the ICC should have done the same and saved Bucknor the embarrassment. Considering the amount of work an umpire is supposed to do, it is absurd to have a man in his sixties do the task. He has to stand on field for six hours with an alert mind. His eyesight has to be perfect to watch the proceedings of the game with utmost precision, and his brain has to process all inputs to arrive at the correct decision in seconds. What has happened to Bucknor is the same that happened to David Shepherd. ICC would be stupid if it lets another incident like this one to come up.
Via IndiaUncut

What not the devoted sports persons do to carve a niche for themselves in their specific sports- from warming up exercises to exerting themselves in day long practice sessions… But living in a home, no less than a cage, just 60 feet long and 32 feet wide, and that too for three years consecutively!!!! That’s what I call the height of commitment!

Reggie Willits of the Angels lives in a batting cage with his family. At this time a year ago, he was a fringe prospect who had never started a major league game. Today, he is 26, the leadoff hitter for the first-place Los Angeles Angels, batting .337 with 18 stolen bases and a shot at the American League rookie of the year award.

And the credit for his success is due not only to his home, ever ready for his practice but also to his supportive wife. Amber Willits, the wife of Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, has taken hardball devotion to a new level. For the past three years, she has made a home, raised a son and helped develop a .300 hitter — all in an indoor batting cage.

Two and a half years ago, the Willitses produced a bat boy, their son, Jaxon. They took him right from the hospital to the cage. Jaxon fell asleep to the whir of the pitching machine and the crack of the bat. And now he too is following in his father’s footsteps by hitting in the cage with his plastic bat!

The front door opens and the whole house is in the view! A small bathroom and kitchen on the right, and two sofas and a television set on the left. The floors are covered with Berber carpet. The dining room table is adorned with a vase of flowers. There are no closets.

When he wants to bat, he pushes aside the sofas to form his personal playing field. He steps inside the net, suspended from the ceiling. And his wife assists him by feeding balls into the pitching machine whenever she is free.

But soon enough, Reggie will have his own house. He is making $382,500 this season, and in a few months, the place that he planned to build four years ago will be finished. The batting cage will stay in the backyard.

“You know what is really going to be awesome about the new house?” Ambers said. “The walls.”

One rarely comes across such commitment to sports and such compatibility between married couples! What say!

via nytimes