HOT HYDERABAD

I am right now in Hyderabad, sizzling as usual, for the Champions League and it has been a good experience so far. I have met a few players for interviews and will have to stay here till October 24th.

As it happens on any tour, the last few days in the Pearl City have thrown up some very interesting moments. Here goes a few.

Brand conscious

I wanted to buy a packet of Marlboro, but the shop guy right in front of my hotel looked very apprehensive and told only Wills brands are available. Within a few minutes a gentleman standing next to the shop left in his bike, the scene changed immediately.

"Sir, which brand you want...Marlboro, 555, Dunhill or B&H," he asked me enthusiastically. Stunned by the sudden attitude change, I asked reasons for it. "Sir, that man standing next to you was from Wills company and I was not supposed to sell any other brand than it. Now that he is not there I can give you the brand of your choice," he said.

So much for brand loyalty!

Not so Sundara Telegu!!!

Krishna Residency is a nice hotel to stay. Wifi enabled, good food and comfortable rooms. Just one problem, the staff, except the front room guys, do not know any other language than Telegu.

While Telegu is a beautiful language, especially those Karnatic compositions by Saint Thyagaraja, here it has presented me with a lot of hazards. Once I ordered a neembu soda (fresh lime soda), and got neembu and soda separately.

On other occasion I ordered dinner from my room (509) and told the room service guys to deliver it to 202 (my friend's Amol's room), but bill it to my room. I never got the dinner even after an hour and when checked with the room service people, they told me the boy was waiting in front of 509 for 15 minutes for me to open the door!!! Hows that for customer service!

KPL, REPORTING

For the last fortnight I have been busy with covering Karnataka Premier League, and it was quite experience.

I had this apprehension of the event being a no-seller, especially in Bangalore. But, to my greatest surprise, public has turned out in good numbers to watch the local lads sweating it out and Mysoreans have received the tournament with open hands.

Covering the tournament also led my mind to the need for a change in attitude to cover cricket. It is mandatory for an event like KPL, a strictly local affair, and even for domestic tournaments to file a conventional match reports with the reporter focusing just on the happening on the field. He may also dedicate time to compile scoreboards because cards may not be available in websites.

That people may not be able to watch these matches on TV makes it the duty of a reporter to give a detailed account of the on-field happenings.

Do we need to approach international matches the same way? I guess not. This is the age when things move forward in nanoseconds, and then why should reporters go back to the age of steam?

Now every international match has been flashed live on TV with millions watching along with detailed analysis by experts like Ravi Shastri, Ian Chappell etc. So what else a reporter can give new to his reader in his match report apart from the already watched and heard? Is a reporter's time is not precious enough that he can waste it compiling a board, a clerical job. Nowadays, boards of any international match are readily available in web pages like Cricinfo that guys working in desk can compile it, easing the burden on the guy on the field.

A reporter can also use that extra time in searching for some interesting stories. Why can't be we challenge our ability to think beyond the obvious?

To bring that change our respective offices should change their attitude, approaching the game with open mindedness while accepting the inevitable flow of time. Hope it happens.

WATCHING MASTERS AT WORK

There were no hurried movements or panic-stricken escape moves but calculated motions only experts in the job can hope for. The second day of the preparatory camp for Indian cricketers offered reasons why Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are considered masters of their trade, and the alarming gulf between them and the younger generation.

Dravid, first to enter the nets, faced short-pitched balls from bowlers, mainly coach Gary Kirsten, and bowling machine. Never for once the Bangalorean looked ill at ease save one mis-timed pull. Dropping his hands and moving away from the line of danger or tapping the ball to leg-side from back-foot or taking that handsome pull out of the draw, Dravid was in his elements during his 30 minutes stint at the nets.

Tendulkar offered an equally breathtaking sight even in a subdued mood. The Mumbaikar resembled a boxer -- no exaggerated movements, but just enough motions to avoid the oncoming blobs. It was a superb exhibition of technique, composure and willingness to work on to attain perfection.

Even Kirsten could not suppress his delight seeing the two modern day greats dishing out a masterclass in facing short-balls, coming up with occasional shouts of 'yeaahs' and 'good one'.

The nets showed why Tendulkar and Dravid survived so long at the highest level of cricket, conquering many a milestones on the way. Having talent is one thing, but converting God-given abilities into memorable performances needs much more than mere talent. The senior pros' longish outing on a nippy Thursday at the KSCA 'B' grounds proved you need loads of concentration and a mindset to tame the unpleasant to consistently succeed in sports.

Hopefully Suresh Raina, younger to the stalwarts by a good 14 years, will pick up some cues from his senior colleagues display. The Uttar Pradesh batsman's effort against rising balls on the day was a blow to the eye.

The left-hander, once described by former coach Greg Chappell as a progeny of West Indian great Brian Lara, showed his discomfort against balls that whistle past his chest. More than once he was caught in no-man's land while trying to pull, reducing his attempted-stroke into a tame fend. Uncertain footwork and an even more uncertain mind made Raina look like a deer caught in front of headlight against short stuff.

That the Champions Trophy will be held at the pacy, bouncy pitches of South Africa makes it mandatory for Raina to work his way out against short-pitched balls. It is not just a matter of saving his own reputation, but also vindicating the faith the team management has placed on him. Can Raina deliver? Lets hope so!!

THOUGHTS AT 35

So I have turned 35 three days ago. It's a really funny age, if not a little perplexing. You still have one foot on the shores of youthfullness while the need to check the speed of life gradually tickles your brain.

This is not to paint myself as a mature, grey-haired, slightly balding middle-aged man, struggling to cope with the new needs of life. But an effort from my part to look back at my personal and professional life wearing the glass of impartiality.

First let's take a peep at my personal life. All the while it has been a mix of good and bad, though I would like to put more weight on the former. I have been hugely privileged to acquire some wonderful friends along the way -- from my school and college days, during my stay in the hostel in New Delhi, yes they have come from all walks of life.

But my biggest gain has been finding a suitable life partner. I met her in the New Indian Express office in Bangalore, but it was not love at first sight. It blossomed between us some two years after our initial meeting, and I am really happy that I made the right choice. I believe having the right Ms Right has a huge role in the success of your personal and professional life.

I also have been remarkably lucky to have two of the most loving parents and really affectionate siblings, who have contributed immensly to my succes in all my ventures.

Now to my professional life. It has been a rather topsy-turvy trip as journalist over the last 12 years. The years have presented me the fortune of interacting with some nice guys, some wonderful colleagues and, of course, some cheapos as well.

As I said in one of my earlier blogs, I may not be clinging onto the broadsheet for long now as I can feel the need to do something different, face a different sort of challenge, surge in me. Hopefully, things should go as I hope in the next few months.

I have always felt my style of writing is more suited to interviews, features, news features and human element in sports. At times a broadsheet may not be the best place to do it, and may be it is a little too late for me to become straight-jacket writer. Here I should remember a name, without forgetting others who helped me along the way, for telling the importance of approaching my craft in a different way to keep myself fresh as a writer.

Ajay Shankar, my former colleague in NIE, Bangalore and now with a reputed website, has been a positive influence, pointing out the need to view sports, particularly cricket, through an unconventional eye and treating it like a new episode of a drama every day. Well, it is a hard to sell theory on a place, torned by the irresistable clash between new and old, like mine. Admittedly, I could not practice it all the time, keeping in mind the 'style' of my workplace, but the view has definitely broaden my horizons.

It is impossible to dwell upon all aspects in such a short article, but I have tried to give a peripheral and honest view of my professional and personal life. Catch up with you guys soon!

THOUGHTS FROM A SEDATE FORTNIGHT

I have been thinking about changing the look of this blog for a while now. I have taken the first few steps on Tuesday (28-7-2009) by adding one of photos and opting for a new layout. But still a few more things have to be done which I hope to do in the coming weeks.

It has been a rather sedate two weeks as my life travelled through the familiar routes between home and office. The only point of interest has been an offer from my friend -- Greg Landsdowne -- to write in his magazine 'Big Hitter' and hopefully things will fall in place in the coming days.

Writing for a magazine has always fascinated me because it allows you that extra bit of time to work on the stories, something you cannot expect in a daily. The quality of your story, I believe, is bound to increase and of course you can also write about 1500 words, helping to incorporate more ideas.

The biggest challenge of a magazine writer is to think of a fresh angle as you will often be dealing with a subject that has already been written a lot in various newspapers.

I agree that magazine writers may miss the thrill of day-to-day reporting, especially something big happens, or the buzz of bringing out the edition on a special occasion.

Despite all that, I still fancy shifting to a magazine at some point of time in future. By no means I am a perfectionist, but I have been a constant explorer to find ways to improve as a writer and trying to walk away from the trodden path. I might have experienced a few fumblings on the way, but I hope to learn and emerge stronger from those falls.

Hopefully, I can give a new impetus to the process during the next week when I will don my thinking hat to find a story for my friend.

A VALUABLE LESSON

Perhaps, it is not always necessary to interact with great persons to learn lessons. Their mere presence can instill a fresh perspective in you. I had such an experience many years ago, though the frustration of missing an opportunity to meet a well-known philanthropist and spiritual leader still lingers in my mind.

I don't remember the year or day, but it was some 15 years ago that I briefly met, the only time in my life, this pious man with a saintly face and a touching, expressive laugh --Sri Sri Ravishankar.


I would not have remembered that chancy, but highly remarkable, meeting if I would not have gone through one my colleague's blog that was written on the occasion of Guru Poornima.

A staunch devotee of Lord Guruvayoorappan, I grabbed the chance to perform a concert (Carnatic vocal) in the Guruvayooor temple with an elated heart. Never mind it was my 9th concert in front of my favourite deity.


I got a timing of 1 hr 30 minutes to sing from 6 pm, and it was the temple's rush hour. There was nearly 1500 attendees in the mantap (hall) and, by God's grace, I was able to catch their attention. But towards the end of my programme there was a commotion near the left entrance of the stage, and I saw a man clad in white entering the hall and listening the last 7-10 minutes of my rendetion -- the penultimate number was Aparadhamula Norva (Raga-Rasali) and then the customary mangalam Pavamana in raga Sourashtram.

On my way out one of the organisers led me to the person, and he said, "Good, fluent voice. Let the God bless you to keep it alright." My reply was limited to a rather quick and polite "Thanks" before hurrying towards my friends and relatives.

Though it was a very brief meeting, the image of the person was not faded from my mind, and later my cousin, Ramanathan, told who he was. I cursed myself for missing a golden chance to meet a much-reverred individual in detail.

It taught me a fine lesson -- never squander the chance to meet a great personality for you might not a get a second chance.

WATCHING THE MASTER, AND HOW!!

Friday, July 6, 2007. It will always remain a special day in my life. I watched the greatest tennis player in the history, Roger Federer, on that slightly hot London afternoon at the Wimbledon Centre Court . But I also met a man with a golden heart.
The Swiss maestro was playing against Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarterfinals, but I could not have watched that match without the help of a magnanimous, London policeman.
I was standing outside the gates of Wimbledon waiting for a colleague to get my temporary pass that allows entry into the press box, shopping area and the cafes. After a considerable wait, I decided to take some rest and sat on the pavement. Then I saw an elderly cop approaching me, and the first thought crossed my mind was I did something wrong sitting on the sidewalk. But the 45-something gentleman suddenly pushed something into my hand and said, "Young man go and watch the match. Tough to get tickets these days." He walked off without even giving me a chance to offer my gratitiude.
Still it did not struck me that I had a ticket to watch the matches at the Centre Court. I could not believe it once I realised what I had in my sweaty palms, and without wasting much time I rushed to the Centre Court to catch some action. The policeman could have sold that ticket worth GBP 60 to someone for an amount of his wish. But he chose to give it to me, the bells of St Paul's Cathedral might have rang then.
Back to action. Federer and Ferrero was warming up when I took the seat, and the next few hours I saw the master in two different zones.
In the first phase, Federer was struggling with his shots, and the precision of his opponent. He won the first set 7-6, but lost the second.
The third and fourth sets saw the re-emergence of Federer, the El Magnifico. The Swiss was all fluid grace -- serving smooth and big, unfurling some silky but powerful groundstrokes. It was like watching a Rolls Royce Phantom in full throttle -- all power and elegance with minimum fuss. It was an unforgettable sight, a pure genius in action and such moments make your life as a sports journalist worth the toil. Thank you Roger for a wonderful show.
But it would not have happened for that kind-hearted, but still unknown cop. Thank you sir!