So I watched the cricket match - yes, the TEST match. It was such a disaster. I really think Ganguly should retire gracefully. I cant remember a captain ever being booed off a field or acting so stupid.
So, he was bowled for 2 by Danish Kaneria in the second innings, by a ball that turned at least a couple of feet, beat his bat by a mile and through a gigantic gap between bat and forward lunging pad smashed into the off stump. Dada stood his ground and asked the umpire whether the wicketkeeper had removed the bails???? I mean it was a crash..loud enough for everyone in the stadium to hear!!

Either way it was a shameful performance. Some friends of mine were discussing this over dinner, and mentioned that it was quite possible that some members of the team lost this match purposely to lose Ganguly his captaincy. I cant believe that, except that there was quite a few comments made to somehow make me believe that it wasn't improbable.
For example, Ganguly was pointedly asked whether Tendu was asked to play to a plan. Tendu and Ganguly had a disagreement on the field when Tendu was bowling. Manjrekar mentioned it as well. So, a bit suspicious...

Formula One is finally getting exciting, Sania Mirza was brought down to earth with a first round loss, Federer is in awesome form and Henman with a 6-3 record against him is backing himslef to give the Swiss a run for his money, Wales won the Grandslam, Aussies thrashed the Kiwis ...AGAIN, Narain might be around next year if he continues like this...Fingers crossed and finally our man Anand after playing very poorly in Linares is in fine form at the Monaco Rapid tourney.

I am not a Chess fan in the sense that I cant tell between a Kings Indian and a Sicilian opening, but I must admit that Kasparov's retirement makes me sad. I never liked him and read an interview The Independent conducted and he is arrogant, opinionated and rude BUT probably the best ever. I think it takes away from any victory now if you havent beated Kasparov. I dont think Anand or Kramnik will ever feel satisfied being world champion without defeating Gary.
Kasparov is now moving to politics and is launching an aggressive campaign against Putin, who he believes has made Russia as corrput, poor and suppressed as the erstwhile Communist regimes.

To end here is my tribute to Gary and all the other great sportstars out there :
This was written more than a century ago, but somehow still holds true -

WHAT makes a hero?—not success, not fame,
Inebriate merchants, and the loud acclaim
Of glutted Avarice,—caps toss’d up in air,
Or pen of journalist with flourish fair;

Bells peal’d, stars, ribbons, and a titular name—

These, though his rightful tribute, he can spare;
His rightful tribute, not his end or aim,
Or true reward; for never yet did these
Refresh the soul, or set the heart at ease.

What makes a hero?—An heroic mind,
Express’d in action, in endurance prov’d.
And if there be preeminence of right,
Deriv’d through pain well suffer’d, to the height
Of rank heroic, ’t is to bear unmov’d,

Not toil, not risk, not rage of sea or wind,
Not the brute fury of barbarians blind,
But worse—ingratitude and poisonous darts,
Launch’d by the country he had serv’d and lov’d:
This, with a free, unclouded spirit pure,
This, in the strength of silence to endure,

A dignity to noble deeds imparts
Beyond the gauds and trappings of renown;
This is the hero’s complement and crown;
This miss’d, one struggle had been wanting still,
One glorious triumph of the heroic will,
One self-approval in his heart of hearts.