Just a few days ago, i had read a newspaper article which felt that the "gentleman's" game has now become a businessman's. I was struck by the reality of the article.
A six is no longer a six, but a DLF Maximum. If there has been a good over for the batsman or a crucial wicket has fallen, it isnt the excellence of the player, but a Citi moment of success...
What surprises me most is, how readily the commentators (read as salesmen) have accepted this role. Familiar names like Ravi Sashtri, Harsha Bhogle, and Ranjit Fernando (whose only capability seems to be glorifying his fellow countrymen, the Sri Lankans. He explains "as long as dilshan/ sangakarra/ jayawardena/ murali are playing well, the tean need not fear"), have turned into nonsense boxes who go shrill over the least thrill and find it difficult to find fitting adjectives when more thrilling events occur. They go hoarse shouting the names of the sponsors. Also during dull moments they proclaim 'i would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors for their support and help'.
Long time ago, SRK made a movie 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' which made fun of cricketers being used as advertisement hoardings. Bit of irony here as he himself is doing that now. The most irritating part though is the strategic timeout. What the hell? It could well have been named 'advertisement timeout'. 7 and half mins of advertisements. Yuck! As if it were not enough, the commercial break comes as soon as the over ends or a wicket falls. In earlier times, the replays would have been shown and then the break. But not anymore.
The coverage is bad and hyped, not to mention the anchoring. Sigh! Hw i wish ESPN had got the broadcasting rights. Alas! What is this game coming to? The matches themselves arent so exciting. Close and tense finishes, yes, but its been ages since there has been a high scoring one.
Lastly, i hope the deccan chargers win. Im rooting for them (i always have). Good thing that symonds is... Not really.. Or maybe it is... Damn anyway.. Go CHARGERS go..
A six is no longer a six, but a DLF Maximum. If there has been a good over for the batsman or a crucial wicket has fallen, it isnt the excellence of the player, but a Citi moment of success...
What surprises me most is, how readily the commentators (read as salesmen) have accepted this role. Familiar names like Ravi Sashtri, Harsha Bhogle, and Ranjit Fernando (whose only capability seems to be glorifying his fellow countrymen, the Sri Lankans. He explains "as long as dilshan/ sangakarra/ jayawardena/ murali are playing well, the tean need not fear"), have turned into nonsense boxes who go shrill over the least thrill and find it difficult to find fitting adjectives when more thrilling events occur. They go hoarse shouting the names of the sponsors. Also during dull moments they proclaim 'i would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors for their support and help'.
Long time ago, SRK made a movie 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' which made fun of cricketers being used as advertisement hoardings. Bit of irony here as he himself is doing that now. The most irritating part though is the strategic timeout. What the hell? It could well have been named 'advertisement timeout'. 7 and half mins of advertisements. Yuck! As if it were not enough, the commercial break comes as soon as the over ends or a wicket falls. In earlier times, the replays would have been shown and then the break. But not anymore.
The coverage is bad and hyped, not to mention the anchoring. Sigh! Hw i wish ESPN had got the broadcasting rights. Alas! What is this game coming to? The matches themselves arent so exciting. Close and tense finishes, yes, but its been ages since there has been a high scoring one.
Lastly, i hope the deccan chargers win. Im rooting for them (i always have). Good thing that symonds is... Not really.. Or maybe it is... Damn anyway.. Go CHARGERS go..
nice posts mate, the ipl thing is good, and very contextual with today, everyone discussing whether the ipl is a boon or a bane....
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