Sports Round Up - Aug 25

I have taken inspiration from a long forgotten program that used to run on Doordarshan (a channel that is paid for by the Indian government), more decades ago than I care to remember. The essence of the program was an update from the world of sports and as far as I can remember, it used to be hosted by the incomparable Fredun DeVitre, though occasionally characters such as AFST ("Bobby") Talyerkhan used to make an appearance. The change is of course that I will be selectively and periodically commenting on whatever sports news catches my eye since the last update.

First and foremost, if we were ever to award something like the Indian Sportsperson of All Time title, then I think the debate should start and end with only one name Viswanathan Anand. A more consistent performer at the highest level of Chess against top quality opposition cannot be found in any other sporting discipline that Indians have participated in. The silly controversy earlier this week regarding red-tapism in the HRD ministry over awarding a honorary PhD to him, should be ignored by Vishy's fans the way he has done it himself.

I am looking forward to Saina Nehwal, and indeed hopefully others, including the mixed-doubles pair of Diju-Gutta doing well in the World Badminton Championships. Saina Nehwal in her short career to date has demonstrated enough characteristics of becoming a true champion. Repulsing wave after wave of Chinese players who have been strategically and systematically prepared by the Chinese Badminton sporting machine (you will be assimilated!) to defeat you is no mean achievement. Here's wishing her well for the current tournament and in future. At the time of writing, she was through to the 3rd round.

Indian Billiards has been producing champions regularly however sometimes the big prizes seem to be eluding people like Pankaj Advani. He was defeated recently (thumped would be a better word) by Mike Russell in the frame version of the sport. No question about the capabilities however the last mile seems to always be the most difficult.

Congratulations to Arjun Atwal for becoming the first Indian to win a PGA Tour title. This is indeed a fairy-tale for him. Coming through the Monday qualifiers, and then leading on all days of the tournament is no mean achievement. Say what you want about being able to play without fear (he had nothing to lose having already forfeited his Tour Card because of bad performance in earlier tournaments), but Golf is one of the most competitive sports in the US with big money at stake (his win was worth about US $ 0.93 Million!), and no one at this level and with this kind of money at stake, plays without pressure. I thought Jeev Milkha Singh would be the one to achieve this distinction first, but all credit to Arjun Atwal. Hope he can maintain this going forward and add to this achievement and not remain a one-tournament wonder.

The EPL leaves me cold. I can't imagine myself getting worked up over something where the football players are mercenaries for hire and the gap between the rich clubs and the not so rich is so wide so as to be almost unsurmountable (being a sport, there is some room finally, but the law of averages catches up very quickly even if the poorer clubs win a match or two).

A slightly old comment, Dunga was sacked for going against the natural instincts of the Brazilian nation (if not the football team!). There is something similar in the way Hockey has changed in the last couple of decades from being a sport that focused on stick-work to the more workman-like passing game seen nowadays. Indian Hockey has had as rich a tradition as Brazilian football, however the Indian team has by necessity needed to adapt to the modern game and play more in the style of the Europeans. Maybe there is a lesson in here somewhere for Brazil, but then if I knew what it is, I would not be simply writing this blog :)

An even older comment - the Shaq show has moved to Boston in the never ending search for redemption and one last NBA title for the Big Diesel. I think this is getting embarrassing for the folks watching, methinks a graceful retirement into doing commentary (imagine Barkley - Shaq going at it during the pre-game and half-time shows - finally Barkley will meet someone who can beat him up!) is called for. I think Shaq has nothing to prove, least of all to Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. Here's a classic case of the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I would be happy to see him win one more title, but this way, where he is not even the starting center is going to hurt Shaq and his fans more. I have been following Shaq since his Orlando Magic days and I have a lot of respect for his abilities and work ethic. Till the time he was with the Miami Heat everything was fine, however the move to Phoenix never worked, imagine Shaq right in the middle of a running game team and every move since has been a disaster. He cannot be a mentor/leader when he is not putting up the numbers and his record in the last few seasons does not do justice to an automatic choice for the NBA Hall of Fame.

Should I comment on the Commonwealth Games to be held shortly in New Delhi, India ? but then that update belongs more to the Political Round-Up section rather than a Sports Round Up, so will need to wait for its own post.

Have I forgotten any sport, Cricket, do I hear (?), but then that is best forgotten for now !

updated - September 18, 2010 - had referred to Peter Gilchrist when I meant Mike Russell in the billiards section

Fictional detectives

I am a huge fan of detective fiction right from Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle to Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ed McBain and Ian Rankin. I thought it would be interesting to contrast some of the more recent fictional detectives. I am sure that Sherlock Holmes occupies a special place in every detective fiction fan's heart since he is likely to have been read very early in one's life and creates an immediate impact in an impressionable mind!

Some of the more recent authors and their creations which are among my favourites are P D James (Adam Dalgliesh) - the undoubted queen of detective fiction and well written books in general, Peter Robinson (Alan Banks), Colin Dexter (Inspector Morse) and Ian Rankin (John Rebus). I have selected only some of the modern detectives (though Adam Dalgliesh has been around for many decades). Among the reasons for selecting these four are that they should be comparable, all are men, all are part of the official police force and not amateurs. All are typically single, Banks and Rebus having been divorced and Dalgliesh a widower, Morse seems to be the only confirmed bachelor among them. All are workaholics, with Dalgliesh being the only one who does not seem to be in any danger of becoming an alcoholic (Rebus is clearly an alcoholic who refuses to acknowledge it, and Banks and Morse are close to becoming one with Banks being sensible enough to withdraw).

I would have loved to include Peter James (Roy Grace) as well as Henning  Mankell (Kurt Wallander), may be in another installment!

P D James – Commander Adam Dalgleish

To call P D James' creations as detective fiction really does her books injustice, though the lady herself seems quite comfortable in being slotted as such. Anyway, a more detailed blog on P D James will have to wait for another day, lets get on with the main theme of today's blog.

Adam Dalgliesh comes across as truly cerebral, has intelligent officers around him, who don't seem to quite match his abilities. His background makes him seem more like an external observer rather than someone who is really participating in the investigation. His role as the establishment's troubleshooter who looks at “sensitive” crimes suits his personality. Among the four authors I have chosen, P D James' books are the most class conscious, though Dalgliesh is able to relate as well to the working class as to the professionals and aristocrats. He himself has quite evolved sensibilities with a taste for red wine and church architecture. He usually has a changing set of officers with him in every book, though of late, Kate Miskin has been a fixture. Her working class mindset and aspirations (she clearly looks up to Dalgliesh as a much more of a role model than purely as a superior officer) offer a welcome contrast to Dalgliesh.

The one major difference between the books of P D James and the other three is that the other three borrow heavily on their location, with Ian Rankin using Edinburgh as almost a central character in his books.

Peter Robinson – Chief Inspector Alan Banks – Eastvale (fictional)

Peter Robinson writes very well and in my view, suffers only in comparison and not if you look at the individual merits of each book, P D James is much more literate and Ian Rankin creates such a brooding atmosphere of Edinburgh that any comparisons are likely to be unfair on others.

Alan Banks comes across a very competent and likable person, the quintessential straight arrow, though with a rather overt fondness for Laphroaig single malt, which he gives up later in life. As with all fictional detectives, he tends to hold his cards close to his chest and is liable to go off on his own to follow-up on his leads. The crimes he tends to investigate are usually more modern and shocking than the others being compared to here. Banks also likes music (opera as well as rock and roll). Banks also has a strong supporting cast in Annie Cabot as well as others including Winsome Jackson as also his superior officer, DS Gristhorpe. Special Branch's Dirty Dick Burgess is also an interesting recurring character.

Ian Rankin – Inspector John Rebus – Edinburgh

Ian Rankin is a cross between the American hard-boiled style and the low key British style of detective fiction. Thus, John Rebus has probably more in common with Michael Connelly's Hieronymous Bosch rather than Adam Dalgliesh.

John Rebus is by far the most interesting and flawed character among the set chosen, though his morality and sense of right or wrong is never in doubt. His detection is much more physical than cerebral and more about following the momentum of a case rather than painstaking work in following up on leads, etc. As important as Rebus is to the books, the city of Edinburgh is clearly as central a character and Ian Rankin's books serve as a virtual tour of the city. Rebus' run ins with Big Ger Cafferty and his intense dislike for him are a recurring theme across many books. Rock and roll music is also interwoven into the stories. Rebus also has a good supporting cast in Siobhan Clarke and others. Rebus clearly drinks too much and his alcoholism is seen in his frequenting of the Oxford Bar.

Colin Dexter – Inspector Morse – Oxford

I have recently started reading Colin Dexter, so my knowledge of his books and Inspector Morse is not of the same level as the other three, however I thought that the little I have read makes him worthy of inclusion here.

Inspector Morse usually stumbles across the solution rather than by following a rigorous process of detection. He is clearly intelligent - solves the Times crossword under a self-imposed limit of ten minutes, has a love for classical music, but as clearly seems to be stuck in the wrong job, though he doesn't seem to be aware of it. He is given to creating elaborate and fanciful theories, often based on nothing more than a manipulated set of assumptions. Thus rather than he being fed red herrings, he is the person feeding the red herrings to the reader. Sergeant Lewis is an able counterfoil to Morse and his pragmatism often results in the right direction which Morse promptly appropriates as his own.

As always, if you like this, a line to me would be much appreciated!

On Saving the Tiger

Nowadays it is quite fashionable to espouse a 'cause' (inverted commas deliberate) and at least in India, Saving the Tiger is something which is getting a lot of attention on TV channels, especially NDTV. Several well meaning people are associated with it, among who are professionals/volunteers working in the field, celebrities of many hues and colours, people from the general population and students.

It has never been clear to me as to what effect all this is having on the actual situation on the ground. Is wearing a "Save the Tiger" t-shirt enough ? or sending a cheque to the 'fund' (would like to understand how the money is being utilized) ? This is not to criticize the need to preserve India's tiger population or to doubt the intention of the people associated with it, but to question the whole hoopla surrounding it and effectiveness in achieving the objective.

I can understand it if the purpose of the campaign is to reduce usage of tiger derivative products in India, but then no one I know uses any, so clearly the market is both small, well paying and international (e.g. usage of ivory in India has been drastically reduced because of legislation around buying/selling of ivory). Given this, the average person on the street is completely unaffected by the campaign beyond a vague sense of national pride in preserving the Indian tiger (given that it is India's national animal, etc.).

My submission is: given that the average person has a short attention span and only a limited number of causes that can be adopted, it is irresponsible to highlight Saving the Tiger as opposed to something much more relevant such as preventing female infanticide or promoting education/literacy or improving standards of hygiene. Of course, one cannot hold the position that we don't care if there are any tigers left in the wild or not, but it is quite clearly the government's responsibility to ensure that wildlife is preserved and ensure that funds are available and legislation is enacted that acts as a deterrent. If the government fails at this task, then any amount of breast-beating or taking out of vigils and protests is not going to help the Indian tiger.

This a little off-topic from my recent posts, however I did say that my blog was going to reflect my interests/pre-occupations! Next posts are almost certainly going to be about detective fiction and possibly Liferay (not a combination of the two, but separately).