Where's your crown King Nothing.

And it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger
But there's no one around

Just want one thing
Just to play thing king
But the castle crumbled
And you're left with just a name

Where's your crown?
King Nothing

- Metallica: "Load", 1996

Circa 2005.
That's practically the ode the Indian selectors would have scripted had they decided to pen one. Say hello to the world of Saurav Chandidas Ganguly. His throne seized, his kingdom revamped and his subjects who hailed him, now singing the praise of a "Wall". Reams and reams of newsprint and bytes, megabytes and gigabytes of webspace have been dedicated to the ouster of "the Maharaja" of Indian cricket. A story that has hogged the headlines for the fortnight gone by and at least for the fortnight to come. Too much noise made I would say given that all thats happened is that a man (although high-profile and always in the limelight) lost his job.

I think its just the way things are made out to be rather than how they actually are (rather how they actually should be made out to be) that has caused this entire uproar. Would like to state upfront that I am one of the most ardent admirers of this man's magical touch when it comes to timing the cricket ball. At the same time I am not exactly one who advocates the "cricketers-on-a-pedestal" kind of picture that is painted of certain cricketers on the Indian cricket scene. Given the current scenario in the world today, cricket is another profession. Its much beyond being just a sport and the players are no longer just sportsmen, they're professionals. So then who's to say that just because he is the most successful captain in Indian cricketing history gives him the liberty of performing poorly in more number of matches than any other cricketer in the team. The bottom line being that, he's just another professional with a job and he has to deliver.

Statistics would indeed reflect that this man did not deserve a place in the ODI squad for sometime coming now. But I guess thanks to the forces that were(They no longer are in now) his stay with the team was extended. It's this basic problem of this larger than the team, larger than cricket, and larger than life aura that the media has created around some of the faces of Indian cricket that has resulted in these non-issues becoming first page headlines when there are definitely other pressing national issues that need coverage. I know I'll probably draw a lot of flak, abuses and a punch in the face the next time a reader meets me, for saying this, but if anyone is not performing, action has to be taken, even if the non-performer happens to be Sachin Tendulkar. A place in the Indian cricket team cannot and must never be taken for granted. You perform, you are in. You fail, you are out. That should be it. Your name/suraname shouldn't guarantee you the visa extension that you get for cricketing tours, your past scores should.

To top the follies of the Board and the System, you have a stateful of crazy supporters who have already in the past shown their level of maturity and respect for the game (Semi-Final of the World-cup,1996, Ind v/s Sri Lanka). These people go to the extent of almost calling for a state bandh in response to this selection decision. If that were done every single time a Bengali working with some MNC or any organisation somewhere in the world was suspended/fired/asked to resign from his job, Bengal would have a yearful of Holidays. A man lost his job 'coz he did not deliver. Its a tough world. People get fired. You work hard and find a new job. Life goes on. Everyone out there is doing (or is at least expected to do) a job. The selectors, the curators, the umpires, the members of the Board, the players have got to do their job. NO ONE is bigger than the sport itself. The sport has produced many a mercurial batsmen and many a legendary bowler. There shall always be names that shall be synonymous with greatness in the game. There shall always be amazing stories that are narrated from the annals of cricket. But NONE greater that the sport itself.

The crown's been taken, But all is not lost. There's a lot of cricket left in the man. 3-4 years at least. And I'm sure Lady Luck will certainly smile upon him. Someone's bound to get injured, fall ill. All he needs to do is have numbers that will back him at that point in time. And I'm sure he'll live up to his moniker of the "Bengal Tiger" once again. He WILL roar his way back into the team. After all, the sport is a great leveller. The levelling wave worked against him this time around, but when the next wave hits the shores of Indian cricket I'm sure the Maharaaja will ride it all the way to the top.

This ones to the great sport of cricket.
Cheers!

P.S.
Just for the statistically inclined, the record of the five batsman of the Indian ODI squad from Jan ' 04 to Dec ' 05

M Runs Avg Highest 100's 50's 0's N.O.'s SR
Saurav 43 1134 28.35 90 0 8 3 3 66.82
Sehwag 53 1515 29.71 108 1 8 3 2 101.13
Sachin 37 1224 34.97 141 2 7 1 2 79.12
Yuvraj 57 1680 35.00 139 4 8 1 9 85.28
Kaif 44 1262 40.71 102* 1 8 1 13 74.90
Decide for yourself.

The most "circulated" daily.

Honestly, I didn't know whether to have the word 'most', the word 'circulated' or the word 'daily' in quotes when I named this post. But felt that circulated was probably the most 'deserving'. Now, in trying to make the morning newspaper such an enjoyable experience, India's most read daily, has added the Mumbai Mirror as part of the huge stack of papers the newspaper boy delivers at your doorstep. So make that the main supplement, the Bombay Times, the Mumbai Mirror, your local 'plus' (Thane, Mulund, New Bombay, Andheri,etc.) and some fifth supplement (The Education Times, Times Ascent, Top Drive -depending on which day it is).

Good morning India! You pick up the newspaper with your daily cup of tea and begin reading. You get through the first couple of pages quite quickly - (Hell.. All there is whether the jejunal infection that has resulted in the shortening of the intestine of I dare say, an amazingly famous Indian will affect his ability to work in the future and of course, the list of all the glitterati who have been making the rounds of the hospital with photographs to match). This issue probably demands a post in itself, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a fan of the man in question, although its gotten to my head as to how much an issue like this can boost newspaper sales - I don't think newspaper reporting today or 'journalism' in general has any other purpose. Cases in Point - "the Mid-day Mate" (What in the world!!! Part of a news daily??!!), Last page of the Bombay Times, or should I just say - the Bombay Times, etc. Anyways, these debates for some other post.

Getting back, you browse through the news in your city and the sports section and you arrive at the Times Imternational.As you go through the Times International you glance through the 'graffitti' section. You happen to read about Halle Berry's decisions on never marrying again after 2 failed ones, Paris Hilton's decision to marry her current boyfriend, Jessica Simpson announcing the end of her marriage, Elton John telling all on his plans to solemnise his gay relationship by marrying his partner and so on. Intriguing. Enjoyable gossip. It just made my tea a lot more fun to sip I must say. End of the Times International and you arrive at your daily quota of what could be called "official gossip" - the Bombay Times. You reach the last couple of pages and.. Voila!! Here we Halle expressing her loss of faith in the institution of marriage again. Hmmm.. Now did we just read that or did she just get through her third marriage that fast!! And there you go..You have Paris looking up at you announcing her marriage-to-be..Has she run through her previous boyfriend as well??!! Whatever..You leave those thoughts aside and pick up your Mumbai Mirror, You again reach the film news / gossip section and ... Boy is Halle frustrated or what!!! No marraige for her yet again!!!! Aaaawwww!! And Paris wants
to marry. Hurray!!! An exhausting read I must say. Wasn't it?? The examples sighted here are just a trailer. DON'T take my word for it. Pick up the newspaper tomorrow morning and see for yourself. You'll get the complete picture. Gets the blood circulating faster than you can say "beep". And this, phenomenon you shall often notice spread over a couple of days as well. Hey..Jessica divorced today? I thought that was three days ago. Or did she have a 72 hour marriage after that as well.

Was just wondering what it is that prompts this daily to "circulate" the same piece of news in three different sections of their own paper. Is once not enough? Is it that people want to see Halle, Paris and the girls again and again?? Or do they think all their readers have short term memories (REAL SHORT at that). Or is it plain lack of any other news to report. Mumbai Mirror having a repetition can probably, still be justified. After all, its a "separate" newspaper and soon might not be distributed with the Times. But the Times International and Bombay Times are for sure going to be part of your tea routine every morning. So then WHY!? And its not just this news. There are instances when you see this happening with the top stories as well. Read it in active voice in the Times and in Passive voice in the MM seems to be the mantra. I think this paper has been at the top long enough and its time they were told to treat us with a wee bit more respect.

Gossip / Sport / Business / Politics or Your Top Stories, I think reruns are still better left to television. For print, one story once a day is good enough.

Squeal YA No Squeal

Welcome to the era of reality TV.

The Beginning: Star walks onto set. 20 wanna-be-lucky people surround him with boxes that have cards with amounts ranging from 25 paise to 1 crore written on them. One lucky fella (Lets call him Mr.A) is 'chosen' who shall push his luck and try hard (whatever that means given the game as you shall see it unfold!!) to win one crore. Mr.A comes sits opposite the star and now has the 'difficult' task of pointing out people whose boxes he wants opened and the prize money they hold to be eliminated. Each elimination enlightening him with what amount he DOES NOT have in his box. 5 boxes down. Our Mr. A has 'bravely' managed to eliminate amounts in the range of 25 paise to 10000 Rupees. Still giving him the hope that he has the 1 crore card in his box.

Ta da ding ting..Ta da ding ting..Ta da ding ting ting..A phone call from the "bank manager". Star conveys to Mr.A that the "bank" is offering him Rs.30,000 to buy his box. He has to decide "Deal YA No Deal". If he accepts the offer, the game ends, else Mr.A has a tough job ahead of pointing out to five more people whose boxes he wants opened and carry on. He valiantly decides to soldier on and with an emphatic Thumbs Down - NO DEAL. "Hum in bank waalon se nahi darenge. Yeh offer bekar hai". So much for tv soaps and hindi films!! The elimination and the bank offer story goes on for 4 rounds (18 boxes have been opened, an by now the only amounts left are 10 Lac and 50 Lac); and each time our Mr.A (who has gone from soldier to risk taker to devotee - there was a vaishnav devi song playing!!!- , to actor hugging people who opened boxes with low amounts to STAR with everyone in the audience rooting for him). Just one box to be opened and the 'bank' "offers" him 21 Lakh. Our hero is convinced that HIS is the box that has the 50 Lakh!!! X-ray vision or what!!! He also has his wife (from the audience) solemnly saying "aap to humesha hi risk lete aaye hain aur jeete hain" (is Subhash Ghai watching!!! OR should I say GET REAL WOMAN!!!). Box opened - Its 50 Lakh in the other box. Mr.A ha to return home with 10 Lakh. Hugs all around. Everest has been scaled yet again. Boy was that difficult!! The End.

We'll deal with the greed later (Dude!! Just take the 21 lakhs and leave!!). For now, I'm just wondering what television is feeding the viewers of today and what in the world are people hosting in the name of "game shows". TRP Ratings are being gained on the basis of an emotion a viewer feels for some unknown Tom (who by the way is not gonna give you a penny of the ten lakh or 1 crore that he wins) that is keeping him glued to his sofa. The KBC's and the Jeeto Chappad Phaad Ke's at least demand that you be knowledgeable (Level of knowledge is debateable). The Ek Minutes and the Tele-Matches tested some skills (nothing much to do with intellect, but stamina, speed, skill.. for what they were worth). What in the world was the game show above testing??? The ability to raise your finger and speak???!!!! "Main Box number 2 Kholna chahoonga". Hey.. Guess what??My 6 year old cousin can manage that. And boy would I be mad if he had 50 Lakhs in the bank at age 6!!! That too for doing what Mr.A did!!

Grow up people!! Both the makers of the show and the viewers who sit through the agonising 60 minutes of what Mr. A would do if his box wasn't gonna be having a card with enough money. Stick to watching the BBC Masterminds, ESPN Sports Quiz or just watch a soap (at least the actors are making an attempt at acting).

You try making me a "deal" of the above kind. Sorry brother. I'm out!!!