This blog is related to Hockey in a indirect way.
Have a look at this article on Rediff Sports: (copy pasted below, as well)
http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/mar/17usha.htm
The point here is not who is great and who is not.
Anju Bobby George was asked a question by the media that why doesn't she has P T Usha as her idol? (How media persons reached to this question can be very interesting...let's not worry about it). Anju George must be an honest person and she voiced her opinion without worrying about the consequences. She says that she doesn't see anything worthwhile in Usha that she should treat P T Usha as her idol.
But it's not simple here when it comes to public statements. There is a potential news here, dude! So, P T Usha is approached with Anju George's comment.
P T Usha has 2 choices:
1) Start off a massive controversy as to how a youngster can treat her like this, she doesn't have any knowledge of times of 80s and she is unfit to say so. She never participated in LA Olympics in 1984? The icing on the cake for P T Usha could be by comparing their achievements and then coming out of it 'victorious'.
2) Express your discontent but give a statement that douses off the matter completely and you come out in flying colours!
This is what she did! .. This is what I call professionalism. That is why I respect you, Ms P T Usha. You have set a marvellous example of professionalism and maturity.
You may say that P T Usha wasn't couragous enough to fight back or avoided controversy. Yeah, may be. But still to give such a statement makes me respect her. She commands respect and not demands it...!
I feel, this is a wonderful example of professionalism for all any sports in our country!
For my reference:
PT Usha has not taken kindly to Anju Bobby George's remarks that the "Payyoli Express" was not a world class athlete in her heydays, but said she would not comment on the ace long jumper's credentials as "she is just a child."
Anju, in a television interview, had said though she would not like to belittle Usha's achievements but would not consider her as a world class athlete.
She had obliquely hinted that Usha finished fourth in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics [Images] 400m hurdles because of the boycott by athletes from the erstwhile Eastern bloc.
When asked why Usha was not her idol, Anju said since the Kerala [Images] runner was not a world class athlete she could not be her idol.
"I am looking up to only world standard athletes," Anju had said in an interview to Malayala Manorama Television channel, adding "Milkha singh and Usha are only Asian level athletes."
Reacting to Anju's remarks, Usha said she would not want to hurt Anju now as that could affect her preparations for the Beijing [Images] Olympics.
"India is expecting a medal from Anju at the Beijing Olympics. If I answer to her comments, that will hurt her. I am not prepared to put her in such a mental state," she said.
"How can she (Anju) decide on my credentials? International Amateur Atheletic Federation had selected me in 1985 and 1986 as one of the best eight atheletes in the world," a hurt Usha responded.
"Anju is like a small child to me. I have seen her grow before my eyes. She has to grow further," Usha saidPT Usha has not taken kindly to Anju Bobby George's remarks that the "Payyoli Express" was not a world class athlete in her heydays, but said she would not comment on the ace long jumper's credentials as "she is just a child."
Anju, in a television interview, had said though she would not like to belittle Usha's achievements but would not consider her as a world class athlete.
She had obliquely hinted that Usha finished fourth in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics [Images] 400m hurdles because of the boycott by athletes from the erstwhile Eastern bloc.
When asked why Usha was not her idol, Anju said since the Kerala [Images] runner was not a world class athlete she could not be her idol.
"I am looking up to only world standard athletes," Anju had said in an interview to Malayala Manorama Television channel, adding "Milkha singh and Usha are only Asian level athletes."
Reacting to Anju's remarks, Usha said she would not want to hurt Anju now as that could affect her preparations for the Beijing [Images] Olympics.
"India is expecting a medal from Anju at the Beijing Olympics. If I answer to her comments, that will hurt her. I am not prepared to put her in such a mental state," she said.
"How can she (Anju) decide on my credentials? International Amateur Atheletic Federation had selected me in 1985 and 1986 as one of the best eight atheletes in the world," a hurt Usha responded.
"Anju is like a small child to me. I have seen her grow before my eyes. She has to grow further," Usha said
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Hockey - my real thoughts...
I feel:
1) Too much criticism doesn't help: Criticism can worry only those people who are democratically appointed because too much of it may pull them down in the next public elections. So, take it from me Gill will not be bothered at all, may what you do! The media tried in 1998 and it's 2008. Take it from me: Until and unless something happens from outside, he will do what he said,"I will not leave till the time things don't improve". You very well know it may take years for that to happen and if it improves then one should continue anyway, isn't it?
2) Talk less and do more: Why not have a "Hunger Strike" on one of the public places in Delhi? Have it like the way freedom fighters fought it with the British. Have a couple of Hockey players ready to die for the game and sit on hunger strike. Then, let's see how it doesn't shake up the Government bodies? It will charge up so much emotion from the country that the ones who come forward will become overnight mega-heros! Do it all states where the game is a cult!
3) The Power of ONE: Get all Hockey Players under one banner and do a Hockey strike in this Country? Don't touch your sticks till the time the Government doesn't respond. Go through the agony and freedom shall come your way!
But if you logic is player can only play, then, may be, you are not ready to sacrifice something!
4) Have the alternative ready: Mahatama Gandhi once said, "Resistance should always be to change things for the better. It must not be for anything else." Think about it! You are fighting for what? Gill or poor state of Hockey? If it is latter, few people should be ready with the alternate arrangement.
5) Last but not the least: Pick up a few books on Gandhian philosophy and take a few ideas and execute it.
If you believe in God, for his sake stop the empty criticism, do something constructive to move the authorities...
1) Too much criticism doesn't help: Criticism can worry only those people who are democratically appointed because too much of it may pull them down in the next public elections. So, take it from me Gill will not be bothered at all, may what you do! The media tried in 1998 and it's 2008. Take it from me: Until and unless something happens from outside, he will do what he said,"I will not leave till the time things don't improve". You very well know it may take years for that to happen and if it improves then one should continue anyway, isn't it?
2) Talk less and do more: Why not have a "Hunger Strike" on one of the public places in Delhi? Have it like the way freedom fighters fought it with the British. Have a couple of Hockey players ready to die for the game and sit on hunger strike. Then, let's see how it doesn't shake up the Government bodies? It will charge up so much emotion from the country that the ones who come forward will become overnight mega-heros! Do it all states where the game is a cult!
3) The Power of ONE: Get all Hockey Players under one banner and do a Hockey strike in this Country? Don't touch your sticks till the time the Government doesn't respond. Go through the agony and freedom shall come your way!
But if you logic is player can only play, then, may be, you are not ready to sacrifice something!
4) Have the alternative ready: Mahatama Gandhi once said, "Resistance should always be to change things for the better. It must not be for anything else." Think about it! You are fighting for what? Gill or poor state of Hockey? If it is latter, few people should be ready with the alternate arrangement.
5) Last but not the least: Pick up a few books on Gandhian philosophy and take a few ideas and execute it.
If you believe in God, for his sake stop the empty criticism, do something constructive to move the authorities...
Hockey - Talk show excerpts...
I was watching a talk show on one of private channels. Yes, the topic was, yet again, Hockey. Here is what the panelists said:
"I can get 25 crore to Indian Hockey in 1 year but people are not ready to give saying we don't want to give till the time Gill is there."
My Take: I feel it's a simple political statement - Typical words of a politician. We do have a budding (routine) politician here. Your statement didn't make much of a difference to me. I didn't bother to remember your name either.
"Why don't you (a former player) take up some position in your respective state Hockey association?" The addressed person (former Hockey player) answers: A player knows only to play, he can't get into adminstration.
My Take: Yes, that's why you suffer! That is what they said in Chak de India - "aap khiladi log hain .. khel se mutlab rakhiye na!" (you are players, please limit yourself to the game). That is what you are doing as well.
Sometimes when there is a lot of trash right of front of the house and the Municipality doesn't clean, what do you do? Pained to the core, one fine morning you get up, put on your half pants and broom in your hands you clean it up, don't you? Now, I agree with total respect that a player can only think of the game but there MUST be ATLEAST one player amongst you who feels really desperately for the game and wants to clean up? After all, leave aside the national pride, you are ones who have suffered the most? .. why not think of one of your own guys to take up the job? ..
Can you give us a kick start?
"Whenever police people have headed IHF, it has doomed the whole game altogether. In 1970's, when a police person took it up .. blah blah .. and now when Gill is there .. blah blah..."
My take: Leave those people in the past. Generalizing things from the past (and that too 35 years back) doesn't bring anything good to the present. It complicates the situation further. Stereotyping, although, comes from a few factual data but complete stereotyping may make one prejudiced, thereby blocking the mind altogether. But yeah, if that was meant for entertainment, I did get entertained (like the way I get when I watch a discussion in the Parliament)
"8 medals... 8 medals .. 8 medals ..."
My take: I feel the load of the pride of 8 Olympics Gold Medals is enormous! For a change, can we leave those medals in the past and concentrate ONLY on the present and the future without even mentioning them? I feel that we should leave that in the past and let it be there only.
"Astro turf spoiled it for India"
My take: Yes, you always wanted the things to go your way because you were champs when it used to be played on mud. You never adapted to change and that is why you feel so. However, it's been more than 10 years so, with turfs set up all over India, and it's a very petty excuse to even state on television. Leave mud grounds with the immortals along with their medals and think of today, i.e. Turf. There is no use of thinking of good old times and spoiling the days today!
Last but not the least, I feel there is difference between a talk amongst like minded friends and a talk on Television. Youth (of all generations) is very sensitive to what they hear. If you use your public appearances to voice something really petty that someone did, I am a little worried that the public may retain it for a long time. You may have brought down one individual but no ones' impression got lifted. That's where the irony is...
I wouldn't say the time was wasted because it was nice to hear some positive factual data about International Hockey...
"I can get 25 crore to Indian Hockey in 1 year but people are not ready to give saying we don't want to give till the time Gill is there."
My Take: I feel it's a simple political statement - Typical words of a politician. We do have a budding (routine) politician here. Your statement didn't make much of a difference to me. I didn't bother to remember your name either.
"Why don't you (a former player) take up some position in your respective state Hockey association?" The addressed person (former Hockey player) answers: A player knows only to play, he can't get into adminstration.
My Take: Yes, that's why you suffer! That is what they said in Chak de India - "aap khiladi log hain .. khel se mutlab rakhiye na!" (you are players, please limit yourself to the game). That is what you are doing as well.
Sometimes when there is a lot of trash right of front of the house and the Municipality doesn't clean, what do you do? Pained to the core, one fine morning you get up, put on your half pants and broom in your hands you clean it up, don't you? Now, I agree with total respect that a player can only think of the game but there MUST be ATLEAST one player amongst you who feels really desperately for the game and wants to clean up? After all, leave aside the national pride, you are ones who have suffered the most? .. why not think of one of your own guys to take up the job? ..
Can you give us a kick start?
"Whenever police people have headed IHF, it has doomed the whole game altogether. In 1970's, when a police person took it up .. blah blah .. and now when Gill is there .. blah blah..."
My take: Leave those people in the past. Generalizing things from the past (and that too 35 years back) doesn't bring anything good to the present. It complicates the situation further. Stereotyping, although, comes from a few factual data but complete stereotyping may make one prejudiced, thereby blocking the mind altogether. But yeah, if that was meant for entertainment, I did get entertained (like the way I get when I watch a discussion in the Parliament)
"8 medals... 8 medals .. 8 medals ..."
My take: I feel the load of the pride of 8 Olympics Gold Medals is enormous! For a change, can we leave those medals in the past and concentrate ONLY on the present and the future without even mentioning them? I feel that we should leave that in the past and let it be there only.
"Astro turf spoiled it for India"
My take: Yes, you always wanted the things to go your way because you were champs when it used to be played on mud. You never adapted to change and that is why you feel so. However, it's been more than 10 years so, with turfs set up all over India, and it's a very petty excuse to even state on television. Leave mud grounds with the immortals along with their medals and think of today, i.e. Turf. There is no use of thinking of good old times and spoiling the days today!
Last but not the least, I feel there is difference between a talk amongst like minded friends and a talk on Television. Youth (of all generations) is very sensitive to what they hear. If you use your public appearances to voice something really petty that someone did, I am a little worried that the public may retain it for a long time. You may have brought down one individual but no ones' impression got lifted. That's where the irony is...
I wouldn't say the time was wasted because it was nice to hear some positive factual data about International Hockey...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Hockey Debacle
Hockey is selling like hot potato these days in media. With Cricket out of news for the time being, Hockey debacle is the most recent thing that is being talked about almost by everyone. When India won last time, how many tournaments India plays in a year, where all does India travel to play Hockey, a person may not know all this but he knows a few names, for sure: KPS Gill, Jyothikumaran, Batra, Joaquim Carvalho. To top it all, everyone, yet again, in wrong limelight!
All credit to media! It is selling everything that can be sold. Easiest possible selling item is to label a few for some debacle and then crucify them. I mean, they were the same people a few days back! Was everyone waiting for the debacle to happen to actually realize that Gill and company are responsible for the debacle? The answer is a sad 'Yes'.
Dude, Gill has been there for 14 years? He has created a system that has not voted him out of power since then! Every system is a reflection of how the audience is. Hockey lacks professionalism and so does its management. The unprofessional functioning of the system is being sold by the Media. Remember last year when India won the Asia Cup, I don't even remember reading about it these many days as I am reading about the debacle. The simple point is: Hockey win doesn't sell much but a Hockey failure does sell a lot!
A few months back, I was told by someone, "Boodhe sher (i.e. Gill) par kab tak kankad maarke kab tak news banayoge? (Till when can you generate news by pelting the old lion,i.e. Gill). The public is tired of negative publicity of the game."
The fact is: a thing that gives too much negative thoughts to the mind of a reader becomes painful and they prefer to refrain from it. This is what our media has done to Hockey. Over and over negative publicity, internal rivarly amongst the stalwarts, personalized criticism of Hockey players and coaches has spoiled everything for the game.
If you are really concerned about Indian Hockey and have a selfless desire for the upliftment of the game why not create a organized team of representatives, get into deep slush, dirty yourself as well and start off the clean up. I may be making a strong statement: Hockey academicians are scared of getting into the slush.
A few years back, I read that some Olympians got together and approached the President to disban the IHF and reconstitute it. Hello Sir?, it's understood that you have concern for the game but clearly visible is the fact that's not the way you can clean up the system. An autonomous body has one person heading it and he has become a dictator. Problem is not him, problem is you who being in Hockey for so many years haven't been able to remove him by the democratic means.
See the politics of Hockey:
- Selectors have a strong lobby amongst themselves. They can go to any extent in that.
- Everyone who get into coaching wants tries things 'his way'. It may work for some time. All this while everyone is waiting for him to fail and then crucify him taking the media way. No one comes out in support of such a bealeagured coach.
- Even in the selection of players at the state levels, major trafficing happens.
- Rajpal Singh says things in the press from Australia. Hello? I think media should have forgiven him for his statement, should have spared Hockey for that particular day and shouldn't have printed it all! For my dears readers it did nothing but, yet again, brought a bad name to the game as to how things are handled in Hockey.
Our game is being handled this way and, rightly, you have a similar person heading the federation, who doesn't buckle under media pressure.
Coming to the topic that has sparked the whole 'hangama', it's not because of Gill that the team lost. 11 players when they play and they win or loose, it's not because of Gill! I can give you 10 reasons why the team failed to perform and all of them remain exclusive of Gill. So, I don't buy the argument of sacking Gill and things will improve.
It's, yet again, a personalised attack on a person. I pray that your wishes are granted but I do fear that you may be praying the same a few years down the line.
Jagbir Singh, in one of his appearances, summed up the whole situation in 2 words: Professional Approach.
Ric Charlesworth will not be able to create wonders if the ambassadors of Indian Hockey don't start believing in 'Professional Approach'. He may end up his endeavour with us by saying that Indians are difficult to work with.
I can only hope that there is some way to clean up the slush without dirtying yourself.
Please note: With dew respect for each professional who has dreamt of Indian Hockey every night of his life, I want to tell that I also love to see Indian Hockey and players excel. I have watched matches in the middle of the night. However, I strongly feel 'we' ourselves are responsible for where 'we' are. No point in blaming a person per say in this matter. I don't watch much Cricket these days, but if all you feel that Cricket is what sells in this country it's only because of the whole system that they have developed around the 2 words - Professional Approach.
If at all, you want to clean the system come into the fray, cover yourself in slush, I will pray for you, gather support for you by going onto the streets and will tell my children tomorrow that Mr. X did something for Indian Hockey keeping aside all his personal interests and rivarly, rose over it and did something that changed the face of the game
All credit to media! It is selling everything that can be sold. Easiest possible selling item is to label a few for some debacle and then crucify them. I mean, they were the same people a few days back! Was everyone waiting for the debacle to happen to actually realize that Gill and company are responsible for the debacle? The answer is a sad 'Yes'.
Dude, Gill has been there for 14 years? He has created a system that has not voted him out of power since then! Every system is a reflection of how the audience is. Hockey lacks professionalism and so does its management. The unprofessional functioning of the system is being sold by the Media. Remember last year when India won the Asia Cup, I don't even remember reading about it these many days as I am reading about the debacle. The simple point is: Hockey win doesn't sell much but a Hockey failure does sell a lot!
A few months back, I was told by someone, "Boodhe sher (i.e. Gill) par kab tak kankad maarke kab tak news banayoge? (Till when can you generate news by pelting the old lion,i.e. Gill). The public is tired of negative publicity of the game."
The fact is: a thing that gives too much negative thoughts to the mind of a reader becomes painful and they prefer to refrain from it. This is what our media has done to Hockey. Over and over negative publicity, internal rivarly amongst the stalwarts, personalized criticism of Hockey players and coaches has spoiled everything for the game.
If you are really concerned about Indian Hockey and have a selfless desire for the upliftment of the game why not create a organized team of representatives, get into deep slush, dirty yourself as well and start off the clean up. I may be making a strong statement: Hockey academicians are scared of getting into the slush.
A few years back, I read that some Olympians got together and approached the President to disban the IHF and reconstitute it. Hello Sir?, it's understood that you have concern for the game but clearly visible is the fact that's not the way you can clean up the system. An autonomous body has one person heading it and he has become a dictator. Problem is not him, problem is you who being in Hockey for so many years haven't been able to remove him by the democratic means.
See the politics of Hockey:
- Selectors have a strong lobby amongst themselves. They can go to any extent in that.
- Everyone who get into coaching wants tries things 'his way'. It may work for some time. All this while everyone is waiting for him to fail and then crucify him taking the media way. No one comes out in support of such a bealeagured coach.
- Even in the selection of players at the state levels, major trafficing happens.
- Rajpal Singh says things in the press from Australia. Hello? I think media should have forgiven him for his statement, should have spared Hockey for that particular day and shouldn't have printed it all! For my dears readers it did nothing but, yet again, brought a bad name to the game as to how things are handled in Hockey.
Our game is being handled this way and, rightly, you have a similar person heading the federation, who doesn't buckle under media pressure.
Coming to the topic that has sparked the whole 'hangama', it's not because of Gill that the team lost. 11 players when they play and they win or loose, it's not because of Gill! I can give you 10 reasons why the team failed to perform and all of them remain exclusive of Gill. So, I don't buy the argument of sacking Gill and things will improve.
It's, yet again, a personalised attack on a person. I pray that your wishes are granted but I do fear that you may be praying the same a few years down the line.
Jagbir Singh, in one of his appearances, summed up the whole situation in 2 words: Professional Approach.
Ric Charlesworth will not be able to create wonders if the ambassadors of Indian Hockey don't start believing in 'Professional Approach'. He may end up his endeavour with us by saying that Indians are difficult to work with.
I can only hope that there is some way to clean up the slush without dirtying yourself.
Please note: With dew respect for each professional who has dreamt of Indian Hockey every night of his life, I want to tell that I also love to see Indian Hockey and players excel. I have watched matches in the middle of the night. However, I strongly feel 'we' ourselves are responsible for where 'we' are. No point in blaming a person per say in this matter. I don't watch much Cricket these days, but if all you feel that Cricket is what sells in this country it's only because of the whole system that they have developed around the 2 words - Professional Approach.
If at all, you want to clean the system come into the fray, cover yourself in slush, I will pray for you, gather support for you by going onto the streets and will tell my children tomorrow that Mr. X did something for Indian Hockey keeping aside all his personal interests and rivarly, rose over it and did something that changed the face of the game
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