tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86415392009-11-20T04:23:50.583-08:00Watering Hole <strike> for Sports Fans!</strike>Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-84486664788343403952009-09-04T12:33:00.000-07:002009-09-04T12:43:37.603-07:00

While I would take reports such as this with a pot of salt, if there is truth in any one of these cases, all involved should be given the Darwin award posthumously, even if that may considered to be in bad taste. One aspect of YSR's shock death that has been ignored by media at large (at least outside Andhra) is that life came to a virtual standstill in the state (not, one suspects, because the

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-68669566049614698982009-08-12T07:48:00.000-07:002009-08-12T07:55:03.109-07:00

Thank god for things like Mac the Ripper... who wants to be at the mercy of judges like this and the MPAA (or the RIAA)? Isn't it mysterious how the big lobbies can get 'justice on demand' when it affects their bottom lines? Although I must admit I'm no fan of RealNetworks.

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-90298098282742808022009-08-12T03:43:00.000-07:002009-08-12T03:58:57.167-07:00

You have to give it to these American think-tank types. And this New Republic magazine is supposed to be - don't hold your breath - liberal. I am tempted to look up some interesting quotes about the differences between liberals and conservatives in the American context. For the rest of the world, these differences are non-existent, except in case of certified crazies like Bush Jr. Apart from

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-17066701852765917542009-08-10T08:18:00.000-07:002009-08-10T08:25:08.764-07:00

So now Justing Langer is worried about dressing room barbs he might have to endure when he returns to England to do what Aussie cricketers do best - act all matey, make a decent packet and go home chuckling to themselves as to how pathetic the English are. Damn the leak!!! Methinks, despite the temporary blushes, Langer is pretty sure he'll be quite alright. He is no pussy after all.

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-9442717751199478842009-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:002009-07-28T13:05:10.546-07:00

Watching The International (now I didn't have great expectations, the exclamations on the VCD cover not withstanding) left me with the same old feeling that is quite effectively described by 'KLPD'. Now it wasn't bad, in fact it was downright good in parts and Clive Owen was quite convincing and looked like he took the part seriously (Naomi Watts, otoh, didn't have much to do anyway). But

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-30565641624484310522009-07-28T12:28:00.000-07:002009-07-28T12:45:18.932-07:00

With not a lot going on right now (am 'between jobs'), I decided to drown myself in some good cinema (and some passable fare too, for timepass). Dev D was on my must see list, mostly because I watched Oye Lucky... a while ago and it was an orgasmic experience considering the usual stuff Bollywood trots out. There is something about watching a taut, well directed and well-acted movie in an Indian

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-10801777900718171482009-07-14T23:11:00.000-07:002009-07-14T23:29:14.299-07:00

I often wonder if Philip K Dick didn't lose out on an immense amount of material by being an American, as opposed to being Indian. Because India is, contemporary India at any rate, grotesquely surreal if nothing else. The best thing is, one doesn't even have to rely on mind altering substances to 'bring out' the weirdness - it is right there, in your face, all the time. Exhibit Z: Thanks to Amit

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-82773675666156903952009-07-14T11:49:00.000-07:002009-07-14T22:46:34.798-07:00

There was a time, not long ago, when I did follow the Formula One circuit. Not that I ever really understood what it was about. And I couldn't ever sit through a complete race on TV either, but there was nevertheless a sense of awe about cars zipping around at blinding speeds (boys and their toys, huh?). The whole daredevil aspect of the sport obviously contributed to the aura. And then there

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-12296084152005170382009-07-13T12:42:00.000-07:002009-07-13T12:54:18.388-07:00

Why on earth is the Indian Express carrying opinion pieces from the arch imperialist / Atlanticist mouthpiece, The Economist? I read a predictable Russia/Putin bashing piece from an Economist hack a week or so ago and then noticed the banner. Wherein the said worthy repeated ad nauseam how belligerent Russia invaded South Ossetia / Georgia. Obviously, the 'Allies' couldn't have expected Russia to

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-82832866430401216682009-07-01T04:47:00.000-07:002009-07-14T22:55:40.675-07:00

Once upon a time, Alan Wilkins used to be a humorous, lovable and engaging anchor, who was so much better than umpteen other pretenders on various sports channels. However,listen to him of late and you know instantly that he has lost it. Totally. I hope its a passing bad phase and he can rediscover himself soon. Because we would like to see him get back to his old avatar where he was a

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-85278461433808101892009-06-26T02:52:00.000-07:002009-07-14T22:56:27.810-07:00

Wimbledon 2009 looks more open than any of the earlier years.Whatever the experts might be saying about this year's men's open being a two horse race, I believe there are more contenders than that. And they are not the usual suspects.I am backing Tommy Haas to cause a few upsets at Wimbledon this year. He has been in tremendous form and it just requires him to translate that and his quiet

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-69737367204952963192009-06-23T03:45:00.001-07:002009-07-14T23:08:53.604-07:00

Yesterday's Times of India carried a profile of Saina Nehwal. Starting from what she eats during the day - and what she doesn't (ice cream etc.) - they chronicled her sacrifices as a teenager, her sleeping habits and her punishing schedule. For Saina's sake, I hope these guys stay off her. Why does the media make a big deal about these? Every one of the things that they portrayed as a "sacrifice"

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-59238271038356880552009-06-21T21:12:00.001-07:002009-06-21T21:48:14.397-07:00

At the "Space Circle", in an auditorium teeming with 35 teams, the best informed sports lovers fought tooth and nail for top honours in "Game, Set, Match"; a sports quiz presented by "Adverb" and sponsored by "JP Realty", "Space Circle" and "Sugandha Garments". In their new avatar as quizmasters were Mr. Ashok Sanyal and Mr. Somnath Chanda; otherwise team-mates in the prominent quiz outfit "

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-37270226688217336432009-06-21T20:31:00.000-07:002009-06-21T21:11:56.176-07:00

Actually Both! Indian cricket fans are a bunch of know-it-alls and more importantly, poor losers. Admitted - no group of supporters or perhaps a few react kindly to defeat. However, most sleep over it and let it pass, instead of trying to pull down individuals and strategies over a million reams, reels and forums (the new age tool). Unsuccessful cricketers turned commentators - with either a

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-10614795623560312952009-06-02T10:37:00.000-07:002009-06-02T11:24:53.233-07:00

Trust the Indian mind to reach conclusions based on 'hunches', aka pop-psychology of the Indian variety. Throw in mild esteem issues or just pure defensiveness some cases, and the conclusions and implications are plain absurd and downright reprehensible. TOI / IANS, in their infinite wisdom, bring up, even though it's utterly irrelevant, the issue of 'proper behaviour' among some Indian students.

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-59349272987830548252009-05-27T09:19:00.000-07:002009-05-27T09:24:07.643-07:00

I feel so blessed at times. Imagine - the Pussycat Dolls, with Lady Gaga thrown in as a bonus! Truly bountiful times these.

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-80787752132587361012009-05-27T08:07:00.000-07:002009-05-27T09:31:39.000-07:00

The only time I have turned to that 'hopeless little screen' - as Leonard Cohen called it - in recent times was to tune into the IPL. It was of course no coincidence I was in India at the time. It is impossible to get away from cricket in India - or so it seems at any rate when you are 'on vacation'. The 'IPL experience' was better than what I expected of T20 in purely cricketing terms. There

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-59308267856320379242009-05-21T06:39:00.000-07:002009-05-21T07:08:35.118-07:00

Gideon Haigh got it absolutely spot on with his comments on Chris Gayle's controversial (yawn!) comments about Test cricket. He is right when he laments the absence of characters, which is hardly unique to cricket these days; he is also right when he rips the hypocrisy of cricket administrators in the matter. To be fair, the BCCI has not been bashful about where their priorities have lain in the

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-55639881802013856662009-05-14T08:31:00.000-07:002009-05-14T08:50:02.997-07:00

Haven't been into sport much lately, so I've hatched up a clever little plan, if only to practice writing complete coherent sentences outside of work e-mails - the shackles have been broken. Any unsuspecting readers will henceforth have to contend with general verbal diarrhoea. I'm barely keeping up with Wimbledon these days, let alone the mundane. So everything under the sun is now fair game.

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-75637414188281251312009-03-17T06:16:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:45:03.949-07:00

1. Whom did Boris Becker defeat to enter the finals of Wimbledon 1985 (He went on to beat Kevin Curren in the finals)? 2. Which bowler did Sandeep Patil get hit by, following which he came back to score 174 against Australia, eventually his highest test score? 3. Which NBA player (hall of famer) was nicknamed "The Glove" because of his ability to guard opponents as tightly as a glove fits on a

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-40009048728580761282009-03-17T06:14:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:16:04.364-07:00

On 29th March, Sunday at the "Spring Club" (on EM Byepass near ITC Sonar Bangla), Kolkata- Adverb presents Love All (The Sports quiz) from 11AM to 2PM and Showbiz (The Movie Quiz) from 5PM to 8PM. No Entry Fees. Three member teams. Open to all. Cash Prizes at Stake. Registration starts at 10 AM for Love All and at 4PM for Showbiz Quizmaster:Biswabijoy Sen For more information call 98311 27130

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-36961612107191791382008-04-21T21:45:00.000-07:002008-04-21T22:03:54.006-07:00

There is of course more to the olympic torch relay farce than meets the eye. Such as the amusing sight of self-appointed champions of human rights who dare not go too far in their criticism of Beijing. There is nothing new in this - self-interest is the name of the great game. In any case, the olympic games have been a farce for as long as I can remember, a fact I only realised once the decked up

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-24179477889724459562008-04-16T03:33:00.000-07:002008-04-16T04:37:00.662-07:00

Regardless of whether the IPL will be a mega money spinner for all concerned or a super flop (which I rather hope it is), BULLSHIT is exactly what I think 20-20 cricket is. That's not to say any idiot can go out there and do well, but it is the format itself and what it means for the game (or fans of the game) if it's as big a success as Lalit Modi hopes. I see 20-20 as nothing but a dumbed down

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-57087552473041311272008-03-25T07:19:00.000-07:002008-03-25T07:42:31.754-07:00

Just for an instant, I thought, "Good riddance!" when I saw a Cricinfo report about Stephen Fleming's last test innings. There was something about Stephen Fleming that put me off a little bit :-) I'm sure it is entirely irrational and entirely undeserved, may be has something to do with some comments Fleming may have made on India's last tour (he spoke too much truth for the Indian team's comfort

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641539.post-78282241926604616922007-10-11T19:09:00.000-07:002007-10-11T20:20:08.859-07:00

Just read a report on Cricinfo suggesting Andrew Symonds may have been at the receiving end of racial abuse from a section of the Baroda crowd. The sick irony of Indians indulging in racism is obviously not lost on any thoughtful Indian but then you cannot accuse a lot of 'fans' of having a sense of decency or history. I read a column in The Australian a couple of days ago (one Paul Lalor I think

Queasy Riderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10292745300990615404noreply@blogger.com3