There was a Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens football game last night.
Now, considering I was in Pittsburgh yesterday, I was naturally supposed to show allegiance towards the Steelers and watch the game! Hmmm...
Most of you who are in the US must have asked this question - why do the Americans call the sport FOOTball, when they aren't allowed to use the lower part of their body for touching or tackling the ball at all?!! It just doesn't follow normal logic, but then that figures. But anyways, I wasn't even able to follow the game... I don't understand about 10 yards, 20 yards, tackles, etc... the only thing I know about American football is from the movies, and that is that the quarterbacks are hot (and supposedly dumb), and the touchdowns can cause mass hysteria (pretty much like a Sachin Tendulkar sixer)... but that wasn't enough to keep me engaged for 3 hours, and so I slept. And they say cricket is tough to follow! Whew!
But that's the story with me and sports. I didn't watch cricket matches back in India either. I gave cursory glances to the sports news just to know who won finally, and the only match I watched live in my life was the Indian veterans against Pakistani veterans, and only because my Dad was on the team! And this attitude is after the fact that my Dad captained his state cricket team in 1971 for the Ranjhi Trophy! Tsk Tsk. So much for passing on genes.
The only match I really remember passionately about was during the 1999 World Cup. The match was between India and Zimbabwe, and Olonga had given away like almost 30 runs in one over. My Dad and I were watching the last over, we had just 7 runs or something to make, and both of us were like "Put Olonga on, we'll win the match easily"... Zimbabwe heard us and brought Olonga on... BUT, wonder of wonders, Olonga did a goddamn hatrick in that over, and the match was over for us!!!!! I still remember that we were both so shocked that we couldn't even speak, and just went to bed quietly... we've never spoken about it again.
Thats why I was suprised that I liked Chak De India, going by the fact that I don't particularly have any fascination for sports. I remember my parents telling me to take up some sport in school, and so I spent many hours playing softball and volleyball. But that was about it. I spent a lot of my time thinking of novel excuses not to go for P.T or games, and managed pretty well for a long time!
Today, however I realized the difference between being a sportsperson and not being one, if only from the perspective of how others see you. I had a tennis racquet in my hand today while travelling back from Pittsburgh, and there is this guy behind me while boarding who asks in interest, "so, you play tennis?" with a wide smile of appreciation. And I'm like "no, it belongs to my brother and I'm just carrying it back for him since he'd left it here by mistake"... and immediately there's a change in expression from appreciation to ummm... indifference?? It was unmistakable how he seemed so disappointed that I didn't play, that I wished I had!
P.S: Am going home* (to India) this Saturday, am soooo excited!
*updated thanks to zee's comment! :))
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33 comments:
post on sports ?!@#$%^
I can't even comment on it !!!
neverthelesss, I am the first person to comment on ur "SPORTS POST"...
I think you are trying to shoo me away ...WHY SPORTS??????????I ask u .
U are the daughter of a Ranji Captain !!!!
Dad ka naam to batana tha naa :)
and it's really not your fault... i am yet to meet an Indian girl crazy about cricket and an Indian boy not so crazy about cricket :P
and as far as 'Football' is concerned.. I have not even tried to understand it.
Happy trip back home ... India ko mera hello bolna :) [i am so envious]
my brother was always into sports, i was never inclined to play any sport..dunno y..
Neway have a gr8 time in India at Home!!
That guy was trying to initiate a conversation.
Ya there's something about being a sports person! Dedication and that fighting spirit come when you play a sport regularly.
All these novels John Grisham types, the lawyers are always accomplished sports men...
i loved jonty rhodes (and in turn cricket) till the whole controversy broke out. i adored richard krajicek (and in turn tennis) till i saw a picture of pete sampras throwing up.
but i still have these days when i love cricket and others where i couldn't care a damn....
see u next week then! and u're coming "home" not to "india"
I always tell sports freaks this..
In these days when people like Al Gore are talking of conserving energy we should avoid sports and conserve energy!!;-P
isnt that a more 'sportive' approach..
btw have a great time in India.
Welcome home!!
You know, this kinda sounds like the Siyaram's ad :P
And happy diwali :)
americans are funny they call their baseball chamionship , where only the us state teams play, the world series !
ranji captain, pretty impressive !
welcome home and happy diwali :)
okay....i was puzzled too about FOOTball until i came to know the exact reason...
"The reason it is called FOOTball is because the length of the ball is 1 FOOT"
TA..DA...
now it all makes sense...doesnt it?? :-D
BTW...the best football movie I ever saw was...Remember the Titans...starring Denzel Washington..have you seen that one??
I love the way you've narrated the incident during boarding. Appearances can be so deceptive. :-))
Your dad was in the veterans cricket team...wowwww...awesome. May I know his name?
I love sports...not to play...only to watch...:-)
-Ram.
BTW...have a safe and rocking India trip.
-Ram.
welcome home!!!!!
and wats ur dads name??
as much as i suck at sports.. i love people who are good at it..
i used to hav a crush on a friend.. who was my college goal keeper only as long as he was in the field.. he wud come back from the match and go back to being my friend in a minute.. :)
`s
lol! well atleast its the first time you've commented first on the blog! so thats good right! dont ask, i dont know 'why sports' either!
`adarsh
lol! naam? naam mein kya rakha hai! :)) i know, lots of people are envious that i'm going! i'm envious of people who are going to be visiting for more than 2 weeks! lol! football shootball, see ram's explanation.. may make sense after that, but still, americans are americans only!
`illusion
join the club!!
`nice new guy
aaaah!! i see! lol! no, i think he was genuinely wanting to discuss tennis actually! he didn't even look at me after that answer! lol!
`chaitali
yeah, apparently there's something very sexy about men and women who play some sport seriously.. a friend of mine once told me that he thinks girls who play sports are hot! lol!
`zee
yeah, i have those days too! they disappear pretty fast though! and yes, i've updated my post in honour of your comment that i'm coming "home", though I tend to say "home" to any place that i park my a@@ in! lol! anyways' i'll call you when i get in... dont tell me about how much weight i've put on!!
`mathew
awesome idea! i'm with you on that one!! thanks, i intend to have a good time, though its a very short trip :(
`equi
lol! yeah, pretty much like the ad... wish I had someone as good looking to come home with/to! :))
`ir
thanks, thats credit to my dad, and none to me for not following in his footsteps! i know, isnt it weird that they would call it world series, as if the only people in the world were the americans! actually, i think they really do think this way! its ok i guess!
`ram
aaah!! now it makes sense!! thats a simple enough explanation i thnk! oh well, i guess its just the comparison with indian football that had me stumped! my dad's name? ummm... i dont even disclose my name on this blog (atleast if i can help it)!! oh yes, appearances can be most deceptive..!
`nasia
lol! thats funny... on and off the field! :)) thanks, and i guess you know my dad's surname atleast!
u were in pitts, and u didnt even bother to say hello! :-(
i was following that game... the steelers were amazing... :D
i won't if u won't!!! in fact i can even tell u u've lost weight if u promise to return the favour!!!!
HAPPY DIWALI SS!
Enjoy going home sweetz. TC n hv fun!
Keshi.
SS, actually speaking the quarter backs are not the dumbfolks. Rather it is the other way. They are the ones that rule the run of play and form the sequence of the attack. It is the defense who are supposed to be that way :-) and what Ram said is why you have to call it foot ball.. plus they also use the foot when they kick ball.. so one way or the other they do use the leg.
BTW, am a diehard steelers fan and love the game :-) And about Cricket, it is not interesting as it used to be - atleast if India plays.
I am glad you are a cricketer's daughter .. better get the Cricket abbreviations and lingo right before you meet daddy... I am sure there is going to be a drill when you come here :-) have a good trip and where in India are you vacationing?
Hey...
why do the Americans call the sport FOOTball - Logic is simple na. Do evrytg agianst what brits did.
my Dad was on the team - Phew... Even then you dnt follow sports much. Hmm. May b u can try ur hands on modern day sports like Flirting, oggling etc.. Ha ha
Going Home... Have fun... I have to wait till this month end for goign home.
are you going to be in delhi around Thanksgiving?? me too!!! lets meet up if possible!
of course silly boy Ankur will be in the US .. but you me n zee could meet up .. what say?
anyone else in delhi around that time is of course also more than welcome ... am i gushing?
your dad played in the ranji trophy!! how cool is that!!!!! which team did he play for.
incidentally i am a totally insane cricket fan.
I was never really one for sports, but given my cultural background, I've gotten really accustomed to American sports. When I moved to this ex-Brit colony, I quickly found out that the world doesn't care very much about American sports and actually thought it rubbish generally. Thank god I'm not into sports or I could just imagine myself highly offended haha! The US misses out on the FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup, cricket, and all those... and well, as for baseball, only Japan is the other country that does it. Virtually. I find that the only link that sports people have with each other is swigging beer whilst watching the match -- of whatever sport. Haha! It's a universal language.
Ruchi! I missed an opportunity to meet you! Aww :(
Yahoooooooooooooooo !
That was for you going home :)
Lucky girl, I won't be seeing my folks before May. Even though I last saw them only in September this year:P Home sweet home- have a rocking time and keep us updated
like childhood and adolescence there was a crickethood in my life when i used to eat,sleep and breathe cricket. and like all other phases this too passed. i'm a sports person and i like the adrenalin rush that you get just by watching people play.
after about 4 months of forced renunciation i'll finally be playing probably this week yay!
your Dad played in the Ranji trophy?! Impressed..... !
Congrats on bein able to come home to India...do a yippie-y-o-kiyay dance!
And I've never been able to understand football(Americano style) either!Very confusing!
wow ! congrts for ur home coming..
And again a good to read article, with ur inimitable style of writing.
N it dosnt matter whethr u are a sportsperson , all tht matters is whether one has the fighting spirit, the ability to keep ur cool when needs be so etc.. N tht's what sums up the essence of a sports person..
So ,,, play on....
;-)
how is the India trip turning out?
I am so envious of u... you gotto watch a live NFL game????? Am rooting for Patriots all the while (fell in love with Brady!)
So sad that I missed you in Bombay, but pls send me your US number, there is a chance I could travel there next week.
Belated 'Happy B'day to you'... welcome to club 28! Its a wonderful place to be :)
Finally, I so agree with teh 'restiva' and 'boniva' and what not... ailments that probably exist because the drugs do!
1. Ravens Rock!
2. You got a good point about the FOOT part. Have you noticed, that thing does not even look like a BALL either? Even I wonder, why FOOTBALL?
3. I hate Olonga!
4. Oh, and welcome back to the Americas! Ummm... are u back?
`zoxcleb
yeah, thats what i gathered.. that the steelers were great! ok, i'll take your word for it!
`zee
yes yes, i believe we did our dues and complimented each other about respective weight loss! incidentally, i lost 3 kgs in 10 days that i was there! u have no idea how kicked i am! (and ofcourse i'll gain it back soon, but thats ok!)
`keshi
thank you! i had a great time!
`vik
u're right.. i figured when my uncle was teaching me the rules of the game that the q'backs are the masterminds and strategists.. nice combo! hot and intelligent! hehehe.... and believe me, my dad has given up on me for all the cricket knowledge.. i didnt even recognize the indian and pakistani cricket teams this time!
`cm chap
hehhee, am pretty good at the other sports that you mentioned, so i guess i have some hope eh?! hehehe.. home was lots of fun, am back in the US now..
`nutty
and what happened to you?!!! no call, no news?! i met kur in new york yesterday, he told me ur trip was cancelled..
`ganju
he played in the orissa ranjhi cricket team, and captained his university team, and still plays for what is appropriately called the "misfits" team - which is a veteran cricketers team :)) and yes, i'm a hopeless disappointment to him!
i think you've mentioned your cricket mania in one of your posts before!
`princess banter
amen to that! its male bonding through beer, no matter which sport! lol! and true, only americans care about their sport, no one else does.. thats why they have the "world" series!
`candid confessions
meet me?! where?!!
`aparna
hey, thanks! i had a great time at home! May is not bad, would be the same amount of time since I last saw my parents before going home to visit.. am back now though :(
`nithya
good to know you are one of those who is motivated by sports! did you get back to playing? what do you play?
`bullshee
yup, i'm impressed too! lol! thanks, my trip home was awesome! am back now :(
`indr's angels
u're right, its the character and nature of a person behind the sport which counts... though a lot of people become overcompetitive and too aggressive thanks to being sportspeople! thanks for the compliment on my writing :)
`moonstruck maniac
hey, good to see you here after a long time! india trip was awesome!
`cuckoo
hey! thats awesome are you coming to the east coast? is it for work!?! we must meet!! i'll mail you my number here.. I had lunch with Chaits when I was in Bombay, and we tried your number then but couldn't get through.. anyways hopefully we'll catch up here now... btw, it wasn't a live NFL game, I was watching it on tv.. and it seems the Patriots are a pretty popular team! Thanks for the bday wishes, u're right.. 28 is a better place to be than 27 somehow! hehehe...
`apoo
lol! the last to comment this time?! tsk tsk! what will happen to your hair now?! :) and no, steelers rock (apparently), there's no explaining how americans think, glad to find someone else who hates olonga and yes, am back and jetlagging! ;)
Ow have a great holiday!
I don't know much about American Football either, but hell, if Michael Jackson was the guy who makes the touchdowns, there'd be some amazing touchdown dances...
Jus came across your blog while surfing. Gotta say a very interesting post. Could relate to it a lot. In fact, the PT Hours. Gawd!!! How I hated it. Esp. Mass PT(No clue what it means even now. al most like Football in the US I guess).
Keep it rollin;)
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