After reading this article I realized it, its not Cricket to blame, it is the people, the hypocrites, the pretentious sport lovers to blame. Have you been to any district level games? Have you heard people in the stands (not exactly any stands there, but you get my point) talk? If a girl runs fast, people say there is the next PT Usha. Is PT Usha been forgotten? Before writing this article did the author tried to search what an Olympic Gold medal means to Indians? Is Abhinav Bindra forgotten? Did he not receive a grand welcome? Did the President not congratulate him in person? Was that not enough a pride booster?
Why did the author not mention the Arjuna Award, the Khel Ratna or the Padma Bhushan awarded to Abhinav Bindra? Why does the author tell only a one sided story? The highest civilian award Sachin Tendulkar was awarded is the Padma Vibhushan and so is the case with Vishwanathan Anand. Both of them have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhusha, the Khel Ratna, the Arjuna award. What was the point of comparing sportspersons? Can we really compare them? Can we compare sports? No, each sport is different. Each individual sportsperson is different. Some like to make money, some don't. Some can endorse any product that pays, some feel a moral obligation to their conscience and say no. They don't feel left out until people like this "author" tease them with such a disheartening article.
I think the problem is not the Indian people, it is not the government (to some extent, yes), it is the Cricket patronizing media. There is money in Cricket and isn't it well known that media sticks to the money making sports. Let me reiterate again, "There is no Mandira Bedi suited in the sexiest Saree and discussing Track and Field on national television". It is the media that makes money. Media is like a b*** who is just sleeping around until she finds a mate who can deliver golden eggs (Please pardon my French).
Although it is the media that adds spice to the game. They reach billions of people. If the media covers Olympic sports during these 15 days, people get to know their heroes in those 15 days. In addition, 15 days are enough to generate the rush you need for promoting track and field, swimming, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, shooting, weight lifting, javelin, short put, etc. Afterall, I have learned the rules of Cricket by watching the sport on television and you would agree too. I learned football by watching EPL, UCL on television. I learned sports by watching it and then trying to imitate the players. I learned sports by watching my coach do it. I learned sports by watching my elder siblings perform in various competitions. I watch the participants sweat in the hot sun, I watch them still go on, I absorb the spirit of sports. It motivates me and suddenly I start loving sports. I say to myself, "I can do it, I will". This is everyone at the age of 5 (+ or - a few years .... don't judge me). This is how we all learned sports. Please do not make fun of it. Address the issues, do not mock them.
Cricket is also a sport and a mockery of any sport is a mockery of the efforts put in by a sportsperson. It is a shame really that we blame this one sport for the bad performance in Olympics? What if Cricket was included in Olympics? Wouldn't there be a pretty good chance of us winning a Olympic gold? Do we always need someone else or something to blame? If anyone is to blame, it is us. We do not try hard and the hardest we try is not good enough. We need to try harder. One sportsperson can make a difference as Sachin Tendulkar did and still does.
I do agree that there is less effort put in sports by the government as well as the people. That needs to be addressed and sad satire is not the answer. Sadistic satirical posts about sports and sportspersons will affect the platonic, non-greedy love for sports in children who are yet to understand the meaning of flamboyance. I know that I had tried my best but was not patient enough to try harder. I respect them who survived the failures. I honor them. Please be patient with sports and sportspersons. India does not have the infrastructure at grass roots level. It is time we make that happen rather than just mock.
The hoarde needs an inspiration. We have several inspirations in the cricketing world. We have but a few in other sports. We need more stars, more competition, more interest. Why don't we become one of them and then talk?
Get your shoes and hit the track !!
Disclaimer: The photo was downloaded from the article. If there are any copyright infringements, please let me know and necessary corrections will be made.
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