The biggest enemy of the 'beautiful game'!

The beautiful game - Football has gripped the world like never before. Millions of enthusiast are glued to the television, sports magazines are selling like hot cake and bloggers are busy updating blogs moment by moment. Not only human beings but also animals are following the beautiful game. Paul - the octopus is garnering more views than even some of the highest paid football strikers. Truly hat off to the sport and its spirit.


In India, the matches are telecast in the evening and at late night. Though the football fever caught me lately, I always try to make home for the evening match, atleast the second half. I am forced to miss all the late night matches as I am suppose to wake up early and reach office early. (That's the reason I missed Brazil in action, this season.) Though I am an Argentina supporter and post its debacle, started supporting Germany for its truly beautiful and skillful game. It was wednesday evening, I reached home in the evening, as usual. We friends sat for dinner together discussing various stuff, from office to current bandh to sports.

After a while, Amol asked me, "Was I going to watch late night match between Argentina and Germany?" Now, Amol is a guy who is mad about sports in general and specifically football. He returns home early, take a nap for 2 hours to catch the late night matches.

I replied blankly, "No, as you know, have to get up early. Even at office some critical issues are going on, can't be late." I wasn't knowing what's gonna come for me from him, at that point.

He aggressively replied, "You are supporing Argentina, why aren't you going to watch it? After all this is the last time you could see a football world cup match live?"

I got puzzled, so thus everyone, I guess.

I asked,"Last time? Why? Why last time live? Why won't I be able watch late night telecast, the way I can do now?"

He said, very thoughtfully, "The next football world cup is going to happen after 4 years from now. By that time, you would be married. So how the hell could you see late night matches live? You would be thrown out of your own house if you disobey your would be wife!"

Nikunj replied very hopefully, "What made you assume that girls dont like football? Havent you gone too far in your planning? My girl friend is different. She appreciates it"

Even I opposed him. "Girls are not like that. Few compromise here and there is ok. And I have lot of female friends who stay awake to watch matches and keep updating their FB status message every few seconds!"

Amol replied sarcastically, "Just wait and watch!"

Initially everybody laughed and made fun of him, but I just thought how much this guy has thought about future! He was talking as if he is very experienced guy. His words were worth pondering on. And thud, his words pinch me, is this the last opportunity?

Over the food we formuliased various strategies as to how to deal with such a serious issue! We narrowed on few solutions, after all impossible is nothing! But none of the idea was practical. I still don't know if the would be (though I am not in hurry and haven't been thinking so seriously about it) dosent like watching late night football, what exactly happen!

fOoD fOr ThOuGhT: Do you guys have some solution for the issue discussed? For the female readers, how do you deal or plan to deal with such situation? For the male readers, do you fear the way I am fear now? Laugh out loudly!

PS: My biggest appologies to all the female readers out there. Take this on a lighter note, but the thoughts do scare.

Am I becoming a football fan!

I am a die heart cricket fan. Cricket is religion. You remember statistics better than any school time poetry. Effortlessly each shot played by Sachin Tendulkar is registered in the mind, forever. He is truely the God. The dedication, the passion, the focus, the fitness, hatsoff. I have GBs of matches stored with me like the 434 runs chased by SA over Australia.

If you are born in India and you dont follow cricket, something is wrong. It is also a good topic to break ice and do friendship. You can discuss cricket for days at length. The IPL fever has gripped whole nation and the world to a large extent. But I think it is overdose now. Too many matches happening, loosing the charm. Though it has helped people make money in the "business" of cricket.

Football is something I never got attracted to. People run against each other, kicking legs instead of ball, throwing themselves on opponents. I remember in my school days, we use to play football hitting each other's legs with the hard edge of "Bata" leather shoes. The ball use to quietly sit on the ground, still, and we use to kick each other. Now-a-days, everyday on my breakfast table, my friends keep discussing about Arsenal and Barcelona matches. The only thing I know is Ronaldo, Ronaldineo, David Bechkam and few others. I developed interest and thought of understanding it. I started with remembering team names and clothes players wore only to realise that teams can change their clothes, if their colour of clothes is matching or close to the opponent's colour of clothes. That means if this rule would have been applied in cricket, matches between Pakistan and South Africa or between India and Sri Lanka would have been played with either of the team changing their clothes colour. Funny, isnt it? And then there are too many leagues. English premier, Spanish league.

I was chatting with yet another friend of mine who is die heart Arsenal fan. He was telling me few intricacies and why people are Arsenal fan. They have "gameplan" and "pass through strategy" and they dont jump on others. They play serious football. He shared a youtube video link with me. I watched it. I watched it twice. And I got a feeling, isnt it more crazier than cricket. The answer wasnt clear but I think I should explore football more.

fOoD fOr ThOuGhT: Why cant I bring revolution the way Lalit Modi has brought through cricket IPL in India. Starting a Football league, something like Indian Football League, would be fun. Heard Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kunder planning to start one. Hmmm, already some takers!