I am okay

Mumbai Multiple Blasts: For all those concerned, I am okay.

Regards,
APS

The finishing line

A month back, as the biggest spectacle of world team sport started, there were a lot of names that were thrown in the ring. All the best names in the world of soccer had descended upon Germany and it was expected to be a spectacle to watch out for. There were Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Czech, Spain, Netherlands, France and Italy.

Brazil, the eternal favorites, claimed that god was Brazilian and that he would not diappoint them in scoring a brace after Japan-Korea.
Argentina were in with a young team and played an attacking game of football that seemed to floor most of the football aficionados of soccer. Maradona claimed that the cup was headed to Buenos Aires.
It was Germany that caught the imagination of all with their un-characteristic football under Klinsmann. It looked like the hosts were preparing themselves for a party at Berlin.
The rest of the pack held a lot of promise, but failed to deliver.
When I talked about the ones, i said it would be Portugal or Italy. Portugal did lose out steam in the semis and eventually went out to Les Bleus...France! To say that they played a lousy game of unfair football would be to be kind to the portuguese.
But it was the other team... the Azzuri that made it all the way. There was a lot of ridicule and contempt for my support to the Italians. But I guess... its he who laughs last, laughs best!
France drew first blood early in the evening with a Zizou penalty. It looked that was to be the only goal for the match. The french, quite keen at holding onto their solitary lead. But the Italians were not going to give up so easily. Marco Materazzi making a name for himself in the 19 minute with an amazing header.The rest of the match did not tickle the scorers. There were a couple of chance to either side. But it seemed that the game was headed for extra time.
The extra time of 30 minutes would not have been eventful. Had it not been for the ruthluss head butt that Zinedine Zidane gave Materazzi. The referee sent off Zidane for this heinous act that was probably committed in a fit of rage. A blemish that will probably end up tarnishing what has otherwise been an amazing career of one of the greatest footballer of our times.
While the Italians did try to make some headway, the threat of penalty kicks was looming ominously.
And that is what it ended up being.
Buffon, Barthez and the rest of the guys would decide who would make a quiet exit though the side door. And who would be crowned champions of the world!
The Italians with their jinx of never having won in a shootout were palpably tense. The French did not look too hopeful themselves.
In the end, it was the team that held its nerves and prayed the most that ended up with the fanfare.
I guess the presence of the Vatican must have helped them in this case. Whatever the case, Trezeguet hit the wood-work. Meanwhile, the Italians converted all that they could. The end result...Italia were crowned as the WORLD CHAMPIONS! All those Brazil, Argentina, Germany and France supporters can take a hike!
Italia! Italia! It is they who cross the finishing line who want it bad! The world clicks him who crosses first. The also-ran remains just that...

Amchi Mumbai

There has been many a joke on the fiasco called the Mumbai rains. The BMC, MMRDA, Sena, Congress et al have pointed fingers at each other. All that remains is the mention of the 'foreign hand'. The one ace up every politician's sleeve.

Well...this joke does have a 'foreign hand'. I got this from my boss in NY. Seems that there is a joke floating around in the US.
It goes something like this...

Where Indians say "BEST buses were out in full strength and the train network was kept up and running till such a time when it became impossible to run services" -- source (Mumbai Mirror ed. 05 Jul 2006 - City)

Americans say: "We are in a state of emergency. Due to never seen before, extreme weather conditions city buses and trains are out of services. All available police forces have been mobilized, and the mayor is on the way…"

Seems like there is something going good for Mumbai! :)

This year seems to be better than the last one. All said and done, there was flooding and there was chaos. But, the over zealous media seems to have blown it grossly out of proportion with its live news feeds! The scars left in the minds of the people post 26/7 have just made things worse! Panic seems to set in a jiffy.

But this does not take away from the BMC, BEST, Mumbai Police and last but definitely not the least, the Mumbaikar spirit who have taken the raging bull by its horns.

Kudos to Mumbai! Kudos to its spirit!
Whatever happens, pick up your bag and move on! Its time to board the 18:34 Thane Fast (train).

Subtlety

Subtlety is an art. Some messages have more then one meaning. The truly artful ones have more then two...
The art lies not in being subtle...the art lies in making sense of the subtlety.

Italia...Italia

I have been chanting three names since the start of the World Cup...

Portuguesa - Portugal
Italia - Italy
England - RooneyLand

England failed to deliver at the last moment. Going down to the Portuguesa.
But the rest are still there...and if the Francaise falter in Germany, it would be a nightmare for me...
I wouldn't know whom to support!!!
Happened more than once in the Finals...

The Azzuri are through!
And They wait for Portugal to join them! Or atleast, I do!

Italia...Italia...
Based on their football under Jurgen Klinsmann, Deutschland were likeable and a pleasure to watch...but at the end of the day, those close to the heart are close to the heart!
The Azzuri are through!

Italy, unlike their usual self, played an interesting bit of tactical football under captain Canavarro and master tactician Marcelo Lippi. I wondered for a while if they were doing the right thing... but i guess all is well if you're going to Berlin!

Twice unlucky... third time lucky! And then... forth time lucky!
Fabio Grosso... Del Piero! You're on the front page! Say Cheese!
Italy! Pack the Bag... its time for Berlin!

While my heart does go out to the Germans, the Azzuri were a better side. I guess it was written all over Klinsmann's face.

And Lippi couldn't help dancing I guess. The Germans rode their luck. But, to give credit to them, they played an amazing genre of football. The kind that hasn't been associated with them. Not in the past that is.

Unfortunately, football(like others) is a ruthless game. There could only be one winner. Your heart bled for the Germans. But, I guess they have to go...
And no marks for guessing what Buffon is saying to them...

YOU'RE OUT!