Two shocks in twenty minutes, in the world of sport

As I was trying to put behind the disappointment of Germany being knocked out of the Euros, and switched over to Star Sports to see Rafa's second Wimbledon match so that I could get a consolation before I sleep, the worse happened. Rafa too was knocked out by a 100 ranked player.
The sporting world shook twice in a matter of twenty minutes, two of the biggest upsets in recent times.

Germany, along with Spain, has for long been my favourite football team. The two most attacking teams in world football. The best teams by far in Europe, if not in the world. And I was hoping for a dream final, a repeat of the Euro 2008 final. Spain having reached after edging out Portugal in a penalty shootout, everything was in place, with Germany avenging their 2006 world cup defeat to Italy being just a formality.

When the match began, after struggling to get the ball for the first few minutes, settled into their rhythm, and laid siege to Buffon's goal. Italy were fortunate not to go atleast one goal behind. Instead, against the run of play, they broke away and Cassano beat two sloppy defenders before delivering a pin point cross to the mercurial Ballotelli, who slotted home with a thumping header. Germany were 0-1 down. They should have easily blocked Cassano, but took him and the Italian attack lightly and paid the price.

Thereafter, instead of being tighter at the back, as they could ill afford to concede another, they were again venturing forward in heaps for a corner, and again were caught napping, with a through ball finding Balotelli one on one with the keeper, and he fired another screamer of a shot to put the Azzuri two goals ahead.

And Germany went into the half time, with a daunting task ahead. But I was optimistic about they clawing their way back. If at all there was a team in these competitions that could overcome a 0-2 deficit it was the Germans. Their attacking style of play what makes them one of the powerhouses of Europe, but then the Italians have the best defence in Europe. With the naturally well built Italians holding off the German threat, it never looked like Germany would score. In fact, Italy should have made it atleast 5-0, but fluffed many an easy opportunity. Though the Germans eventually pulled one back stoppage team courtesy a penalty, it was too late. Once more Italy have knocked Germany in the semifinals of a major tournament.

It seemed as though complacency did the Germans in. They underestimated the attacking threat Italy posed, and were lackadaisical in defence. They probably thought the Italians would sit back for whole of ninety minutes, and look to cash in on set pieces or drag the game to penalties. The defence, which should have tightened after the first goal, fell apart. 1-0 down even after 80 minutes would have still given them a chance to claw back, but instead allowed the Italians to virtually shut them out with a second goal.


And how they missed the experience of their talisman, the legendary Michael Ballack. One of my favourite players of all time. I also felt his presence would have made a huge difference even when in the world cup semifinal when they lost to  Spain. They have the quality and exuberance of youth - they are the youngest squad in the Euros with an average age of 24 -but they sorely missed the experience Ballack would have brought to the table. We saw how Zidane, at the wee end of his career, almost inspired his side to win the 2006 world cup. With all respect to Klose, whom along with Ballack I 've been following since the 2002 world cup, if Klose can play at this age, Ballack certainly can, and he would his inspiring presence would have propelled his teammates on to the final. But I feel Germans are due for success in a major tournament, they deserve it more than any other, and they would do it sooner or later.


On the bright side though, it would make Spain's task of retaining their European crown easier. For, the Germans were their biggest threat. Though I would have backed Spain to win against Germany anyway, this result should quash the doubts if any in my mind. Viva la Furia Roja!!!


And when I switched on to Rafa's match hoping I could get a small consolation before I could sleep peacefully, the unthinkable happened. Rafa too was knocked out by a rank outsider from Czech Republic, who stunned the onlookers with this thunderous forehands. I don't even remember his name, it was Rusol or Rosol, but it certainly ended a horrific day of sport.

People live by their deeds and not in years

As I was pondering over what to write on, somewhere from the recesses of my subconscious mind, this topic, true to the title of my blog, struck to me on a whim. It was an English elocution topic given to us in high school.  At the time maybe my vocabulary wasn't large enough to understand the words, or maybe even if it was, my childish brain couldn't grasp the sense.


Now, nearly after a decade and a half, with whatever little has added on to my vocabulary, and how much ever meagre my mind has grown over the years, this topic makes such a lot of sense. I am just astonished at the simple yet powerful notion it carries. Not that you wouldn't get it, but just to reiterate the great meaning the title holds, a person's life is measured by the good things he/she does and not for how many years he/she has lived for. Posterity isn't going to remember you by the number of years you spent on the earth but rather by what you've given to the planet.


As I reminisce the topic, the first person that comes to my mind is Swami Vivekananda.
No five words have evoked such awe and no other introductory line of a lecture has received an ovation lasting two full minutes than "Sisters and Brothers of America".

At a time when the west envisaged India as a land of snakes, and stricken with illiteracy and poverty, beginning with this historic speech at the World Parliament of Religions in 1893 and  many more subsequent lectures in various parts of the world, he paved the way for dispelling the fallacious notion people had of this great country. Such was the enlightment endowed upon the Americans that a newspaper remarked to its citizens, "Vivekananda is undoubtedly the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation."


After delivering historic lectures all around America, Europe and parts of Asia, spreading the message of Hinduism and the oneness of God and Religion, upon returning home, he set upon travelling to every corner of the country, with the noble mission of awakening fellow countrymen from the slumber they were for long resigned into, reminding them of the gloriuos past and the rich cultural virtues prevalent in this land; persuading them in pursuing to fulfill its unrealised potential of becoming a prosperous nation.


The irony in the present day is that we find most people, especially in this industry, trying to emulate western practices in every possible way.


I 've always been inspired by the great Indian, but of late, since I began writing this post, I've been reading his lectures and preachings. So profound were his thoughts that to fathom their sense takes a good read or two. To think that I was born in the land as this great man, makes me ever so proud of belonging to this great nation.

And for all that he had done to the world and India, and his deeds which will last for centuries altogether, he had lived for all of 40 years.

These days at 40, if you are a manager in an multinational company, earn a handsome purse, live in a plush apartment, rev up that SUV to the parties you throw to colleagues and so called friends, your life is deemed a success. As for the wandering monk, who abandoning home and renouncing worldly pleasures, travelling to all corners of the country, reminding his comrades of their duties towards their nation, and spreading the rich glory of this noble nation to the rest of the world, would be termed a maniac. It is an unfair, cruel and blasphemous world we live in today.


Returning to the topic after all those digressions I couldn't refrain from, I can think of quite a few other great people whose deeds would outlast the duration of the planet. The revolutionaries, Chandrasekar Azad and Bhagat Singh, lived for barely 24 years, but their tales of valour would remain an indispensable part of India's great Freedom Movement. The great mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, who lived only for 32 years, whose contribution to Maths is celebrated the world over, was such a genius, that even today prominent mathematicians are working their way around his theorems. Alexander the Great, the great Macedonian conqueror, who had the ambition of conquering the world, too lived for only 32 years, but his folklore lasting even after twenty centuries, continues to be an inspiration for many a living being.


There are many other great persons who had lived on this planet whose deeds would last as long as the last of the mountains on this planet will.