Archive for the ‘Quotes to watch out for’ Category
“In his final hours as the choreographer of India’s biggest sporting spectacle, Modi has become a synonym for the unholy alliance of cricket, politics and business in which everything-honour, morality and transparency-seems negotiable. Today, it is as if his sensational success, worth a few billions, provides the first draft of his obituary” – India Today recasts the toppling IPL impresario in the model of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Do read the whole thing – it will amply repay your time.
“Yes Nasser Hussain is indeed playing my hero Gattu’s coach in the film. It wasn’t easy getting near him, let alone getting him to agree to play Akshay’s coach” – Casting director Nikhil Advani explains how the former England captain turned commentator is set to make his Bollywood debut alongside action hero Akshay Kumar.
“The real highlight was the abuse heaped on some hapless ancient in the pavilion who was holding up play by doddering down the steps. ‘Sit down. Either that or drop dead,’ shouted a stripling in the Grand Stand. A stripling of about 60, that is. Only at county cricket can the middle-aged feel young again” – Stephen Moss soaking up the colour at Lord’s for The Guardian.
“Bird, Dickie: Indigenous to Yorkshire, the Dickie Bird is noted for being terrified of rain, flapping under cover at the slightest hint of precipitation” – Wisden has embarked upon the important project of compiling an Alternative Cricket Dictionary.
“So there you have it, the English bowling coach (who was a West Indian), is replaced by an Australian, who pipped another Australian and a South African for the post. He joins the English head coach (who is Zimbabwean) and the remainder of the English coaching staff who only have one Englishman in the set up and he is French – Bruce French the wicket-keeping coach” – Frank Gregan asks why ex-English internationals don’t seem to end up in coaching jobs.
“It’s hard to remember a time when professional sports and sporting occasions were just that, fun. It seems like every decision, goal or achievement is associated with business rather than pleasure. Every mistake is analysed and the appropriate person chastised. Every victory a testament to planning and work ethic” – The Compulsive Hooker contributor Dingo thinks back to his Australian schooldays, when sport was just that – fun. And smeared with quite a bit of cowshit, but fun nonetheless.
“Yes, after Daniel Vettori did him with a direct hit yesterday, Ricky Ponting is now Test cricket’s most run out batsman. Well done Punter!” – The Nurdler is sure that you’ll all want to join The Old Batsman in a toast.
“The pitch has a characteristic tree within the boundary, and sheep bleat their approval outside the pitch’s perimeter. Many teams have travelled from afar to play the club, including the Old Leightonians from Reading, who famously possess one of the finest sets of cricket club statistics in the world” – Wikipedia entry for Adlestrop, the village whose railway station inspired the famous Edward Thomas poem.
“To lightly paraphrase the late Dr H.S. Thompson, ‘The sports business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men Ldie like dogs. There is also a negative side’” – The Old Batsman’s mind is on Lalit Modi and the IPL.
“Thanks Swanny. That was a really helpful crash course in twittering… not. Chocolate fireguard comes to mind” – Paul Collingwood launches himself on the Twitter adventure.
