Bend it like Jassi

I started playing this game at the age of 8(I just realized that). 2 years later I represented my school at the city level. (I watched the team end up as runners up from the bench)Another 2 years down the line, I had to “retire” from the game coz my health didn’t compliment my passion for the game. Though I did continue to play with friends at home, in the murky grounds having to face my parents each time I returned home with my clothes soiled.Having moved out of this place I still pay a visit to my friends for a game of soccer every-time I am in town.

6 years later I was handed the institute’s jersey with my name on the back, having earned an opportunity to represent IITG at the Inter IIT sports meet. As a team we have tasted little success but every-time I step on the field I feel proud of having made a difference to the team and the institute. Twice I have faced a teammate during school days as the opponent (IITB vs IITG).With IITG being the hosts for the forthcoming winter meet,I look forward to this last opportunity to perform at home.

For every soccer fan the world cup is a treat and so has been this edition being played at Germany.54 matches later I bet  on a Dream final between England and Germany…with the third place match between Italy and Spain. This implies I am betting on Ronaldinho and co. returning home before the semis.

Having said this I am left asking for more after watching the stars of the English team perform together as a team.The fab 4 in the midfield are supposed to be the best.However in all the 4 matches England have played so far its their individual performance which marginally stands out. If Joe Cole has made great runs down the left flank, David Beckham has produced a match winning free kick,Stevie G netted a 30 yard kick and Lampard seems to have left his goalscoring boots at Chelsea.It seems they are holding up for the big matches but I fear their resources getting replenished when they would need it most.

This is by no means a gentleman’s game.If it takes immense stamina to stay as long as 90 minutes on the ground it takes a lot of understanding and football sense to enjoy the game. That’s one reason why for many its just 22 insane men running behind a 8 inch dia ball.

My parents are surprised as how I find that xtra energy to watch a game till as late as 3 in the night.If during Euro 2004 I taught my mom to drive (early hours of the day after 4 hours of sleep),these days I work at L&T for 9 hrs after a four hr nap.

In response to a question as why I watch all the matches I replied “I get to learn a lot”.Its not just about the game but the same strategies producing results in other domains.Some months back I had integrated football sense with corporate strategies.

Winning

The Socceroos were left dejected and their fans shocked at their loss to Italy. The defeat was cruel. They dominated the game with 59% possession but only till the last 5 seconds. The decision to award the Italians a spot kick was not the best.Grosso made a good run down the left and in the end forced himself to trip over Lucas Neill. The Italians got desperate and Neill who defended well to deny the Azurris any opportunity was unlucky to have gifted them the penalty.

The Italians didn’t deserve to win,they were lucky. It was sad to see the Australians lose this way.They were good but  not good enough. They now need to learn to win.I guess this has been the difference between good teams and better teams.The not so popular teams have lost matches only because they failed to convert their dominance into goals and in the end that’s what made the difference.This transition or evolution of playing attractive football needs to be coupled with winning!!!

At times winning is not the only thing, its everything.

Simple se Dimple tak

Jai Bihar!

We (Sudhanshu and myself) have successfully completed one month of our industrial training at L&T(Note: Success is a relative term). It has been a learning experience so far.Having been working on two parallel projects and made significant progress I look forward to the days left (Observe the transition from we to I). Well Sudhanshu has also been devoting time to a third very important project, I call it "Simple se Dimple tak" (Dedicated and "focussed" guy that he is).

Since she returned from her short leave he has concentrated all his efforts to get to know her better. The atmosphere at times seems to be that of a cold war between we guys and her friends(not her though). Sudhanshu seems to get a bit flustered.According to him she seems too simple, naive, modest blah blah (he doesn't seem to fall short of adjectives as he gets to word his emotions ) making it more difficult for him to strike a conversation.

I am aware that the tone of this blog seems to be that of a journo from a masala channel…but thats precisely what Im supposed to be doing.

Jai Maharashtra!

Mera number aayega!

One two ka four(This is in response to Sid's comment to my previous blog)…I don't see myself getting involved till atleast 4 yrs from now (Subject to numerous other parameters remaining well within tolerances). Well this should not be inferred as me going on a rampage four years hence. The reason being simple,Neither do I have the time nor the patience to get into some committment and then having to religiously stick to it…

However I might have to indulge into some operations management coz in four months (since the previous sem) I have observed that almost half the number of females with whom I had some acquaintance with have turned orkut-committed.Now, even if I am highly optimistic in assuming that this inflation rate (something that gets dearer) remains constant I fear to arrive at an obscenely small number of females that would remain single four years hence (I hope Im not forced to post blogs like "One (more) down" as Gadhs is doing)…Wish to remain focussed on my goals/dreams.

I am myself surprised at reading the above coz didn't expect me to post something on this subject.But a few random thoughts that came to my mind yesterday (didn't find time to blog on a Sunday) sort of led me into this…guess it has something to do with 18th June!!!

Bihari babu meets Marathi Mulgi

After a long absence I return to my blog…Rukhavat ke liye khed hai(DD style):Searching for signal 981 Mhz(NDTV style).

Jai Bihar!!! Do not mistake this for me being a fan of Laloo for all his heroics in the railway turnaround nor do I look forward to how Nitish Kumar goes around convincing the corporate bigwigs to invest in Bihar…I just happen to recollect the ragging days and the football match we played in the seniors hostel.Prior to the kickoff, my team competed with Bhagwanji in who could  get everyone out of their rooms just by singing the praises of Bihar. Ofcourse we lost…

Wassup with my BTP partners…first it was X, now its Y…Ab Y hai Sudhanshu(I have not got a green signal from X to reveal his identity).It took him just three days in L&T (thats four days in Bbay) to fall for a gal…

Rabba mere rabba rabba …yeh kaise dost diye hain.

X used to dump me on the long walks with his unmistakable grin while Y simply puts it "Jassi tujhe fight toh nahi hai agar tujhe lunch akela karna pade…" Damn all four!

Pitashri ki baat na sunkar liya Bete ne pyaar ke disha mein ek kadam…24 ghante ki chunauti dene par apne bihari babu ne sirf 5 minute mein is Marathan ka naam pata pooch nikala. Hadh scene hua. I challenge him on the shop floor. He goes to the office and finds her there talking to her friend. He takes a seat(away from her), calms himself down, says to himself "Give me the power. Give me the power." and gets up ,approaches her and the work is done.All this happened while ten others including our guide were watching them. Next up at another opportunity he calls her and says "Suno…Main yahan akela hoon. Kya mere saath Mumbai ghoomne chalogi." (Ab tak kismat nahi chamki hai.)

Well his first words to her were few days before all this drama happened. I want to make a mention of that.They were waiting in some queue.This guy turns around and to his joy finds her talking to a friend in Marathi.He opens up "Kya aapko hindi aati hai…."

All this while tadpa kaun…Y couldn't concentrate on his work. Our mentor is talking to us and this guy is looking around searching for her. I fear doing all the BTP work myself just the way I am doing the work at L&T.

Dil tuta jab – it got to our notice that she is away on a 10 day leave..and even more when news trickled that she had rejected a fellow trainee at L&T citing the reason that she is committed.Well since the later ain't confirmed, we are still optimistic…(she is reciprocating too.Woh nazar katilana,I find a mention of this is Y's notepad).

Im concentrating all my efforts to get the maximum work done from him in these 10 days… all that was concluded in the second week of the training had to be redone, only coz Y didn't pay attention to it.

Ab Sudhanshu miyan hindi chhod Marathi mein vartalap karne ka prayas kar rahe hain… iske liye bhi tadap raha hai kaun…

I take an inspiration from Fanaa and Y himself;

Woh iske dil mein aisi samayi, woh iske dil mein aisi samayi, Jaise Bajre ke khet mein ek Bhains samayi!!!

Jai Maharashtra!!!