20-20: decimating the GAME or the Spirit....?

Cricket is nothing short of being considered another 'religion' in india and pakistan. Fanatics throng a ninety thousand seating capacity eden garden's stadium to cheer the 'Bengal Tiger' (a.k.a Sourav.G), and even a greater number scream for the demi-god; 'Sachin...Sachin' at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The irony of it all, he returns back to the dressing room after edging the very first ball to the keeper.
Over the past year and half, cricket has increasingly been converted into a business than a game. Right from its unveiling in UK (2003) to the advent of the Twenty Twenty World Cup in 2007, the games have ensured investment of billions of dollars and exchange of millions. The spectators 'may' have been benefitted having had to spend only three hours in comparison to eight hours in a typical one-day game. Limited Overs - Limited Time, but More Money to jazz up the environment! Bring on the cheer leaders....bring on the actors...and the game has been turned on its head into a 'ballroom tango' with disco lights and a rock band in play!! Is anyone complaining?? Why should they....there isnt any calculation of cost v/s benefit in such a scenario.

But in essence, the game has suffered. Textbooks of 'cricket' need to be re written and so do the averages....It is still a contest between nations, but reduced to a mockery between the batsmen and and the bowlers. When the money starts flowing, the aspirations become bigger and hence the 'selection process' has been tarnished by giving it a new lingo : the IPL (Indian Premier League). Auctioning Cricketers...??Are we recreating a roman empire? If so...the cricketers are being sold as slaves. If, having states fight for their boundaries was not enough, this particular event has built the foundation for establishing supremacy of one state over the other through cricket. Instead of 'Indian supporters', now we have region based supporters!!......Its Dawn! The writing is as clear as water across the skies. Cricket is now nothing, but a money spindling machine. Gone are the days of strokes! A 'stroke' is more likely if one happens to see the balance sheets.

Las Vegas...encounters

April 27th to May1st: National American Planning Association Conference!! Okay...that didnt make sense!...A National 'Planning' Conference in Las Vegas? a city which is hardly sustainable from any angle you look at it?....Hmm...From a planning analyst's perspective, it is the worst choice of locations. From a Business point of view, its the apt choice. "You lose... I win"! So the saying 'life is a gamble' holds true in Vegas.
In any case, it was a frightfully enjoyable experience....meshing with with old and the young (who hardly seemed to move from their chairs from dusk to dawn)....ears in sync with the sounds from the slot machines (reminded me of the those irritating toys that we used to have while we were kids). As i looked down the endless aisles bordered with tables for black jack, poker, roulette; only one 3 words of wisdom flashed across my grey cells for the folks in Vegas - "GET A LIFE"...!!

........next steps?

Finally, all course work has been completed. A sense of triumph prevailed and has been lingering on in the mind ever since the final presentation. I am just one step away from being set free into this 'cruel' world with a masters degree in urban and transportation planning. So here i am sitting on a comfy chair in my balcony, enjoying the evening breeze and the children playing in the park. The serene atmosphere is suddenly disturbed.... "Knock...Knock Nitin!! The biggest step: you still have to write the dissertation!!"
Hmph!! Trust my inner soul to provide me the solace at this moment!

A planner i am, but interestingly i have barely planned the next steps of my life. "Huh! A planners life cannot be planned"....There goes my plans, trashed before i can even formulate them! But the ultimate goal of life is clearly defined. No one can snatch that from me..."hehehe....how can anyone...you aren't even close to achieving it".

Gosh! He is right, i havn't yet secured a job and i am just 2.5 months away from walking down the aisle of the Reed Arena, dressed in black and maroon, a cap on my head; to get my Degree. Wow!! I am ecstatic, just picturizing the very moments - "a rush of adrenaline, thats all it is". Okay 'Mr. You know it all', I know!! Let me have my moments of peace!
'PEACE', who ever composed that piece?? Half the world is still fighting: with itself, a neighboring country or one located on the other side of the Globe !

"You are losing your way palindrome". Sure enough, an email had just made its way through the complicated network where exists a thousand other Nitin's and made itself comfortable in my inbox, because i am the warriEr. This better be good! Ah! a mail from a prospective employer!
'We have received numerous application for this position (I have heard that before), but on this occasion we have selected another candidate whose experience and background fits our present needs. However......" without bothering to read through it, i just dragged that mail into the folder "Rejections". Have got quite a comprehensive list by now.

Being used to rejections, it doesnt take time to sink the feeling. I look up into the sky asking myself, 'is there light on the horizon? ....
The inner voice reappears....."Wake Up dude!!! Cant you see the SUN SET?".
Wise Guy!!!