I miss Test cricket. I miss the days of intense action, smart strategy, backfiring of plans, suspended overnight drama, and after a hard-fought 5-day battle, there's victory- sweeter than the roses of Arabia, & there's defeat- more bitter than my granny's concoctions.
Now with T-20, cricket is a matter of a few hge hits into the stands and an occasional uprooted stump. No opportunity to build up a game plan and execute it. Its done with good intent, they say, it draws in the crowd. All said and done, the IPL has gone one step ahead and roped in the country's Big Daddies and put cricket up for sale. Mcgraths and Jayasuryas were bought, a cocktail of players mixed and served to us in tall glasses called Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and some such cheesy names. The cocktails are zinged by the "song and dance" routine by the Bollywood Biggies wearing flaming helmets. but the crowning unbrellas for the cocktails are the cheerleaders.
The purpose defeats me. Let me make it clear that I have as much respect for a cheerleader as I do for a highly qualified software professional. They work very hard on their acrobatic skills and even harder to keep their lithe bodies in shape. But the fact remains that they are a vile indulgence in this scenario at least. Isnt Warnie's googly or Tendulkar's cover drive enough to get the Indian crowd on their feet? Dont they scream in glee everytime Gilly pulls one into the stands or when Akhtar leaves the stumps in disarray. Do they need scantily-clad girls shaking thier booties just to enjoy the game more? What works for a baseball match might not work for cricket.
On a more important note, semi-nudity in females is not taken kindly in India. A spat over this issue was expected. All the cheerleaders have managd to do is spiral the testosterone levels out of control. They are subjected to leers and jeers from a sex-starved crowd in a country where decency for females is held in the highest regards and never practiced. Before something untoward happens, its better to ship them back.
They might not seem to mind or even understand the vile innuendos they are subjected to, but they'll be doing cricket a big favour by sticking to baseball.
2 comments:
I believe quite the opposite. I think it is this very cheerleading which gives a sheen to even local school games in the U.S. Parents come in to watch their children play (read Soccer moms!) and the games are televised on local channels. This is their sporting culture- a mix of sport, entertainment and fun. I don't see why this system cannot be adopted in India, both at the junior levels and at the international level. Sports might then just be begun to be seen as a viable career option for youngsters (which it is not presently, due to the stress on acads)
i never had a problem with the practice of having cheerleaders in the first place.. i made that very clear... its just the way they are potrayed in india... or rather percieved... in america it maybe a norm.. heck its a sport culture there. But in india it isnt really serving any great purpose considering the amount of money spent. The intent maybe to emulate the americans but the response is typically indian. Apart from generating media buzz they havent achieved much.
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