World Cup almost ...

I was so hoping for something spectacular from the draw today.But there was some disappointment. First off, no video. Come on! And that too when Charlize Theron was looking amazing. Second, no serious group of death. That was sad. But there was some respite, Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal. That's a brutal combination and if Drogba has anything to say, that will just make it more interesting. My only hope is Portugal does to Brazil what it always does to England.
Speaking of England, US and they in the smae group. Sounds interesting but is actually very banal. US coach Bradley wants 1950 spirit whe US last beat England. You gotta be kidding. He wasn't born then. Why has he got to create a rivalry where there isn't one?
The dummy draw actually had a funny moment. When Charlize pulled out France, she actually called out Ireland. Yikes, that must have hurt in Dublin. Anyways, at least now this nonsense can come to an end and we can get down to serious business. June cannot come sooner.

Draw ...

France v Germany in the league stage? That's a possibility. The draw id on Friday and FIFA did something nasty. They placed France in the unseeded pot, apparently because of Henry's cheating tactics against Ireland. Speaking of which, clever Henry knows FIFA cannot allow all the bull that Ireland FA are throwing at FIFA and so he accepts hat he cheated and tries to pull the woll over our eyes. Not so fast!
Ireland went to FIFA and asked them to add a 33rd team to the draw, namely them. Are they serious? 33 teams? Can you imagine the statistical nightmare that may follow and every team in the history of football wanting to be treated fairly. Hell, even England might come out and protest against the "Hand of God" again and book a place in the final.
That reminds me, Maradona is apparently warned that if he comes to the draw, he will be kicked out. That's a nice way to talk to a legend, but he did it first. Nasty fellow. No wonder Argentina sucks and Tevez wants out.
Berbatov got a haircut, no more hairband and long streaks slowing his pace. And who knew he was balding. Fatherhood seems to have brought hm down to earth. Hope that form he showed at Spurs returns to aid United.

Man uddhaN Vaaryache (marathi lyrics) - मन उद्धाण वार्याचे

FYI ... please use this and edit it as needed ....

मायेच्या हळव्या स्पर्शाने खुलते, नात्यांच्या बंधात धुंध मोहरते
मायेच्या हळव्या स्पर्शाने खुलते, नात्यांच्या बंधात धुंध मोहरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे, गूज पावसाचे
का होते बेभान कसे गहिवरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे, गूज पावसाचे
का होते बेभान कसे गहिवरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे

तनाना...

आकाशी स्वप्नांच्या हरपून भान शिरते
हुरहुरत्या सांजेला कधी एकटेच झुलते
सावरते बावरते धडते अडखळते का पडते
कधी आशेच्या हिंदोळ्यावर मन हे वेडे झुलते
मन तरंग होऊन पाण्यावरती फिरते
अन क्षणात फिरुनी आभाळाला भिडते

मन उद्धाण वार्याचे, गूज पावसाचे
का होते बेभान कसे गहिवरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे, गूज पावसाचे
का होते बेभान कसे गहिवरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे

रुणझुणते गुणगुणते कधी गुंतते हरवते
कधी गहिऱ्या डोळ्यांच्या डोहात पार बुडते
तळमळते सारखे बापडे नकळत का भरकटते
कधी मोहाच्या चार क्षणांना मन हे वेडे भुलते
जाणते जरी जे पुन्हा पुन्हा का चुकते
भापडे जरी भासांच्या मागून पळते

मन उद्धाण वार्याचे, गूज पावसाचे
का होते बेभान कसे गहिवरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे, गूज पावसाचे
का होते बेभान कसे गहिवरते
मन उद्धाण वार्याचे

It’s a secret, that’s why!

After reading "The da Vinci Code" I was certainly intrigued about the whole, Jesus is married and has a blood-line, theory. Not knowing much about Christianity, it makes for a neutral like me to enjoy the occasional jab at someone else's mysterious religion. And being an agnostic makes it even more fun. Mind you, an atheist would have loaded his gun and gone berserk, and they have. But for me it was entertainment and reading about what people on both sides felt was amusing.

Then last night I watched the National Geographic and the History Channel takes on "decoding" the theories in the book. What they presented was proof that it was all lies, blasphemy and so on. Not that they actually said those words, but anyone would guess that's what they meant. Now who in the world would want to say that I wonder?

Now to be concise, the book states that there was a "secret" society. It was proved that the society as created by some Frenchman just to get his hands on royalty. And it was said that there is no proof that a secret society existed. Now isn't this a contradictory statement in itself? It is secret, hence no proof.

And even if Jesus was married, how would his message change? How would people think, "Oh he was married, then he is not a Messaih!" Just because he did not happen to throw a lavish party calling everyone to his wedding or having his reception at The Plaza, doesn't mean he may not have been married. It might be a stretch to agree that the Priory of Sion existed, but who says it can't. In the world, everyone has the right to question everything, so why have people taken to resentment when such questions are asked?

Like I said before, I am an agnostic and I seem to enjoy conspiracies and so this book was a wonderful read for me. The documentaries providing proof against it were entertaining too. But let's just keep it at that. What people did in India was just another way to get your 15 minutes of fame. In a democratic country like India, the largest I may add, if someone wants to say something against a religion, then he is cursed and burned.

My point is, if something didn't exist, but you cannot prove that it didn't, it may have existed. It's like being innocent until proven guilty.

Two nights to remember!

In North London the world witnessed a master class performance by Manchester United to shove away Arsenal and book a place in a consecutive final, a feat never achieved since 1997. It was a game that was over in the first 11 minutes when a mistake and a brilliant free kick did it for United and Arsenal needing 4 goals to go through.

Now, I won't say that this tie had the same electric feel as past United-Arsenal ties, when they were hustling for the Premiership. It seems that the days are past when Arsenal played with the likes of Henry, Pires, Viera and company against a feisty United team led by Keane. Arséne Wenger is a great coach, but he might have taken it too literally when someone said that he needs a youthful team. His team is nowhere the team Sir Alex played at the emirates. van Persie was back, but he is as fragile as a delicate flower. A small hit and he is out. Fabregas was nowhere and Adebayor, well he is like having nothing.

Ronaldo gave a superb performance, reiterating why he is the best in the world, and send United to the final to be the fist team since 1990 to defend their title. But who would they play?

 

The answer lies with Barcelona. A team who failed to score at home since, ironically, Manchester United visited them last season in the semis. A away goal would do the trick, and it did. And at the expense of Chelsea.

I never liked Chelsea, well, since the day Roman splashed a large wad of cash and they were picking up players like fallen apples. And even with a billion-dollar team, they have not achieved the success many have assumed they would. Ballack, a man who seems to have followed the trail of Sterlings to Stamford Bridge, Drogba, a man no one knew and wish still don't know, Essien, a player not wanting to return to his country to play in the national side, Mikel, who thwarted United's call to go to the cash filled Chelsea and so many others. But last night's game brought out the devils in the Blues. The match started as a football game, but surely ended like a wrestling match. With his call for a handball falling on deaf ears, Ballack decided to crowd the referee into giving a decision he was sure wasn't there to be given because it happened right in front of him. Drogba even got a yellow card for almost attacking the referee and then swearing at the camera.

Drogba my friend, there have been some astonishing acts from you with a little dive here and a little one there, but this trumps it all. And Anelka, who must have learned something from his compatriot Viera got entangled in his own feet and fell and then saw Abidal get a red card for doing nothing. And even then, Chelsea cry foul and say that decisions didn't go their way. Fifteen minutes to add another goal against 10 men with a firing attack was all they needed. Yet when the game ended dashing their hopes for another chance at glory, all they could do was blame someone from UEFA who did not want another all-English final.

I love conspiracies and this is one of them, but really, do you really want to blame someone else, when you know you had every opportunity to get the result and you didn't. Mop it up and look into your own selves and come up with an answer.

Anyways, conspiracies might be a topic for another post. Right now, I look to Rome and United take on Barcelona (a match sure to be dubbed as Ronaldo v Messi, we'll see).

FIA makes new changes for 2010 … now what!

It's a round of new changes for Formula 1 in 2010. This season has seen the cars change their look like a hot babe turning to an old hag. Maybe that is a little extreme. But maybe that has turned the sport upside down, for a good reason. Ferrari and McLaren and BMW were the only names synonymous with the word Championship. But with the latest changes, a new order has some into play; the Illuminati of Formula 1 will certainly be rejoicing.
Now for a further change, FIA has banned refueling of cars while racing. My first reaction, "What the hell man!" But then after a little pondering and reading I have come to realize the decision as a real nice one. First, FIA's decision to do this to make the cars more efficient is a good way to go. Secondly, a qualifying now will mean an actual qualifying. I always have to think about the fuel loads the cars carry. I always think that one driver should have got pole but someone else just put him in second. But then I hear the commentator say that someone might have a heavier fuel load and that is why he is second. Well, I never accepted that kind of a thing. It was never a pure qualifying session. It's too many strategies to think of. It's now a technical race for the shrewd minds and not what racing is ultimately about. Driver skills and car technologies.

And so this rule will make the qualifying session be what it should be, let's see who is the fastest. And that my friends will make that hour wonderful. I always skipped to the final session of qualifying. As Coulthard said, it may be better to come in 11^th rather than 10^th for qualifying. Then the fuel load is not a concern. Now with the new rule, one less thing to worry about

Another change is "no tire warmers". Now there is something that will affect performance. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens with all these new changes. But one thing is sure, this season may just setup a grand finale and will make the next season that much more awesome.

Last week in Manchester ...

A week to remember. Legendary. On Saturday, United hosted Spurs and it was an encore. Remember back to September 2001 when United came back with3 goals down. But this one was bigger and better. As the title hung in the balance of this result.
Then came another big test with Arsenal visiting for the Champions League semis and United won that too. An upper hand there and traveling to London to make it to a consecutive final appearance.
Carlos Tevez still wants to leave. And he has good reason to. No starting place, no consistent games even when he can orchestrate something like what he did during the comeback against Tottenham. Sir Alex says he is important, but will he actually act on his words is something to wait for.
With United traveling north this weekend and Liverpool abut to win easily at Anfield, it's a tough week ahead again.
Wait for it ...

Champions League Matchday 7 - Part 1

A mouthwatering match-up, when English champions Manchester United faced Italian champions Internazionale at the San Siro. United, who I expected to play a little defensive, being an away leg first and down with most defenders, played the more attacking football in the first half. Ronaldo and Berbatov got close shots in but were unlucky. Second half showed Inter fighting back and creating a few chances, though none were on target and van der Sar was never in any trouble. All in all, I would say a good match with some chances. United would feel the unluckier with no away goals to show. It's game on at Old Trafford, where Inter will relish the chance to score away goals to make their progress. But, United may just have the upper hand, with Vidic set to return and Rooney back in shape.

A van Persie penalty was all that Arsenal could muster after a dominating performance at the Emirates against Roma. Arsenal created many chances, and seemed to be the only team to do so, while Roma's defense faltered and caved. They should be thankful that the scoreline shows only one goal, thanks to an Arsenal side who have failed to score on the last three Premier League matches. Bendtner, who feels he should start every game, showed why he does not. A wayward touch and then a clear shot over the bar means that Wenger will want Eduardo and Adebayor fit for the trip to Rome. Meanwhile, Roma have to get their act together and play some attacking footbal. Totti who was almost invisible tonight has to score and while de Rossi is suspended, the gap in the midfield needs to be filled. I back Arsenal to reach the next round, only because Roma is not up to the challenge.

Lyon hosted Primera Liga leaders Barcelona. They started well, and a spectacular free kick from Juninho meant Lyon had a deserved lead. They created many chances. Benzema struck the post and showed he was as good a defender as anyone in Europe. Barcelona seemed to be leering from the defeat at the Camp Nou on the weekend and had just one chance from Eto'o in the first half which struck the post. The second half showed more chances for Barca as they looked for the crucial away goal. Henry struck with a header and Barca came level with Lyon and that's how it ended. Barca, with the away goal and a home tie, look to be favorites to go through to the next round. But if Lyon can spring a goal as they did here, it would be game on.

The Iberian derby was played in Madrid between Porto and Athletico. The game started slow, but was a treat to watch as the sides drew 2-2. Porto came back twice to level the score and take a massive away goals tally to make their passage to the next round a reality. Athletico have the firepower to make Porto pay, with Forlan and Maxi Rodriguez, but it may not be enough as Porto are a powerhouse at home.