FIFAgate

The winter chill has done nothing to freeze any thoughts of the monumental embarrassment that the England bid went through last week. Between now and then, every person who writes or speaks anything abut football has had his or her opinions spread around the popular media. And after being blasted with so much information myself, I thought about putting my thoughts in words as well.
First off, I am deeply disappointed that England haven't won the World Cup bid. My plans of watching England play (yes they would have because they would qualify automatically) at Wembley are now thwarted. But then, that was expected, although it did give me a shock to see that England received only one vote apart from their own. After being told that their technical bid and the presentation were apparently the best, the bid was won by Russia. Something similar happened with the other bid and the boiling desert of Qatar received the 2022 staging opportunity. So it is basically understood that I may not watch a World Cup match from a stadium till at least 2026. I'll be 42 then.
The English media now blast FIFA for the debacle, as the media normally does. Just as something goes amiss, the media pounces on the opportunity to crucify someone. Be it a manager or a team or the football governing body. They seem to have a beef with almost everyone in the world. But I believe they should have accepted that outcome. After allegations and even a show pointing out the corruption in the FIFA ExCom, they should hardly expect to be handed the bid. It's true that the corruption allegations are massive and should be dealt with, but honestly, do you expect me to be criticized and then expect my sincere thanks and then an award from me? That is just ridiculous. Of course, Sepp Blatt(bb)er did take some kind of action but never thanks the press. Bottom line, the English media did cost the World Cup for England, but that is not the main concern here.
What is important is FIFA's acceptance of multiple bids even when they follow a (unsaid) policy of handing out bids to new areas of the world. If that is what you are set out to do, then why not say only new teams should bid? Why make a country, for example England, spend 15 million pounds on a worthless cause? Another area of concern is the fact that promises were not kept. That proves that football has now become political. We all new it was, but here we have seen that with our own eyes. Blatter's audacity to say that football originated in China and then calling England the motherland of football seems a sarcastic jib at England's bid. We have 24 (22 now because of the suspensions) people in the ExCom unfairly representating 208 football associations. These men are like a dictatorship and Blatter as the dictator. "Sepp Blatter gets what Sepp Blatter wants" was a phrase I heard in many pods and that seems to be true. FIFA's ExCom, filled with crooked and corrupt people (although not proven), has too strong a hold on this game. Tim Vickery, in his blog, said that the idea of hosting the World Cup in new places is both great and problematic and that is very true.
The issues do not stop there. My main concerns was the hosting nations. Fist, Russia. A country with nine timezones. Nine. They sold FIFA on the idea that Eastern Europe never hosted a World Cup. That's what Russia has to offer. But what about infrastructure and stadiums and the lot. Russia has promised free transportation and no visas for match goers. That's really going to work. If reports are to be held true, the the UEFA Champions League final in 2008 was a failure in terms of organizations. Apart from the hospitality of FIFA and UEFA officials, they rest of the lot were faced with problems like packed buses and private jets leaving before commercial airlines. In addition, the rampant racism that exists in the country. How are fans from Africa, or even black fans from so many other countries supposed to travel. One of Russia's minister said in an interview that on every matchday during league season, black residents are advised to stay home and not venture out in fear of hooliganism mixed with racism.
Qatar next. I believe Gatorade should be the official sponsors of the World Cup in Qatar. But dehydration and extreme heat is only one issue. Qatar is so small, how are they going to manage the task of accommodating the hundreds of thousands of fans who are going to travel? Will they build new hotels, putting more stress on the economy? Qatar has promised 12 new stadiums with AC features, which will then be dismantled after the World Cup and moved to someplace else. That sounds like a grand idea. Spend money on so many stadiums just to move them somewhere else? Apart from that, small issues like Qatar not recognizing the State of Israel. What if Israel qualifies for the World Cup? What of by then we have women referees? How are European fans going to sit in that hot stadium and not be allowed to enjoy a beer because it is banned? Has FIFA considered the ramifications of the social restrictions of Qatar? Or were they blinded by the massive amount of green they were piling up in the meantime?
Last, but certainly not the least point. Russia and Qatar, oil rich countries. Rich, the important word here. Allegations are surfacing that a few ExCom members did receive kickbacks for these countries. Far-fetched? I don't think so. It is clear that the best bids haven't won, namely England, the US or Australia. Under the seemingly false pretense of taking the World Cup to places it has never been before, money may have talked. South Africa were loaned a huge amount of money just to get ready for the World Cup. Brazil are still way behind in their preparations and it is now going to cost the locals and then the spectators. Why put financial stress on a developing country that has more pressing matters to spend on. Russia and Qatar may have money, but will people travel that far?
It was a particularly long rant, but from so much I have heard in the past few days, there is still so much more on my mind. I shall watch the World Cup come 2018 and 2022, that I am sure of. But I shall be in the comfort of my own home, on a couch, with a beer in hand.

Marathi Manoos jaaga kadhi honaar!

Remember the popular dialogue by Paresh Rawal in Hera Pheri when he gets pissed off and fires the gun blindly. Well, that's just it. We need that to happen in real life.
First off, let me clarify a few things. I am a Marathi Manoos. Proud to be a Maharashtrian and an India, at the same time. How hard is it really? Secondly, Thackereys and Shiv Sena and MaNaSe do not represent me as a Marathi Manoos and I did not give them the authority to represent me and fight on behalf of me. The fight they are fighting is actually nothing to do with me, as with almost all other Maharashtrians out there. Take a poll in Maharashtra and see how many people actually believe in most things Raj Thackerey has said. I definitely agree with some of the points he makes, many of us do. But the extremities that he and his MaNaSe go knows no bounds.
And now Shiv Sena have a new goal in sight. Drive Bollywood out of Mumbai, then all the businesses and finally see Mumbai become the hapless city it would be without all this. With political might on the line, Shiv Sena seems to stir up any issue that might get them the national coverage they so desperately seek. And so they target the icons of India. What did Shahrukh Khan say wrong when he wanted Pakistani players in IPL teams. And he owns Kolkata Knight Rider, not the Mumbai Indians. So, the Pak players will go there. What has this got to do with Mumbai and hence Shiv Sena's stupid ideals. By the way, how have Thackereys remained quiet while Ambanis named the team Mumbai INDIANS??????
SRK is allowed his own opinion, as I think India is a democracy and we have freedom of speech? I remember reading that somewhere in school. Sachin is proud to be an India, and this infuriated the Sena. WHY? These are such lame battles, that no one should have even noticed them. But the media added fuel to the fire and made it into a national issue. You know, on one hand the media belittles Sena for picking these fights and on the other hand, add to the controversy by making it Hot and Breaking news. No wonder Thakereys are smiling now.
But the most mind-boggling question that I have is this. Why are these lunatics shouting and making issues out of nothing. To gain political ground, right? What does a strong political ground give them? Support, right? And support means power, right? So all they are doing is fighting for power. Well, I have a brilliant alternative to all this. Let's go retro and do what was originally done. Win the hearts and minds of the people by doing something constructive. There are many wide-range issues in the state, let alone the country. Get those straightened out. And you'll find support even when you weren't looking for it. Just repair a road, organize traffic, something tangible, and you'll see hundreds of fans lining to greet you. Why do you think SRK and Aamir and Sachin have so many followers? Because they make them happy and entertain them.
How does stopping the screening of a SRK film win you brownie points with the very public you want to win over who crave to see an SRK film. Fight the battles that need fighting. You have even me blogging to voice my opinion. And please decide what you want first too. You want to oppose Islam by keeping Pak players out of India, or you want to oppose non-Marathis to save Maharashtra? Both these don't make sense, but still, with your limited outlook, choose.

Time for some answers

One fine night in May last year, at approximately 12am I was dreading the wait for the return of a beloved series. LOST finally returns in a few hours and countless souls are waiting, holding their breath as 2 extraordinary hours of the sixth (and yes, final) season are broadcast today. While I write this, listening to the LOST soundtrack, I am actually feeling a rush like none other. 

After Juliet hit that stupid Jughead with a rock and the white flash was shown, I was hell-bent on finding out what-why-when-how happened. Reading every word I could get my hands on, peeking at every sneak peek with disapproval for my actions and scratching my head over the thousands of mysteries I find myself baffled with, I am happy to say that the wait is over. The writers seemed to have kept a tight wrap on things but that hasn't stopped people from snooping around and feeding sorry souls like us with tidbits that kept us hanging and asking for a little more every time 

I cannot remember a time when I waiting with such anticipation for anything. Thanks to the almighty DVR I pay for, I did not scythe off the people who made plans for tonight. It is going to be a hurried dinner and then 3 hours of numbness while I get even more numb as the drama unfolds. I really think I need a bottle of scotch ready to drain so that I can fall asleep tonight without being bothered by the cliff-hanger tonight's episode will surely have. 

I want to say it has been a fruitful wait, but I'll hang on to those words till I see off tonight. And then the next 4 odd months till the series finally closes.

I am actually fantasizing that the series will end in a manner in which it started, "with the closing of Jack's eyes" and the end of the journey.

The beginning of the end is here and I cannot wait for it ...