For a long time,Ive been thinking of starting a blog on sports.Writing has always been my passion and sport is something that gives me material happiness.
This article is not about tactics,gamesmanship and tournaments.And as a first article.I start with what sport means to me!
Born in 1990.My first proper sporting memory was 1996 Atlanta Olympics.The word Olympics was new to me!And only thing everyone talked in my house was about the amazing opening ceremony.
As a 6 yr old,I just went through the motion,staring the TV screen like others.And now when I think back.I feel it made everyone happy and excited.
From Mani,the hair saloon guy to my 70 yr old grandmother were all happy and excited about it.
So,my fascination for sports started there,thinking that it's something that made people happy!
I was bad at playing sports especially atheletics.Running was not my cup of tea!I was decent in cricket but that was more because of playing regular cricket nothing like natural talent.
Although I remember watching a lot of cricket at that time.Nothing really amazed me about sports during those days.It was more about India winning games rather than a good game.
So I just could not enjoy the game"Cricket" as everyone around me where so much pumped with Patriotism!But during that time Rahul Dravid and Wasim Akram somehow captured my imagination.
I modeled my batting stance on Rahul Dravid.I was not a strong boy,so in cricket i could not clear the field and get quick runs so playing like Rahul Dravid meant patience and technique.
So I was a "boring test batsman" my school friends used to call me.Cricket was the only sport.I understood and played till 98 France world cup.
I used to have a very short haircut!And people started calling me RONALDO during that time.And may be because of that Ronaldo was my first football hero.And when Brazil lost the World cup final,for the first time I realised sport is not just about happiness.I tried to watch the final but 8yr old sleepy eyes could not stay up till 2 am.I fell asleep watching the match.When I woke up and came to know that Brazil lost the match.My sports gave me my first pain.
So as a 10 year old,Sports was happiness or sadness for me!
After the world cup, football was nowhere to be seen.It was all cricket again.Cricket at school and home.Sachin Tendulkar was in his prime.But I was always a Dravid fan inside.
But after 10 years sports was just about the team that you support must win.My pain of 98 final was somewhat healed in 2002 WC,And I shouted like a lunatic when Ronaldo scored in the final.
I think it was 2003 cricket World cup finals,I started to criticize sportsmen.And It continued as I started to learn and watch more and more of the game
As a 15 year old,Sports was right or wrong for me.Who does the right thing wins.
During those days,I got a computer game.FIFA 98!
My first introduction to club football.
Liverpool struck me!Why??
I still dont know!It was the first team I chose to play with!
Then 05 happened!And I started to bleed RED from then on!
And slowly I started watching Premier league.In two years.I started watching every Liverpool game!
Not going more into Liverpool!
But Sports was just making me addicted to it!So started to follow Tennis,Hockey and other Olympic sports during Commonwealth games and Asian games!
What is sport?Is always a question I ask myself!From my sporting history which I talked above..Sport was just an extension of life!And once I started to enjoy it like that,It was totally a new world for me!
I realized you need not hate Nadal to like Federer.You need to love Liverpool more,than hating and abusing Manchester United.You admire McGrath`s accuracy even when he is bowling to Sachin!
When I started to do that!I started to enjoy the game and THE GAME!
Sport was always my teacher who taught me many important lessons. "Never give up" "Do what you heart says and trust you instincts" "Hard Work"
Though all these great sportsmen and great sporting events influenced my life and brought me closer to sport.Ill have to admit!Sport excited me,only because of my Mother.The only sporting superstar I know in real life!
I begin my blog here!!
