Sticky summer, birthday blues and movies

In this racially surcharged environment that engulfs our world today, I believe it is our responsibility to give everyone a fair hearing. As we make the painful transition from hot May to hotter June, here are a few reasons that might help the next few days fly by-:

• Bhutta (corn on the cob)
• The five-buck ice cream
• Excessive sweating makes the face clear. Mathews, are you sure about that?
• Summer Holidays. Sorry Garry, no such thing exists on this side of 20.
• You appreciate the early mornings and the late evenings because the days are just so darned hot
• Mangoes..  
• Blah. 

Ok, I'm done. This wretched season is getting to my head, melting my brain and sucking away all energy. Ban summer I say! After two days of brainstorming, I have nothing more than a meek defence. It might be easier to find reasons to like Nadal. Then again, maybe not.

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I really love people who look forward to their birthdays. People have a tendency to act supercool and pretend that it is just another day. It's NOT. IT'S YOUR HAPPY BIRTHDAY. So stop acting pseudo-cool, get off your haunches and start counting down the days to your birthday.

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After months of keeping their heads buried in the sand, multiplex owners and producers have finally buried their differences. The strike is officially (alomst) over. Now I don't have to suffer the ignominy of going to watch Yeh Pal Ho Na Ho... Kal.

Instead, get ready to come with me to watch the first big, post-strike, release-- Kal Kisne Dekha, starring Jacky Bhagnani. Woohoo, anyone?

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• The term 'racially surcharged' is in no way used to play down the seriousness of the prevalent problem or ridicule, insult or offend anybody. 

• Don't you dare make fun of 'corn on the cob'! It is just used to enlighten any international reader who might stumble across this blog.

• I have nothing but total respect for the Bhagnani family.

• Nandu, we know you love that dog (There, I saved you 200 words of coochiecooing the dog).

Image Courtesy: www.ahajokes.com

In conversation with Mr Krishnan

I have wanted to inject some energy into this space for a while but I really didn't know what to write about. This four-day (yup, that's 4) weekend gave me a lot of time to browse through some old photographs. And boy did I trip on some good ones.

The picture above is of Ramanathan Krishnan, possibly India's finest tennis player. He created history by reaching the semi-finals of the Wimbledon in '60 and '61. Some would say "he was the most recognisable Indian face after Nehru during that period."

My grandfather was under the impression that Rod Laver was present at the Gymkhana when he clicked this picture. I decided to do some investigation. I called up the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium in Madras and requested them to give me Krishan's contact number.

Armed with the information, I called up the number and a lady put me through me to him. All that I told him was "a picture in the 50s" and the "Delhi Gymkhana Club" and he immediately rattled off the details. In the picture, he is shaking hands with Jack Arkinstall after beating him in the final of the Northern India Championship in the January of '54 or '55 at the Delhi Gymkhana Club.

According to him, Laver only gained prominence around '59 and never played a competitive match in India. It was Laver who defeated him in the semi-finals of Wimbledon in '61. What amazed me was the power of his memory. Most sportsmen seem to possess this quality.

I was actually planning to brag about a rare picture of Rod Laver but instead I will just have to be content with sharing this little conversation. 

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This here is a historic picture that my grandfather procured from someone. The scene is set in the heart of Delhi. The many thousands gathered are part of Mahatma Gandhi's funeral procession on January 31, 1948 -:

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Look who's back in town! Nope, I am not talking about Papa Bachchan and Bachcha Bachchan in Delhi. I am just indulging in truckloads of vanity.

And now that I have decided to get back to my old ways, I really do hope that the three of you will come back to me blog.

p.s. Why, Cricinfo, why?