Ever wondered ?

Random Thoughts that keep creeping into my mind:
Ever wondered
Why all production emergencies hit you at precisely 4-30 on a Friday afternoon ?
Why at the grocery store, the cash register gives a problem just as you are about to get billed?
Why your progress report at work is anything but ? It reflects only the stuff you did not finish and not vice verca ?
If Peyton Manning, Sachin Tendulkar, Lara, will always be the greatest who never won the bigggest ?
How much energy and resources we waste in the US while on the other side of the planet people are just happy to receive drinking water for 3 hours a day ?
Why the car/watch/shirt/anything you like is just a wee bit above your budget?

BCCI-The Board of Chaos and Confusion in India

YoYo,

I was following with some interest the sparring between Lalit Modi and ICC chief Malcolm Speed regarding the MPA and TV rights issue. Everyone likes to hail India as the center of world cricket and beleives it is the unofficial HQ of cricket. Perhaps so, but I am always wondering if that is really true. Yes, its our #1 game. Cricket games draw crowds, the players have multi-million contracts and are role models and all that. But perhaps before claiming ourselves the HQ its time to look at a few questions from the other side of the fence.

From the spectators point of view, the engine that drives the commerce behind cricket.

What does the average fan get in return ? Woeful facilities at stadiums where you loose your seat if you go for a leak. Baking in the 100 F sun or in temp shamianas, sitting on cement-concrete seats for 7 hrs post which you have lost all feeling in your bottom, Exorbitantly charged for refreshments (I can kind of understand this one.) I have now been to a few sports events. Two times at the Nasdaq-100 Open, a Miami Heat basketball game and a U of M college football game with 60000 wild college fans as the audience. What strikes me is how smooth things work. You can actually get to sit relax and enjoy the game. And this wasnt even the premium tickets. In fact the cheapest ones. When I watched the India-NZ game way back in 96, it was worse than a stampede. I cant imagine anyone in the right frame of mind wanting to bring his family over for a day of cricket at the Nehru Stadium.

What peeves me most is the utter discontempt shown for audience confort. Basically they are treated as shit. There is no concern for the well being. It is just assumed that they will show up and put up irrespective of what is dished out. And such is the passion that we actualy do!

Another thing that drives me nuts is the merchandising. I guess this is deviating a little bit but I had a hard time buying a India jersey a few years ago. I finally found one in Colaba on the street stalls for 250 bucks. I recently had my buddy ship one to me-the original one for 1800 bucks. (My mom things I have way too much money on me). Here it is so easily accessible. These guys have found a way to market their game in such a way that the fam feels a part of the team.Jerseys,hats,apparel,pens,keychains every damn thing you can think of. Whay hasn't anyone thought of doing this for our team ? Imagine what sort of response and revenue it would generate. And perhaps then the BCCI would invest some of it in Upgrading stadiums and allow the fans to have some fun.