The conflict between letter and spirit

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The International Hockey Federation's decision to ban Shivendra Singh for two games reeks of a bias and points to an inflexibility that does not augur well for the game. Shivendra, who was banned for three games for "deliberately" hitting a Pakistani player during India's World Cup opener on Sunday, had his ban reduced to two games on Tuesday following an appeal by the team management. The decision is not only harsh but completely unfair. It is shameful that none of the other teams have voiced their concern over such unilateral calls. Perhaps they are unaware that they could face such an action tomorrow. While it is a given that laws and rules are to be followed, what is most important is to uphold the spirit of the law and in this case - of the game as well. According to the rules of the game, players....

Tiger, Terry & accountability

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While the web was abuzz with 'Tiger' jokes, I came across a pretty smart line that for me outlined what it meant for a sportsperson to deviate from his pre-eminent position, whether on or off the pitch. "With Federer losing, Thierry Henry cheating and Tiger crashing his car, is Gillete still 'the best a man can get'?" Look at it closely and you'll see that it's the sponsors who are at the edge with allegations that have hit their celebrity endorsers. During the last decade, they put their money on Woods for his consistent below par performances. But such is the strength of an aphrodisiac cocktail containing money and fame that even Tiger gave in to his sponsor Nike's motto a tad too seriously, only to perform, as reports suggest, above par again and again. Former English football captain John Terry, who lost his arm-band in 720 seconds,....

11 at 36, what's next Lee?

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It's not about numbers. It can't be, for you can't measure a man's stomach for a fight. Least of all a man who goes by the name of Leander Paes. In an interview in 2006, barely a week after a Davis Cup tie, a senior tennis journalist asked him how many body parts weren't complaining. He reportedly answered with a laugh, "only the heart". It's that heart that keeps Leander going at an age where most tennis players retire. At a time when their bodies and their minds cannot take it anymore, Leander continues to amaze the tennis fraternity and fans by pulling off big wins regularly. The Australian Open mixed doubles crown on Sunday was his 11th Grand Slam win in 12 years. This was his fifth mixed doubles Grand Slam title. He's won six men's doubles Grand Slam titles and countless Davis Cup matches. But....

Broken service, broken heart

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Just the other day, a colleague suggested to me to write a piece or rather an epitaph of Sania Mirza's tennis journey. After all, the lass from Hyderabad was all set to quit the game after tying the knot. But Wednesday's development means that piece will have to wait. While the earlier story would have been dotted with episodes of broken services, this one surely is about a broken heart. In fact, even before Mohammad Sohrab and Sania were engaged, there were questions asked whether he could cope with the life of a popular athlete. While changing partners on the court may be a done thing, it's not the easiest to do off the court. You can't put your career on hold if your partner is injured or unable to carry on with you. Some of the best on-court partnerships have wilted under pressures of the ego....