This week did not start too well. On Sunday, a weak Indian cricket team lost to a better Pakistani team at the ICC Cricket Championships in England. The same afternoon, the Bronx Bombers lived up to their name and destroyed Pedro Martinez and an apparent bid by the Red Sox for the AL-East division title. In the process the Sox were reminded of how frail their pitching was against a good offense and how quickly the much touted Red Sox defense could fail with some disciplined pitching. If anything it taught the RedSox that they still had a long way to go before they could think about winning the American League title leave alone the World Series.
The baseball season is heading towards an exciting phase with some division titles and both the AL and NL wild card positions still up for grabs. While the NL wildcard race seems to be a three-way race between the Cubs, Giants and the Astros, the AL wild card is still a possibility for the Texas Rangers and the Angels although the Red Sox are close to clinching it. The Pennant Races are on!
Indians in America tend to compare baseball with cricket and the former almost always pales in comparison. While I had the same problems initially, one thing that has helped me enjoy baseball is the wide array of teams and the possibility of a new champion every year. Cricket in recent years has come to be dominated almost completely by the Aussies. While there has been the occasional challenger in South Africa or India, there never has been the thrill of seeing a new challenger and a new victor on a regular basis. In this regard, baseball has a distinct edge that makes the season all the more enjoyable. Last year's champion, the Florida Marlins are struggling for a place this post-season. The 2002 champions, Arizona Diamondbacks are the last in their league. This year there is going to be a new champion and while the Cardinals and Yankees have shown that they have got what is required to win the World Series, they have also demonstrated that they have chinks in their armor. As a cricket fan, I have been fortunate enough to be able to make a temporary transition to baseball ( nothing still compares to a vintage India-Pakistan duel with Sachin blasting the bowlers all over the park) . Afterall without sports, life is dull indeed.
4 comments:
Good point there. New champs every year...
Although I have nothing to contend, I could add this based on the current series. India is the team that I root for, no matter what. But I had always wanted Pak to be STRONG as ever. Think u felt good when we thrashed them in their own soil? Nah! We need the Javed-kind to get our boys go for their blood! U are right when u said Aussies are getting to feel lonely at the top. And so in that sense, England's terrific victory today comes as a blessing. And that after 5 and half yrs. Add to that a dash of Windies color (semi-finalists already)!
My point is, if today's scenario continues through we should expect baseball-like competition.
Good off-beat post dude!
Pradeep
Thanks for the comment. I have and will always continue to be a hardcore India fan in cricket. Much as I hate the state of affairs currently, my passion for Indian cricket is unsurpassed by my love for any other sport. That said, the ICC championships has definitely provided some drama in an otherwise dreary Aussie-dominated game. Hopefully India will join the fray soon and we can have some good circket action. The past World Cup was really great to that effect with India performing so well. Here's to a good season of cricket. Maybe as early as the SA and Aussie series.
good to see this comment section back again. you are right ranga, the more champions, the better it is for the game. I only got bored by watching the aussies win always. and as pradeep said, india-pak matches were thrilling when javed and imran were playing, those cold-blooded stares, and bad blood .... thats what a rivalry is. not when people hug and kiss :)
Saran
Thanks for the comment. As you rightly noted, we have this sadistic side to us wanting rivalries to go beyond the game to increase the excitement levels. All major sport rivalries go beyond the game and hence give that extra edge to all the fans(or should I say fanatics).
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