I HATE PSEUDO FOOTBALL FANS!!!

 

 Of late I have realized that the number of apparent football fans has increased exponentially, especially when it comes to club football. For some reason it is the in thing among the "wannabe" crowd and they actually believe it’s cool.  I am one for the concept of spreading the sport I love it and the joy that comes from it but I cannot stand the fact that people think this is a first class ticket to being cool. 

 

The thing that put's me off the most is every one of these new age football fans are Manchester United fans not because of the club or the way their style or brand of football but because they know 3 or 4 names from that team and also because a knock off or " fake " Man U jersey is very easy to find. Ask them who plays for Man U and you will get 3 names ronaldo, rooney and may be a Giggs and then the awkward silence .... Hmmm. Then there are those who say they support the team because of its color ... what???  yes it happens. 

 

Then it gets worse these apparent lovers of sport will debate with an ardent & true sports fan about the game. Honestly I know no one is born with knowledge of the history of sports, everyone learns as they go along. But if you choose to feign your love for sports that is downright disgusting and sad. So all pseudo sports lovers, wear jersey's of teams you know nothing about or shoot of the first 2 lines about the club that you read on Wikipedia and revel in the fact that in apparently makes you “cool ". But the truth is you are missing out on the real pleasure of enjoying the beautiful game and I feel sorry for you.

 

P.S I wear fake jerseys too because I cannot afford the price that comes with the originals... but I atleast know the name on the front and the back.

 

The American Road Trip: Texas to California in a Nissan Maxima

In matter of 15 days my friends I traveled nearly 5000 miles (8000 KM). Considering that the length of India is about 3000 Km, I would say that is a lot of travelling. I am generally a person very averse to long journeys and to say I was very skeptical at the start of this titanic journey from one corner of Texas to California would a major understatement. Now here comes the real "punch " of this journey, nearly all the driving was done by one guy Anil Chunchu.... let’s say about 4000 miles. 

 

I have never seen so many cities in my life; I got to see Austin, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Jose, Las Vegas, Tempe Los Angeles and many more small towns.  I do not think I have seen so many cities in my 22 years of living in India. something I regret now. 

 

Here a few pointers that I took from this journey

 

The state of Texas is massive, they have a different speed limit for night and day (65 & 80) and they are very particular about you keeping within them, beause one does not "mess with Texas". P.S all cop cars need not be painted black& white, they could be driving a red ford mustang  so think twice before you go above the limit in Texas. 

 

The next state you come in to is New Mexico, hmm what do I say about this one... let me just put it this way if you sleep through this you will not miss much. My advice is sleep because you might just go crazy looking at repetitive scenery of miles and miles nothing. 

 

Then you enter the state of Arizona this state this is filled with cactus plants that are huge.... and cop cars hide behind bushes and shrubs just like the show you in the movies. In Arizona we stayed over at friends place ... in the city of Tempe the town where you ASU (Arizona State University) but as I was later informed the university is also referred to as Andhra State University due to the exponential number of students from Andhra . Plus you get some good Indian food in this town.

 Then finally we reached California, we went to LA ... the home of Hollywood .we saw Rodeo drive... the Hollywood sign, the promenade and then in true hyderabadi fashion said that is enough site seeing for this trip.  We did visit the movie theatre called the Grove, It made feel as if I were in some sort of a palace. P.S I saw the telugu movie “king", please don’t watch it. It will scar you for life. Other things of importance nobody follows the speed laws in LA trafiic moves at 80 mph at minimum. You can get mugged anywhere and my friend's roomie got mugged right outside his own house when we were there. 

We moved on to San Jose from here taking the pacific coast high way must say, even for some like me who is not much in to nature.... the sunset ... blah blah ... it was a jaw dropping experience but be warned it is a very very long drive ( 10 hrs) and San Jose made feel as if I were India by the number of Indians we seem to be running in to.

 

San Francisco is an amazing city, it has very European feel to it was the common consensus but considering that I have not been to Europe .My judgement is based on the number of Europeans we saw and numerous roadside cafes. But San Francisco is all about the inclined roads these are at near 60 degree angles you will not realize how steep it is till you get to the top of it. If you ever want to punish someone give him a bicycle and ask him to move around San Francisco. Oh yeah the golden gate bridge is worth a watch. 

 

Now Las Vegas, a city literally in the middle of nowhere. Glitz, glamour and people losing money is what this city is all about. I spent new year’s eve on the streets on Las Vegas, my experience included getting stuck in a wild crowd of drunk people who could decide which way to go forward or backward. Not a very tough choice but for some reason hundreds of people seem to not be able to make up their mind and were very happy just falling on to each other and relieving themselves among hundreds of people. Basically if you are claustrophobic make sure you are not on the streets of Vegas and if you are not very rich make sure you not at a casino table for too long and do not drive at 104 MPH in a 70 mph zone. My advice make sure you know when stop whatever your doing in Vegas.  

Most importantly without  a GPS it very very tough to move around in the US especially if you are not familiar with the routes, It is not like India where you roll down your window ask your friendly panwallah the directions. 

 

ARE WE RACIST???

The word racist is defined as "prejudice or discrimination based on the belief that race is the primary factor determining human traits and abilities. Racism includes the belief that genetic or inherited differences produce the inherent superiority or inferiority of one race over another ". Now ask any Indian you know the question, are a racist???And you will get a resounding no!! With some supporting adjectives such as “obviously not”, "are you mad" and so on.

I have till recently felt the same. In my mind racism was something to be associated with the color of skin. Demeaning people based on their color was mostly what was engraved in my mind. Thus I was very assured that this does not exist in India. Especially now considering, you can change your color using some cosmetic products. Basically it felt in India being fair was desirable but dark was also acceptable and that was about it.

But then when I thought about things like untouchability, caste system and regionalism I was not so sure any more. And then reading the headlines of papers these days where one can see politicians such as Raj Thackery and Modi make statements that openly lay siege to the very fabric of secular India. One cannot be at fault for wondering if it were true?? In case of the politicians what scares me is the fact that, such people are endorsed by our society due to a sense of misplaced communal pride.

I have experienced this communal divide first hand, during my first year in college I was ragged but I came in for special treatment from my seniors for the fact that my friend circle consisted of people who were not telugu speaking people. Absurd would you not agree?? Here comes the best part in my college which has students from all over the country, ragging was strictly community based that a telugu would rag a telugu , a mallu to a mallu and so on….

I am not free of such a charge either, I seem to harbor a sense dislike for certain communities too… which is wrong I know but it seems to have been inbred in to me. I am now in College Station, Texas. Sadly enough even here we seem to find ways to distinguish between ourselves. For example in the local cricket league here teams are named “Made in Andhra”, “Tamil Twisters” and so on…. Unfortunately I must confess in this season I played in the “Made in Andhra”. No disrespect to my teammates all fine people, I have decided not be a part of such communal symbolism in the future if it even means me not playing cricket.

We are biased in more ways than we accept but hey nobody’s perfect right. May be we are not at racism as such but we are not far from it either… The days of caste system may or may not be upon us anymore but I am sure communal sentiments and extreme feelings about religion are things we can do without. It definitely good to be proud of who you are and your culture but so as long as it not at the expense of the other. We have enough reasons to fight among ourselves … we do not need another.

HISTORY BEING MADE:

On the 4th of November 2008 Barack Obama became the 44th president elect of the United States of America. For many people in the USA of it was day they had been waiting for from time immemorial. People rejoiced in the streets with celebrations, the likes of which one had never seen before. The tears flowed from the eyes of one and all irrespective of the background. The walls of old had been torn down. And yes!! Then there was the victory speech that gave even the most uninterested person a Goosebumps or two...

At the risk of sounding very dead.... I would say was this not expected?? Ok i Guess there is a lot of difference between expecting and happening. But still why were there people in Italy, France, India and other corners of the world celebrating?? It was not like they had got a new president right?? Not like their lives were going to undergo a drastic change. Basically you get the picture.

May be just may be for those few hours.. The people of the world forgot about differences brought about by flags and history. It was like the world had united for one cause, to weed out the division of race. It did not mean that from that moment on we would not have racism anywhere in the world. It just said we can change one small step at a time in the right direction. Was he the right choice for office? Is he the one that will steer America through its toughest times in nearly a century...? Only time will tell. But for now let us rejoice in the fact that all challenges that face human nature and our deepest darkest evils can be overcome.

I was fortunate enough to hear Obama's victory speech live (thank you BBC) and at every single moment of that speech I felt history was being made. I have not been a witness to much history being made in my time and what I have been witness to has only been the worst that can be brought out in man. From assassination of the prime minister of my country, to riots that have shook the very fundamental principles of my nation, the birth and rise of terrorism. I have also seen good but it has always been overshadowed by the bad and the ugly. But that speech and what had transpired before it has proven to me things can change and will change but everything needs time and effort.





So maybe I am... Sorry let me correct that... I know am not wrong in thinking of India's moment of change is coming too. Hope is very integral to our cause and we should never lose sight of it.

P.S if you have not watched the speech I suggest you watch it!!!