I remember that day, very clearly, when my brother and I were watching 1979 World Cup semifinals and final highlights. I think that was 1996 summer. I didn't know much about cricket back then except for the fact that I loved the game more than my acads! This black fellow, chewing the gum, is hitting the ball all around the park much to the amusement of us. I always felt that he wanted to crush the bowlers under his teeth, like he did to chewing gum in his mouth. The fear-less attitude struck instant chord with both of us. And, we started adoring and admiring him. Whenever I play cricket I still try to bat, bowl and field like he did in that WC edition. Oh my God, what a player he is. His presence in the ground is electrifying and stimulating enough for the other players! He is THE King of Cricket! He is Sir Vivian Alexander Richards.
How can the Windies repay for what he has done for them! Hailing from the little island, Antigua, he rose to unattainable heights and went on to become inspiration for new era heroes like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Charles Lara. So, what did WI do to him during this edition of world cup, when WI are hosting the WC for the first time and that too at that point of time when something serious must be done to raise the interests in WI population who are swiftly moving towards soccer and NBA. Do you know what they did to Viv? They didn't invite Sir Viv Richards to the inaug ceremony. Oh my God... Oh my God... please teach Windies how they should treat people who have evolved to become bigger than the Game itself! Whoever is responsible for this mistake(?) should resign their post with immediate effect and show some respect to that cricketing Gaint! Whatever you do to him, he is still THE King of Cricket! My KING of Cricket!
click here to read Dileep Premachandran's story about this!
No comments:
Post a Comment