So long Simon

It would be an understatement to say that Taufel was a rock. That he could never stand in test matches that Australia played should rank as one of the foremost ironies of present cricketing laws. In a time when umpires were subject to ridicule and accusations of incompetence if not malaise, he brought a new aura to the profession. The men in the dark coat owe Simon Taufel a great deal for restoring faith in that oft forgotten tenet of "the ump is always right". He always maintained that the key to good umpiring was people skills and that was evident in the way he operated. He was fit to the point of giving a few of the players a run for their IPL money and his decision making could put hawk eye and snicko put together to shame. If there was another example that showed respect is not asked for but earned, I would love to learn of it. He was stern when needed and gave the guys in the middle the leeway that was warranted in the middle of a heated battle. There wasn't a breach reported with him in charge and never a voice of dissent. A voice of reason that that was felt more than it was heard. The world of umpiring would be poorer without you but we would be ever so grateful to you for having set the standard. You have been a delight and may your retirement be as wonderful. You step into a new role of guiding budding umpires to higher levels and for once the ICC couldn't have been more right. God Speed Sir.

The Ryder Cup is back across the Atlantic. After trailing 10-4 at one point, Jose Maria Olazabal's side rallied back to stun the Americans in the best ever come backs in the cup's history. That it happened on American soil would be another feather in this feat. With McIlroy lost for time zones and driven in with 10 minutes to play, there was no dearth of drama at Medinah. Matin Kaymer had the honor of delivering the winning point to the jubilant European team which has now laid its hand on the coveted cup in succession winning it 14.5 - 13.5.

A word for Virat Kohli. He won the Junior World Cup for India and was marked for greater things. It takes great talent and a greater mind to fulfill your destiny. He hasn't done it yet but is well on his way. His scoring ways have shown that he should go on to become the best loved and most feared batsman at the same time and that is saying something. Keep it going lad.

Minnows for sharks

Afghanistan,  Zimbabwe, Ireland and Bangladesh were supposed to make up the numbers. They didn't disappoint on that front. If the idea was to provide the traditional big boys a little bit of match practice, the ICC got the format spot on. However, the initial elimination round of the World T20 felt like a damp squib for the spectators. Both on the tube and the stadium. Sport is a contest enjoyed best when the sparring parties match match up shoulder to shoulder. A David vs Goliath battle does have the possibility of an exhilarating upshot but the odds of that happening warrants that these are seen on the reel rather than real. The ICC probably wants to get as many matches played as possible, marquee or not. Production rights call for as drawn out a schedule as possible. The guardian of the game presents this to us in the garb of an intention to globalize the game. However, it has no inclination or say in asking the big boards to play these up and coming teams more often. Playing a couple of games against quality opposition doesn't hone skills. It only tugs at the inferiority complex that most of these teams harbor.  Four minnows against eight is too large a ratio for a fairly competitive cricket tournament. Only adds a host of lopsided games that serve no other purpose than filling the executive body's coffers. May be they can restrict the non test playing nations to two. Food for thought but then who wants grub when everybody is swaying in extravagance.

At the BPL, Liverpool suffered a set back at Anfield and are not getting any results to better their position last season. The belief in the squad looks rock bottom and a good signing or two should help. Mancini had a row with the Villa manager and it looks like the fights off the turf are getting more entertaining than the contention on the field. 

The Ryder cup is upon us and in the world of professional golf, this is one occasion where team spirit takes center stage. Europe would be hoping to do an encore riding on McIlroy's sizzling form at the Mdeinah Country Club. To do that on American turf, they would need more than luck and with Woods getting back a semblance of his erstwhile form, the clash of heavy artillery golfers is  widely anticipated. In the hole, I say.

Not about the bike, Lance

Seven Tour de France titles, a battle against cancer and a war against the doping agency, Armstrong surely has strong arms to take them all on. If there was a study in the paradox that human character presents, Lance surely would have been the epitome. He is a hero for cancer survivors over the world. He is the benchmark for physical endurance and mental grit. And then he is a cheater to many for having being accused of foul play. Armstrong refused to fight doping allegations this year and was forfeited all his titles. He maintains that he has never taken performance enhancing drugs and has never been proved to be wrong beyond doubt. His masseuse accused him of disposing syringes for him and giving him a makeup to hide needle marks. There is enough smoke to stoke a fire. The naysayers would not rest their tongues and neither will Armstrong budge from his position. For all that he conquered along side adversity and for all that he fought, Lance will remain on a high pedestal for many. He will also be mired in controversy for all the allegations that he fought and fought not in equal measure. A champion or mountebank....the pick is again yours.

The BPL kicked off with the usual suspects in limelight. The gunners and the red devils both had rousing victories while the defending champions and Chelsea were held for a draw. Mancini snatched the title form the jaws of disaster last year and for all his extravagant spending, it will take a little more luck to do an encore. Sir Alex is in the twilight of his extraordinary coaching career and would like to finish on a high. Scholes and Giggs would be saying good bye sooner than later and i wouldn't be surprised if this year is the last hurray for many a warriors.

PV Sindhu did what nobody could at the Olympics. Her victory over Xuerui certainly has thrown the limelight squarely on her. Its in her hands and racquet to prove that this was not a flash in the pan and go on to emulate her more illustrious compatriot. Do I see two baddy medals for India at Rio...not wishful thinking that.

Game changers

While the world goes gaga for the fifth version of the iPhone, let's look at some proposals in a few games that are set to change the way they are played and viewed. Spectator interest has become paramount in these days of obscene production rights and players certainly take back stage while redesigning the laws of sport. A small price to pay for the big pie they partake in the television stakes cake I guess.

Starting with tennis, the time violation rules for the server have been altered to call a fault instead of a point loss for a second infringement. This should certainly embolden the umpires to enforce the law and make the delay between points shorter. With so many matches going past the four hour mark, this should certainly help in reducing the number of yawns on tennis courts. 

Also in line is the suggestion to consider a net cord on the serve that lands in, a valid serve. Though this would be enforced only for challengers for now, I wouldn't be surprised to see it in the slams in a year. Time for the pros to start practicing let serves I guess.

Goal line technology has been a hot topic of debate in the soccer fraternity. With tennis adopting the hawk eye with such alacrity, there are calls for use of more technology on the football pitch. Sepp argues that soccer is a much more fluid sport than tennis and this would only slow down the pace of the game. But with scoring a goal becoming a rarer commodity by the day, disallowing one just because the linesman did not spot it wouldn't cut ice for long. 

Hockey has been a sport that has embraced changes at a breath taking pace. While doing away with the offside rule sparked a goal rush, the job of the defenders is set to become more difficult with a touch inside the D that lands inside the goal considered valid. You would now see the rampant forwards try to force goals some way away from the D using the attempted interceptions from defenders as a tool. Not bad for  me to watch on the tube I say.

 Cricket has already adopted two white balls at either end for one day games and a change in the period where power plays may be taken. Helps the bowlers a bit in the otherwise lopsided sport favoring the batters.  No runners for batsmen should be applauded as a move in the right direction to stop every little niggle becoming a reason for letting someone else do the running for you. Only if the five day version could be fine tuned a bit to entice more eye balls.

Bye bye Fred

Perry stood a long time. 76 years to be exact. Murray now has his name etched in British history to be the latest British grand slam winner in tennis. The signs were there for all to see. He took a set off Roger at SW19 and then went one better at the Olympics final to land the gold. With Rafa out of the way and Federer falling at the quarters, the only impediment to history being created was Nole. They slugged it out against each other and against the elements in equal measure. The gust only seemed to accentuate the test of finesse and stamina that took place at the Flushing Meadows. Only 5 sets could split them and Andy made sure he didn't have to suffer another heart break after being two sets to nil up. We have had the top four seeds win one slam each this year and the flood gates might as well open for Murray with this win. Novak and Andy have the best two handed back hands in tennis and its difficult to get better of them from the baseline. May be a more serene setting would have favored the number one seed. After winning 3 slams last year, he has to be satisfied with just one this year. Such is the quality of men's tennis these days, that one wouldn't bet against a Berdych or Tsonga landing a slam next year. I would not hazard a guess as to how long would Roger be on the scene. Rafa's knees seem to be troubling him again and he perhaps wouldn't have as long a career as Federer has had. Would be interesting to see who takes these two slots in the coming year or two. The usual pretenders or a new kid on the block.

Serena held her nerve to get the better of Victoria for the women's crown. Her mental strength puts her at such a vantage point that her rivals surrender more often to her grit than her shots. With Venus on the wane, she continues to be a dominant force on the women's side. The faster surfaces suit her high octane serves and forehands and there may still be a few slams left in her. The women's game cannot be more different than the men's right now. With Serena not playing most tournaments, Sharapova, Azarenka, Radwanska, Kvitova, Stosur and a host of others are always in the mix to contend for glory. Adds a bit of unpredictability to the game. Good or bad..take your pick.

Grandpa Inc.

That's what one would call the current Indian senior cricket team. With the great grand daddy considering a bigger number of ads than his run aggregate a metric for performance, one slot in the team is not going to open up for posterity. Doesn't the shattering of timber three times in a row against a pedestrian attack on home feather beds make enough noise for the man? I guess not. He would carry on as if he just obliged the Kiwis with some pleasurable moments. The elephant in the dressing room refuses to go away and Unmukt Chand for all his grit and success will need to wait till someone breaks a leg and a hand to go away. Such a shame. If Laxman was asked to walk away in the fashion that he was, I wonder what is stopping the skipper and the chairman of the selectors from doing an encore with the much hyped little man. Maybe his new found political stature inspires awe amongst them. After all our politicians do get away with under performance in the garb of trying the best. He must believe he is the best batsmen in the world and hope to better the great Grace's mark in remaining on the scene till the beard grows white and long. A most pathetic display of adhesive characteristics I would say. Lets just say the tennis elbow saves us from worse sights but I won't bet for it.

At Flushing Meadows, two high profile retirements have taken center stage. We wouldn't be seeing Kim and Andy Roddick next year and that surely would leave a void. Both have been exemplary as ambassadors for the sport, one being a bit less successful than the other. It's here that Roddick won his only slam before hitting the Roger wall in three Wimbledon finals. Its a testimony for the USTA who have since failed to produce another grand slam champion, the WIlliams sisters certainly not its proteges. Clijsters has three titles here and would be glad to have walked into the sunset at these courts. The top seeds have made serene progress to the second week with Tsonga being the major casualty. Its gearing up to be another good finale to the grand slam season and Murray would surely believe his time has come with Rafa out with sore knees and a fantastic win over Federer at the Olympics. Waiting to see if he fulfills his destiny at the Arthur Ashe stadium.