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.