The opinions expressed in my blogs are purely mine alone.
I am sure by now everyone has heard about the sport called Pickleball, that has taken USA by storm since the pandemic. Public courts across the nation has sprouted out of no where and while it has drawn many players to the sport, not many in the tennis world have embraced the sport. Before I get into the nuances of the sport and the controversy surrounding it, the history of how this sport came into existence is quite interesting. According to USA Pickleball , the sport was founded in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington. They later named it “Pickle Ball”— a reference to the thrown-together leftover non-starters in the “pickle boat” of crew races. As the sport started to gain momentum, a controversy ensued when a few neighbors said they were there when Joan named the game after the family dog, Pickles. Joan and the Pritchard family have held fast for decades that the dog came along a few years later and was named after the game. Either way the sport was here to stay. The sport did not achieve glory status until recently where it has created a "divide" between die-hard tennis aficionado's and ardent pickleball players.
The first time I saw pickleball being played was in tennis facility when the sound of a plastic ball was reverberating on the adjacent court where I was playing a tennis match. In all honesty, I thought that was the most annoying sound anyone could hear. Over the years I seriously did not pay much attention to pickleball and professed a disdain to the sport. But everything changed in 2021 during our annual trip to Hilton Head. One of the tennis players on our USTA tennis team and an avid pickleball player, Josh, introduced a few of us to the sport. Transitioning from a tennis to pickleball came naturally to most of us. The court was much smaller and scoring was quite different from tennis. But as we started to learn the sport, it quickly became obvious that this was a sport we would easily incorporate into our daily lives. We learnt new phrases like the kitchen, dinking and 3rd shot drop, which, our good friend Josh made sure we learnt it the right way. Once we got back to Connecticut, we were bitten by the Pickleball bug . Good news is that even in the winter, there are a few indoor tennis courts that are transformed to pickleball courts. For me, the change from disdain to acceptance came rather quickly. Not sure if I can say the same about some diehard tennis players and tennis club owners. I never thought I would say this, but I have turned into an evangelist for the sport and have brought lot of my friends/family (who are not athletic by nature) to the sport. As an avid tennis player myself, I have embraced the sport not only due to its simplicity, but also the health benefits one can reap by playing the sport.
The simplicity of sport has attracted many players to the sport . It has quickly achieved success due to the fun and friendly atmosphere, and, adding a social aspect to it has garnered a fervent following to the sport. The rules are very simple (despite the scoring system) and game is very easy for beginners to learn. As one gets to the advanced stages, the game develops into a fast-paced and competitive sport. The cross-over for a tennis player is much easier, however, mastering the sport at the highest level does require anyone to put in the necessary practice.
Don't be in a pickle. Pick up this sport as you will enjoy it for rest of your lives.
In January of 2021, I wrote a blog regarding my absolute admiration of one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Roger Federer. On Thursday, September 15, Mr. Roger Federer announced that he was retiring from professional tennis in a lengthy post on his social media accounts . "As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries," Federer said. "I've worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body's capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. For me and many of his ardent fans around the around, the news came as a shock that the GOAT was calling it quits. Part of me was hoping for a grand climax with him holding on to one of the Grand Slam trophies. But that day will never come and the last time anyone would watch him on the court will be during the upcoming Laver Cup in London later this month. It is indeed a sad day for many tennis fans who have watched him carry on with class on and off the court for two decades. His artistry and magic on the court will never be matched and he made the sport look so simple with his incredible serves, exquisite shot-making and above all his respect for the opponent on other side of the court.
Millions of young players and tour players alike have tried to model their game after Federer, but no one has been able to match the wizardry on the court like him. He last one a Grand Slam in 2018 when he prevailed over Marin Cilic in straight sets in Australian Open but his win in 2017 Australian Open against Nadal after coming back from an injury was a sight to see. That would be the last year when he won multiple majors. Federer has also lost 11 majors, some in heartbreaking fashion against two other giants in the sport, Nadal (6) and Djokovic(4). The Wimbledon loss in 2019 against Djokovic with Federer holding on to two match points will go down as one of the toughest losses in his career. That was the last time anyone saw him on a grand stage in a major. To this day, as a fan for me, that would go down as a gut-wrenching moment watching him lose.
The tennis world has been fortunate to witness the dominance by these three players with each pushing each other to achieve the summit of the sport. We will never see anything like this in the coming years. Many a player have been denied a chance to win multiple majors or even one major thanks to the 63 majors between the Big 3.
Tennis world has been fortunate to witness Federer over the past 20 years and I am sure he will be around the sport that he cares so much about. Federer has always thought that the game was always bigger than the player. Many a time I have seen the Australian great Rod Laver in the stands for many of Federer's wins and losses. Laver was one of the players who Federer looked up to as a young tennis player. The tennis world would have loved to see Federer hoist a trophy at a grand slam and walking away into the sunset. But it is fitting that Federer choose to retire at the Laver Cup to pay homage to one of the greats. The GOAT Roger Federer will be missed but he will be remembered as a player who endeared himself to fans all around the world like no other. Thank You Roger for those amazing memories and looking forward to the next chapter in his life.
Over the past few years streaming wars in the United States have taken over many a living room . Every major company has thrown their hat in the ring to garner market share. India is no different. While major players like Netflix, Disney Hotstar and Amazon Prime have established a strong foothold in the country others like Sony and Jio have added more competition and provided more choices to the Indian public. Streaming is here to stay but 35-40 years ago when I was growing up in India, radio was the predominant form of entertainment. Color Television made its entry into major metropolitan cities in early 1980s but for the rest of the country, radio continued to be the sole source of entertainment for majority of the Indian populace. For me, radio provided a great distraction and comfort after school work every night. My parents have told me how I have gone to sleep as early as 3 years old listening to old Hindi songs. To his day those songs continue to resonate with me. The era was aptly named the Golden era of Hindi songs as they had a magical impact on me as well as millions of listeners. The lyrics were soothing (Although as a kid I did not understand them ), the music was uplifting and the singing was inspirational . While anyone could tune to any radio station to listen to these gems, one show captivated the nation like no other. Every Wednesday, at 8 PM sharp music lovers across the nation huddled together as families to listen to a radio show , Binaca Geetmala, that aired on Radio Ceylon hosted by the legendary Ameen Sayani. He always opened with "Behno aur Bhaiyo" (meaning sisters and brothers) in his own inimitable style. You might be wondering why this show aired on Radio Ceylon and not on All India Radio. When India gained its Independence from the British, the then Information & Broadcasting Minister Mr B.V. Keskar, decided that the government-controlled All India Radio would not air any movie songs. Across the pond, Radio Ceylon rose to the occasion and created the music countdown show- Binaca Geetmala - thereby preserving the rich music of Hindi. The draconian policies of one individual wasn't able to stifle the music that continues to bring joy and solace even to this day. Politics aside, I knew where I had to be at 8 PM on a Wednesday night. We would gather as a family to listen to the countdown of songs. We even maintained a list of which songs climbed the charts or fell through the rankings. The lyrics were so magical that we used to sing along to them. To this day I vividly remember the interludes, the artists who rendered those magical voices, the music directors who belted out those unforgettable tunes and above all the golden voice narration by one and only one Padmashri Ameen Sayani Saab. The great Lata Ji who recently passed away, had 19 songs that topped the charts. Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore were others who had many hits that finished at the top. After a 40 year stint on Radio Ceylon, the program finally moved to All India Radio under the flag ship music service Vividh Bharathi, which has taken over the mantle from Radio Ceylon. Ameen Saab's mesmerizing voice was one of the reasons this lasted 46 years. He enthralled the audience with his unique storytelling about the song and the lyrics and that one hour every Wednesday made everyone forget about their daily troubles and enjoy the beauty that was Hindi film music. Today we can launch any streaming audio services to listen to those gems from the past, but the eager anticipation of Binaca Geetmala every Wednesday at 8 PM brings back nostalgic memories of years gone by.
It has been almost a month since the Winter Olympics ended and the Summer Olympics is still more than 2 years away. I was about 12 years old when I really was enamored by the Olympics. Ever since then I have looked forward to the Olympics every 4 years with eager anticipation. But this blog isn’t about the Olympics, but rather the home-style Olympics that was created by our close family group that included myself, my brother and two of our cousins. We were all close in age (all boys) and we would meet every weekend at either of our houses .
The Olympics were always happening on the other side of the world, but we came up with our version of the Olympics. We had an empty lot next to our house and that served as the main stage for all events such as Track and Field, Boxing and Golf. The meticulous planning that preceded the start of the Olympics is something I would never forget. My eldest cousin’s planning would rival even the real Olympic committees that put together the main events. No stone would be left unturned in the build-up to the main events. We would scour every nook and corner to procure the golden and silver colored aluminum foils that you could find in a cigarette pack lying on the streets. Why, you may ask? Being the eldest in the group, my eldest cousin would precisely cut cardboard boxes in shapes of small circles and attach the foils for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. He would go to the nth degree in creating certificates for our events. As the holidays came around closer our excitement grew. The events were equally split between the two houses with Track and field events held at the lot next door, while the venues for boxing and golf were at our cousins’ house. Events included 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 1500 m, shot put (a large stone), Javelin to name a few. It was competitive and we all never wanted to lose. Events would be spread across weekends and results were captured in great detail. Medal were awarded after the event and no controversies ensued during the events. But the joy of competing in “Olympics” was unlike any other. All of us played sports for our respective schools, but the satisfaction of just being with each other was a memory that I cherish to this day. I do not even remember who won or who lost, but what I took away was the bond that we established that lasts to this day and how we all embodied the “Olympic” Spirit.
The new Hindi movie "83" released recently chronicled the story of the underdog Indian cricket team that shocked the cricketing world when they defeated the mighty West Indies team on June 25, 1983. The movie did justice to the journey taken by the Indian cricket team, led by the legendary Kapil Dev. For me, a 15-year old teenager at that time, it was indeed a surreal experience. I remember when the World Cup started my friends and I assumed like so many others that West Indies would be a 3-peat champion. Even the passionate Indian cricket fan didn't fancy India's chances considering the past dismal performances of the team in previous World Cups. India's lone win in the tournament came off a win in 1975 against East Africa, a country that doesn't even exist anymore. India lost all the three matches in the 1979 edition of the cup. The ceiling was set so low that the average Indian fan thought India's chances at the Prudential World Cup 83 were quite bleak. India was slotted in Group B with the two-time juggernaut West Indies, powerhouse Australia and Zimbabwe. Talk about starting on the wrong foot. The Indian team lost to Minor counties by 19 runs in an embarrassing fashion. There was no telecast of that match, thankfully and any hope of a decent performance waned away.
In their first Group B match against the mighty West Indies, India shocked the West Indian team by 34 runs after a nearly miraculous comeback by the Windies tailenders. The late Yashpal Sharma scored a brilliant 89 when India batted first and Roger Binny/Ravi Shastri chipped in with 3 scalps each. This was the first loss for the West Indian team in the World Cup. The loss to the Minor counties team now seemed like a distant memory. India followed up this shocker with an easy victory against Zimbabwe and now were on top of the group. The cricket crazy nation now paid attention to the exploits of the Indian cricket team, so did my friends and I. In 1983, radio was still the channel through which one heard the cricket commentary. Only the major metros had access to television to watch these matches. The next two matches showed why Indian team were still the minnows as they fell to Australia and then to the West Indies, who got their much needed revenge.
With two matches to go, India needed to win both in order to qualify for the semifinals. First India faced Zimbabwe and in early going things looked bleak for India when they were 9/4 . In walked Kapil Dev and within a flash the score read 17/5. The top 5 batsmen score read like a zip code 00519. The "Haryana Hurricane" as Kapil was called started to build his innings with the able assistance of lower order players like Binny and Madan Lal. He then went on a rampage and the lion took the charge to the Zimbabwe bowling attack. He shred them to pieces with some of the greatest hitting you will ever see in a match. He blasted 16 fours and 6 sixers on his way to a record-breaking 175 not out. For the 9th wicket partnership of 126 runs Kirmani contributed a mere 24, but stood like a rock for his captain. What was unfortunate was that game was never televised. India went on to win the match by 31 runs but Kapil singlehandedly pulled India out of doldrums to notch a critical victory from jaws of defeat and possibly an ignonimous exit from the World Cup. Madan Lal and Binny also contributed with the ball, but the foundation for the greatest comeback in a World Cup was set in stone by one of the greatest allrounders this game has ever produced. Listening to this match on radio was a roller coaster ride for all of the fervent supporters of the team. Wisden Sports called it "a remarkable match [which] contained one of the most spectacular innings played in this form of cricket.
With confidence of their side the Indian team demolished Australia by 118 runs thanks to brilliant bowling performances by Madan Lal and Roger Binny and advanced to the semi-finals. The improbable and dream run by the Indian team certainly awoke the casual fan and now then entire nation was paying attention. My friends and I were ecstatic and I remember how we mimicked our players' actions on the field during our cricketing sessions. India was set to play the hosts England team and media was already predicting a clash between the West Indies and England. For them, the magical run by India was a great story but still a fluke. England had a rousing start and it seemed like they were going to cruise to an easy victory but the Indian team fought back valiantly and limited England to 213 runs, thanks to some amazing restrictive bowling by Kapil, Mohinder Amarnath and Binny. India had a decent start by openers Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth but they went out quickly in succession and the game swung in England's direction. But the incredible batting by in-form batsman Yashpal Sharma, Amarnath and Patil put India back on the winning track. With scores tied, England employed an unorthodox fielding with all players on one side of the pitch to escape the crowd invasion. (In those days crowds used to frequently invade the field, but these days due to security reasons they are a thing of the past). West Indies easily dispatched Pakistan, setting up a clash of the first match at the historic Lords venue- the home of cricket.
Cricketing pundits around the globe predicted a 3-peat for the West Indies and the coronation was all but confirmed on various media outlets. If you had polled people on who would win the match, I would bet almost 98 % would have picked the West Indies to win hands down. Kris Srikkanth put up a valiant resistance against the fearsome foursome pace attack blasting 7 fours and 1 six on his way to 38 . That would be the highest score by a batsman in that match. West Indies managed to bundle out India to a paltry 183 and needed 60 overs (in the world cup it used to be 60 overs) for them to be crowned as champions. A brilliant ball by Balwinder Singh Sandhu castled Gordon Greenidge's wicket. To this day that remains one of the greatest balls ever bowled in a World Cup. In walked Viv Richards and like the previous game he thrashed Indian bowlers all over the ground. It seemed like this match will be over very soon. But Madan Lal convinced his captain to bowl one more over and that would be the turning point in the match. Viv pulled a short ball from Madan Lal and Kapil ran towards the boundary for almost 30 yards , waved off Yashpal Sharma and pulled off a miraculous catch over his shoulders to end Viv's innings. The West Indies team then collapsed like cards after that when Amarnath and Madan Lal used the conditions admirably to end any comeback. When Amarnath trapped Holding LBW with the West Indies score at 140, India had created history by defeating the West Indies. To this date that remains the lowest total ever defended in a World Cup. The dream of one man- Kapil Dev- had become a reality. David had defeated the Goliath in an improbable fashion and Indians were out on the streets celebrating their team's victory. This win changed the course of Indian cricket and today they are a powerhouse cricketing nation and have since won many tournaments. I, for one, remember that day as it was yesterday and celebrating with my parents and siblings was something I would cherish for rest of my life. Kapil finished in the top 6 run-getters and recorded the highest number of catches including the one that won the World Cup, while Yashpal Sharma and Amarnath made significant contributions with the bat. Binny and Madan Lal were top two wicket takers, while Syed Kirmani finished second in dismissals by a wicketkeeper. It was indeed a great show of grit and determination by the team that refused to lose. Thank You Kapil Dev and the band of brothers - Kapil "Dev"ils.
The 83 movie that I watched with my family brought back memories. Barring a few creative scenes, the movie captured the purity of those incredible moments in vivid detail and stayed so true to the real events. The movie indeed took me down the memory lane.
Sports has been a staple in the American way of life. On a given day there is a professional sporting event that is always on television. Sports have an unique way of capturing the emotions for fans across the globe. In many cases it borders on craziness as fans live and die with how their teams perform in games. To some sports is religion and losses by their favorite teams still hurt after many years or in some cases they may never get over the loss. Fans wallow in their feelings when their teams fall short in their quest for a championship and they yearn for that one glory moment that they can cherish for rest of their lives. For players, they operate in a mantra of "its just a game", but don't tell that to the average fan. A common phrase one heard from lot of fans when the Boston Red Sox broke the "Curse of the Bambino" was they can now "die in peace" since their years of frustration came to an end when Sox won the World Series after 86 years.
I moved to this country in 1993 and while I had some inkling for the game of baseball, I was enthralled when Joe Carter slammed a walk-off homer for the Blue Jays against Phillies Wild-Thing Mitch Williams in the 1993 World Series. Fans in Toronto were on cloud nine after their team clinched a back-to-back world series trophies, while a deep gloom descended on the city of Philadelphia after their comeback in the game 6 was erased with one swing of the bat. I was at UCONN where I was watching the game at a friends' dorm room with no rooting interest in either of the teams, but I was intrigued to learn more about the game and its history. In the previous blog I described my welcome in Beantown so it was no surprise when I picked the Red Sox as my favorite team. The Yankees were the hottest team in the 1990s and the Red Sox always fell short. The Sox losing streak kept piling up and while I was aware that they hadn't won anything since 1918, it did not stop me from claiming that they would win each year. I lost many a dinner bet with friends in the process. As each baseball season unfolded, like every Red Sox fan that lived since 1918 , I was going through the roller-coaster emotions throughout the season and year after year.
The Cleveland Guardians (previously known as the Indians) or the Yankees ended the Sox quest for that elusive World Series trophy. In 1995 and 1998 the Cleveland team destroyed the hopes of the Sox fans, while the evil empire Yankees snuffed out any chances in 1999. From 2000-2002, the Sox played second fiddle to the Yankees in the division and missed the playoffs during those seasons. The cursed franchise had to endure an another winter of discontentment. The Sox became the butt of all jokes with even the Arizona Diamondbacks which was established as an expansion team in 1998 won in 2001. The only saving grace for the Sox fan was the triumph of the Arizona team over the Yankees.
The 2003 season would be the 103rd season for the storied franchise. This season seemed different from the start with signing of probably one of the greatest clutch hitter in baseball, David Ortiz. The Sox were an offensive juggernaut. They led the majors in nearly all offensive categories, including runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and most impressively, a .491 slugging percentage. They were clicking on all cylinders and with pitchers like Pedro Martinez, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and the consistent Derek Lowe, they were primed for a historic season. But the Yankees were still the game in town and the Sox finished 6 games behind them. The playoffs started with the Sox down 0-2 in the series against Oakland. But they bounced back at home with back-to-back dramatic wins. Talk about a mixed bag of emotions for the fans. The Sox had momentum on their side and despite a late charge by the home team, they prevailed over the Athletics 4-3 to set up a monster clash against the Yankees.
Going into the series, I felt the Sox had the best chance to dethrone the Yankees. The series was even going into Game 7. Every game in the series so far had its own drama with each team able to overcome odds to win the nail-biters. Game 7 was a battle of the two best pitchers in baseball - Roger Clemens vs Pedro Martinez. The Sox seemed well on their way with a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. The decision by Sox manager, Grady Little, to leave Pedro in the game was befuddling. The move boomeranged on the Sox with Yankees managing to tie the game. When Aaron "bleeping" Boone hit a walk off home run in the 11th inning to dash the hopes of the Sox Nation yet again, Sox fans, including me, were numb and speechless and I remember staring into the emptiness of a quiet night bemoaning the loss. It was indeed a gut-wrenching loss for the ages. I vividly remember my neighbor Jack (name withheld for privacy reasons) standing on his porch speechless. That scene played across the New England region extending the suffering that Sox fans had endured since 1918. The only saving grace was that the Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins.
As any new baseball season starts, every fanbase has a renewed hope of optimism for their beloved club. They tend to put the previous year losses in the rearview mirror and eagerly look forward to a new beginning. But when your favorite team hasn't won in 86 years, Sox fans approach the season in a cautiously optimistic fashion. Terry Francona was hired as a manager and Sox made moves to acquire pitcher Curt Shilling and Keith Foukle as a closer. They still had the core group of players in Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez and Jason Varitek. The Sox and Yankees were still the best teams in the league along with the St Louis Cardinals. The division race in the American League(AL) East was a neck-to-neck affair with the Yankees managing to pip the Red Sox to win the division. Both teams won rather easily in the AL division series to set up a rematch of 2003 ALCS. For the Sox, David Ortiz hit a walk off home run to seal the sweep of the Anaheim Angels. I was on cloud nine watching this at the JFK airport on our way to visit India.
The eagerly anticipated battle between the Sox and the Yankees was a treat baseball fans were waiting for. The Yankees continued their dominance of the Sox in the post season by winning the first two games at home. Even though the Sox managed to keep the games close, they were of no match for the Yankees. There was lot of optimism despite being down 0-2 in the series. The Sox actually had a lead 4-3 after the second inning. But then it went from bad to worse. The crowd was watching their team disintegrate the when the final score read Yankees 19 - Sox 8, the fans and the team was staring at an another dreary winter lamenting an another loss to their hated rival. Doom and gloom prevailed across New England. No team in the history of the sport came back from a 0-3 deficit in a series. The Yankees were in the drivers seat while the Sox' fortunes seemed going off the rails. They were again down 3-4 in the ninth to one of the greatest closers of all time Mariano Rivera. Sox managed to tie the game in the 9th inning after a spectacular steal by Dave Roberts. There was some semblance of life but it would take an another 3 more innings before bedlam ensured in Beantown. Who else other than the great David Ortiz delivered a walk-off 2-run blast to keep the Sox's chances alive for one more game. The Yankees again had a 4-2 lead in Game 5 after the 8th Inning. They again got to Rivera and tied the game. This game would go to 14th inning after a lot of drama in the extra innings. When Ortiz came to bat in the 14th inning , the question on everyone's mind was - Can he do it again? Yes he can. Big Papi, as he is affectionately called by his fans, launched a single in the 14 th inning to cut the deficit in series to 3-2. The Sox were alive and had the momentum but they had to go on the road and faced a daunting task, a feat that hasn't been done by many teams at Yankee Stadium. This game will down in go down in Red Sox lore for years to come. Curt Shilling would get the start despite a torn tendon on his right ankle. He would battle for 7 strong innings before he turned it over to the bullpen. "The Bloody Sock" game as it would be called will go down in history of the game as one of the grittiest performances by a pitcher in the playoffs. The Yankees tried to make a comeback but the Sox were firing on all cylinders and managed to take the series to a Game 7. Can the Sox finally break the curse or will the Yankees continue to demonstrate their superiority over their rivals. Game 7 didn't live up to his billing of a nail-biter as the Sox pounded the Yankees for 6 runs in the first two innings thanks to a grand slam by Johnny Damon in the second inning. The Yankees were deflated after that outburst and never recovered in Game 7. The Sox finally managed to erase all the previous horrible defeats that they had suffered against the Yankees with the most memorable comeback in baseball history, a feat that has not been repeated by any team down 0-3 in a series. Beating the Yankees was the first step in the Sox ultimately reversing the "Curse of the Bambino". A season sweep of the St Louis Cardinals on a beautiful October night would ring in the first World series title since 1918. Generations of Red Sox fans had lived for this moment and tears of joy and unbridled emotions swept across the fanbase. The resiliency that this team showed after a devastating loss in previous year was something to be cherished. While the rest of the Sox Nation was celebrating across the Boston and New England streets, I was celebrating quietly in the City of Hyderabad. The sun was shining brightly in the morning sky (it was 9 1/2 hours ahead of the US) and the doom that had prevailed a year ago had given way to the brighter future that lay ahead for the Red Sox. The Sox also won the World Series in 2007, 2013 and 2018. Winning 4 titles in a span of 15 years after not winning a title in 86 years is truly remarkable. A change of fortunes for sure. Interestingly, the Chicago White Sox won after 88 years in 2005 and the perennially cursed Cubs franchise won in 2016 after last winning in 1908. These are the moments fans dream about and yearn for year after year. That is what makes sports a religion.
28 years have passed since I set foot in the United States of America. I came to this country just like many others who came from India to pursue their dream of higher education at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). I remember this day like it was yesterday and I discussed the day's proceedings during a podcast last year. Leaving my parents and my siblings and many family members from India was a tough ordeal. But I was also eager to venture into an unknown country and discover myself.
I took the Swiss Air flight from New Delhi to Boston. After a brief halt at Zurich it was onwards to Boston. As the Swiss Air flight from Zurich was approaching the Logan airport, it seemed to be landing in the water, or so it appeared to be. Passing over smaller islands and Boston Harbor the plane descended in clear, blue skies with temperatures in the mid 80s. Navigating through immigration, customs and baggage claims was a much smoother experience that what incoming passengers from foreign nations endure nowadays. These were the pre-9/11 days. One of my friends, who was also from my home town, was going to pick me from the airport. I was waiting in the airport passenger area when I struck up a brief conversation with an another student who arrived on the same flight as I did and we were discussing where we were going to pursue our studies. With an air of arrogance he dropped the name of the University he was going to - MIT. Wow, I said and I mumbled University of Connecticut (pronounced it CONN-ON-TI-CUT) when asked about mine. He mentioned he hasn't heard about the UCONN Or Yukon and gave me a condescending look and proceeded onwards.
My friends eventually showed up and after some welcoming hugs and introductions to other students, who accompanied my friend. After loading the suitcases into the car, I was looking forward a trip back to UCONN, which is almost 90 minutes away. Instead the car meandered into side streets of Boston and came to a halt on a small street with apartments lining both sides of the street. I was treated to a sumptuous lunch at an another Indian grad student from Northeastern University. (Incidentally both UCONN and Northeastern share the same nickname - Huskies ). I was still weary from a long journey crisscrossing multiple continents but I mustered enough energy to accompany others on their sight-seeing trip. I was told that we were going to tour Boston before heading back to University. It was their first trip to Boston as well and they used the opportunity to explore the wonderful sights in Boston. As for me, I was onboard since my options were limited. We took the T (Boston's version of Subway system) into MIT campus. There you go MIT-bound graduate student . "I made it to the campus. " We visited the IMAX theatre at Boston Museum of Science and I was in complete awe with the large screen and sleep stadium seating . It was indeed a surreal experience. I can still remember walking on the Freedom trail - a pedestrian trail that links the important landmarks in the City of Boston. The concept of Freedom Trail was conceived in 1951 by a local journalist William Schofield and Bob Winn, who envisioned an easy way for tourists to visit the historic locations in Boston. I still had a deer in the headlights look, just marveling at the historic sites and was in absolute joy despite my weariness.
It was way past 11 PM when we wrapped up dinner. It was finally time to head back to Storrs, CT where UCONN is located. These were pre-Google Maps and Mapquest . My friend and the UCONN students used Rand-McNally maps (do they still have them in hard copy) to chart our way back to Storrs, but as luck would have had it, we ended up in Springfield , MA. By the time we reached Storrs it was close to 3 AM, more than 12 hours since I landed in Boston. The bright city lights gave way to a calm serene and rustic environs of UCONN, that was founded in 1881 as Storrs Agricultural College. As the morning sun was shining in all its glory it was time for me to chart a new path in a different country. With hard work and perseverance, this country has helped me realize those dreams. But after all these years, through many ups and downs, I will always cherish those unforgettable memories on the first day in the USA. I was welcomed into the land of the free and home of the brave with open arms. And there was no better city to land in than in the city of Boston. God Bless USA.
Black Friday has just come and gone. Oh wait , Cyber Monday is upon us as well. Black Friday over the years has been synonymous with mayhem and bedlam at the stores. What started as a one day affair has now spread across multiple days with nicknames designated for those days like small business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Shoppers used to barge into stores to garner the best and cheapest deals on electronics, clothes etc. causing a lot of frustration and absolute madness, in some cases injuries and deaths.
Interestingly the origin of the term "Black Friday" began in the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia. People would descend in droves on the city on the day between Thanksgiving and the annual Army-Navy football game held on Saturday. Traffic was congested and streets were clogged with traffic and the Philadelphia police took to calling that day as "Black Friday". Businesses later claimed that name for themselves to indicate the turning of stores' books from red to black. In the early days before the internet, Black Friday was solely limited the brick-and-mortar stores, but the advent of internet led the huge sales for the stores. Black Friday is now prevalent among many countries across the world with close of 50 % celebrating the day in some form or the other.
I was enamored by Black Friday in the mid 2000s for about 15 years and today it is just an another day of the year. Shopping is much easier, and, honestly much "safer" to shop online now from the comfort of the home with a few clicks of a button. But in the early days of Black Friday shopping, it was a source of many emotions - anticipation, disappointment, exhilaration, joy. At the end of the day, I was wiped out after going from one store to an another. Talk about needing two days to recover after a brutal day at the stores. Planning for the day started a day earlier via scanning the special section containing the store pamphlets from the Thursday edition of the Hartford Courant newspaper. During our annual Thanksgiving dinner at our place a detailed plan of action was put in motion to ensure we carefully jotted down the best deals and also how to evade the surging crowds at various stores. There were some years when deals were showcased the day of Thanksgiving leading to a surge in crowds right after dinner. Glad some retailers such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy and Dicks Sporting Goods decided to close their stores this year (2021). Target even went to the extent of declaring that they would not open on Thanksgiving for good.
Finally the day arrived and everywhere you went you saw throngs of eager shoppers trying to lap the best deals possible. Standing in lines on a cold Friday morning was a scene that played out at many stores across the country. The doors finally opened and everyone made a mad rush to the items that needed to be purchased. People scurrying from one end of the store, evading others like a running back dashing to the end zone. I am surprised that none of them got tackled before they laid their hands on the prized possession. When you finally managed to snag the item you were craving since yesterday, you felt a sense of accomplishment and relief. Disappointments were part and parcel of this ordeal as stores had limited supplies. On to the next store we went until you ran out of gas. I meant physically beat as a person navigating the traffic, crowds and lines at registers. Finally it was homeward bound and you felt you just ran a marathon and all the energy was sapped out of you. Do I miss those days? Yes. But something about shopping the day after Thanksgiving evokes unforgettable memories.
2021 is almost coming to an end and the pandemic still continues to hog the limelight. Is there an end in sight? Vaccinations have certainly acted as a bulwark against this virus. Today is Thanksgiving Day and it is a time to cherish some good times with friends and family. Over the years we have had some of our closest friends visit us and share the joy with our family. While these are truly special moments and have provided a lifetime of memories, there were also other special moments in my kids' lives that have had a lasting impression on them. Thanksgiving Day football was like none other. The game of football is almost synonymous with Thanksgiving and for them it was a day they looked forward to when they were growing up.
A little history of how football became part and parcel of the American tradition. The first Thanksgiving Day football game was played in Philadelphia in 1869. According to that year’s November 17 edition of the Evening Telegraph newspaper, “a foot-ball match between twenty-two players of the Young America Cricket Club and the Germantown Cricket Club will take place on Thanksgiving Day at 12 1/2 o’clock, on the grounds of the Germantown Club.” This game was played two weeks after Rutgers University defeated Princeton University on November 6 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in what is considered to be the first-ever football game. However on Thanksgiving Day, Princeton University and Yale University played on Thanksgiving from 1876 to 1881 at the collegiate level. Several professional football teams have played on Thanksgiving Day. Detroit Lions were the first NFL team to play a game on Thanksgiving on a consistent basis. It all started after the owner started the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day game as a gimmick to get people to go to Lions football games. The Lions were also the first team to negotiate an agreement with NBC to carry this on their network. Due to World War II , the NFL did not conduct any Thanksgiving Day games until the war ended in 1945. Dallas Cowboys jumped on the bandwagon in 1966 to add the second game on Turkey Day. Today, the NFL is a 10 Billion Dollar industry and it was of no surprise when they added a third game in 2006.
Thanksgiving Day football has provided a lot of unforgettable memories for my children. Growing up in a small town in Northeastern USA they were eagerly looking forward to the day. Two weeks before Thanksgiving Day an invitation email would appear in our mailbox for a Thanksgiving Day morning football at their friends house. The days leading up to the Turkey Day was something I would never forget. I would constantly be barraged with questions like - Who is going to the game, How is the weather going to be, Will they have hot chocolate at the event, Will there be donuts. Many more would follow. Little pleasures in life are what kids look forward to and this day was no different. That day became the most important day in their life and weather forecast occupied their mind for a few days leading up to Thursday. There was one year when snow battered the northeast and I could sense disappointment in their eyes. But there were more cherished memories they endured on that day.
As Thursday morning rolled in, the excitement and anticipation was palpable. Kids started gathering in the yard, not before each of them gobbled up a few donuts. The sugar rush was on. While the adults were engaging in conversations, the little ones were busy drawing up the lines for the endzone and the sides. Teams were finally set and the game was on. I have watched many Super Bowls, but this game trumps it all. The design plays, the audibles, the formations were put in place during the course of the game. Kids showed their creativity in coming up with some exotic plays and executing them to perfection. What was so heartwarming was they did not care who won the game but the joy of playing football was paramount to them on this day. There was one more thing after the game. Steaming hot chocolate and muffins were awaiting them after a fun-filled game. As the kids trudged to their parents' cars they took with them not just the extra food but also the unforgettable memories they will cherish for rest of their life. Life goes on and everyone has since moved on as kids have grown up. But as each Thanksgiving day arrives, I am always thankful for those wonderful moments my kids got to experience. Happy Thanksgiving All.
With the world and United States still reeling with a pandemic, the last thing anyone needed was a ferocious storm accompanied by brutal winds and heavy rains. The last time a significant event happened in our area was the dreaded Halloween winter storm that knocked power for almost 5 days. Temperatures plummeted to 20 degree F during the night and we spent 4 days at our friends place who had no power but water. We live in an area that has a well so when power goes out, so does the water. In October 2011, I vividly remember long gas lines, throwing food from refrigerators, taking kids to work, huddled around candles and torchlights during dinner time and talking with friends and family and waiting for the utility company to restore power. Restoration efforts were hampered at that time with several downed power lines, snow and extremely cold temperatures.
Circle back to 2020, the year of the pandemic and economic upheaval. Monday, August 3, was a perfect day in the Northeast with some evening tennis on beautiful hard courts in Burlington CT. The sound of the tennis balls was reverberating across all the courts. Weather was supposed to take a turn for a worse due to an upcoming tropical storm Isaias that was moving quickly and winds were expected to be around 50-60 mph. Tuesday, August 4, started like any other day with sunny skies but winds were starting to pick up. Around 1 PM, lights started to flicker and signs were pointing to a power loss. One of the positive things about living in the Northeast is how few times we face total power loss during a natural event. Then it happened, around 3 PM power went out as trees were swaying with wind speeds reaching close to 60 mph. Everything came to a stop, rather call it a screeching halt - power, internet, water. We came close to a tornado watch but thankfully escaped it. However, the winds continued to pick up and the sound of tree limbs cracking was quite unnerving. A sole tree limb detached itself from the tree and came crashing down. No damage was done. The story, however, was playing differently across Connecticut. Winds were wreaking havoc with trees crashing down on power lines, snapping them in the process. Trees, that lasted for years were completely uprooted from the ground and were strewn all around the yard and blocking several access roads. By late evening the storm has left a path of destruction not seen in these parts of the State since hurricane Sandy.
The sun was peeking through the clouds but the wind continued to howl into the night. As the morning sun rose, power was still out and a eerie calm prevailed. With no water and power, we decided to move to a friend's house that had no power but water and cooking range. There was no hope in sight for power to come back as our state utility company Eversource (CT Utility Company) was completely AWOL during one of the worst crisis in State's history. Their outage reporting system in all channels was not functional (text, phone, social media) and people in state were left defending for themselves. Another family also joined us to share some unique experiences. With three families holed up in one house it was amazing to get back to simple things in life. Sit and talk without the electronic devices interrupting us. Kids sitting together and sharing stories while adults reminiscing and comparing this storm to the last one. Friends came to the rescue as our battery life on our phones dwindled by charging the devices. Driving outside and seeing many a tree ravage the utility lines did not give any hope that power was going to be back anytime soon. Worse, the only utility trucks seen on the road were local town trucks that were removing debris from the road. Only saving grace was the weather was comfortable for an evening walk. Dinner under stars and a beautiful moon was a special treat. The scene on Thursday was no different from Thursday. Kids playing board games, taking cold showers but enjoying the meal with friends and family. Highlight after lunch was "How well you know your sibling" game which was quite entertaining. As darkness crept in, simple things in life gave us hope that things will be back to normal. As I drove the kids on a car ride to enjoy the outdoors, an unusual sighting came upon us - lots of utility trucks. But wait, they seem be from Quebec. I rolled my windows and asked this gentleman if power could be restored soon and the answer sent kids bursting in joy. There was indeed some light at the end of the tunnel. We went back to our friends house with the hope that we could all get back to some sense of normalcy. Around 11 PM on Thursday power finally came back to my house. I was still asleep in our friends house but the last night text from my neighbor confirmed it. Rather his scream was heard all across town when the lights came on. Our friends did not still get power as of Friday, almost 3 days after the outage. As tradition dictates they came over to our house on Friday and we finally got to relax after dinner to watch some shows on TV. Power was finally restored on Saturday to most of the State and we celebrated with a hometown pizza for dinner. If there is anything that was apparent during these trying times it was friends who bestowed kindness. Scenes such as these played across Connecticut and it was truly a blessing to have great friends. A ray of hope in the age of darkness.
Tennis has been my passion since I was little. Growing up in India my exposure to tennis was limited to listening to the radio and then transitioning to watching my heroes on the big screen. I did not pick up a tennis racquet until I was 19. I remember a coach from IIT Madras (now Chennai) was giving a bunch of college kids some rudimentary tennis tips. I was hooked to the sport despite my strong affinity towards cricket and football. The sound of the racquet hitting the yellow tennis ball was music to my ears and endeared me to the sport that I still play. Due to the scarcity of tennis courts I did not get an opportunity to pursue the sport even at a recreational level. All this would change when I moved to the United States in 1993. For 2-3 years I played on UCONN Tennis courts with friends. Summers were the best when we used to play under lights until 11 PM. My tennis skills started to improve and while I wasn't playing competitively, I had immense love for the sport
Bjorn Borg was one of my first tennis heroes growing up. I admired the skill he displayed on the tennis court with his excellent serve and volley game. He was famously labeled "Ice-Borg" for his calmness on the court. Nothing fazed him and he was so clutch in big games and points. Watching him on the court was like artist weaving magic on a canvas. Borg won 11 Grand Slam titles - 6 at the French Open and 5 Consecutive Wimbledon titles. He was in 4 US Open finals but came up short. Strangely he never advanced past the third round in the Australian Open. Many of his fans, including me, were shocked when he walked away from the game when he was 25 years old. Federer is 37 and while he may not be #1 anymore he continues to marvel us with his artistry on and off the court as he continues to enjoy the sport.
For Borg the desire to compete evaporated in thin air and he lost his passion for the game. Many years later Borg remarked that he did not feel upset when he lost to McEnroe. That is truly astounding to hear for a champion who never liked to lose. Just shows that even for greatest of players, if the drive to play at a high level is lacking, it is difficult to channel that mindset into winning on the court. Shows you that tennis is a mental and physical sport and you can succeed only if both are in sync. While he did try to make a comeback in early 1990s he was a shell of himself and for his ardent followers it was tough to watch.
Now we come my all time favorite tennis star Roger Federer. He has marveled us with his artistry on the court and as a gentleman off the court. Through his mastery of the sport he has entertained audiences and beloved by many. My first memory of Federer was in Wimbledon 2001 when he faced against perennial favorite Peter Sampras, one of the icons of the game. He battled Sampras to five grueling sets before prevailing over him. In one way you can call this match as "passing the torch" from one of the revered players in Wimbledon and to one of the greatest champion to play the sport. While Roger would lose in the next round, he signaled his arrival as force to reckon with for years to come. He notched his first Grand Slam at the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon in 2003 when he beat American superstar Andy Roddick and Mark Philippoussis. He finished the year as #2 player in the world behind Andre Agassi but his game positioned him to take over the #1 ranking. 2004 would probably go in as one of the greatest achievements in his career when he was able to capture 3 out of 4 grand slam crowns. His 74-6 record elevated him to the top of the tennis world. While Federer continued to dominate the tennis scene, younger players like Nadal, Djovokic and Murray mounted a serious challenge to Federer. The "Big Four", as they would be known, have ruled the sport since 2004. We are in 2019 and the fact that three of them are in Top 6 is just mind-boggling. Andy Murray, after several injuries, is calling it quits after a great run. How long will rest of the them sustain this excellence remains to be seen. Nadal and Federer may have a couple of years left in the, while Djokovic is making a statement with three consecutive grand slam victories to be named among the greatest of all time. For me the Federer run has been a treat to watch. It will come to an end like Murray's but lets enjoy the mastery and artistry on the court for a little longer. Federer could return to the court in 2022 and realistically I do not think he can win a grand slam but we will get to see some flashes of brilliance that defined him as a player.