The IPL,Roger Federer and the Earthquake in Haiti

The IPL was a response to the threat of the ICL which was started by the sidelined Subhash Chandra of Zee TV, who upset at being denied television rights to his channel almost emulated Kerry Packer’s contribution to cricket. Lalit Modi managed to put in place the IPL quickly because the BCCI is to the ICC what Congress is to the UPA government and the best cricketers in the world were made available to the IPL by their respective boards because of the huge amounts of money flowing in. Today the third auction Tamasha was unfolded where people were bidding for other people and splurging crores of Rupees to have someone on their team.All the team bosses spoke of why they bought someone and Mr.Lalit Modi gave his views on the future of the IPL and how to popularize the game across the globe.
Roger Federer is the king of tennis today. The prize money he has won will feed the next 10 Federer generations. When the earthquake happened in Haiti he was far away on the other side of the world and all set to embark on another conquest of the Australian open. Yet he felt the tragedy that has struck Haiti and quickly put together a fund-raising game for the victims of the earthquake. It was a small gesture, something the people of Haiti may never even hear of, yet it inspires hope among people that goodwill and humaneness exists in the face of a world spinning in uncertainty. Roger Federer didn’t need to do that nor did the people who turned up for the event. A heart-wrenching image like the one below almost made me detest the luxury I lived in.



Mr.Lalit Modi and the owners of the IPL teams could have done a lot more to popularize the game across the globe in simple means such as what Roger Federer did. Yet, all they could think of was only to raise their hand for the next bid. Actually, it’s really foolish of me to expect they do something for humanity when they have the power to do it, after all this was the business that wanted to carry on making profits inspite of the Mumbai attacks and inspite of the General Elections in the country. I for one will not be wasting my time on the IPL this year. Will you? 

Comments

  1. MajorsriJanuary 25, 2010 at 9:42 PM

    that was not only aweinpiring, but bang on the target. it goes for all of us indians who care two hoots about anything other than their own.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SriramJanuary 29, 2010 at 10:55 PM

    As my selves being a big fan of cricket and a lover of any sport as a matter, I never personally liked the way IPL has turned a sport into a business. The feel of sport is doomed.
    Globally as we know, business men shed nothing for free. Charity is always in the back burn in their priority list. There is no place for sympathy. Even 100 Haiti disasters can’t loosen their heart. Mr.Lalit and his crew are no exception. I go with you bro. I am not going to waste my time on IPL either.
    Hats off to Federer. Let him be a role model for all the successful sportsmen.

    ReplyDelete

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