Yohoo!! Am so glad that South Africa got dumped out of yet another world cup semi final! There are some teams that you just can't stand winning, however eye catching be their play. I strongly feel that way about South African and Australia cricket. ManU spring to mind too. And that's strange for me because I am an unbiased sports watcher (with a proclivity to cheer on 'the David'). I tend to support players (and the teams they move with) rather than being frenetic about a club's fortunes. And therefore, in spite of being a Scholes/Giggs fan for eons, I can't digest United winning anything. Even the FA cup. Ditto with Real Madrid and Brazil. Anyways it's been a Cinderella like ride for Pakistan in England, and I really don't mind any of the remaining three teams winning the tournament (if I were watching the coverage live, all I'd ask was for Ranjit Fernando and Rameez Raja to be given a comic to quietly read in the corner...wonder if they are around this time?). For those w/o access to Star Cricket, catch the highlights on cricketonline-tv.
Tinkering with the idea of going to watch second division football (soccer...grrr!) this Friday- the Austin Aztex lay the carpet out for the Carolina Railhawks (this definitely is a huge step down from having seen PSV trash the daylights out of Ajax). Even the (discounted) $10 entrance appears steep now. I have no second thoughts though about renewing my tix for the Longhorns football season. I never doubted I'd grow up to embrace American football so soon; I'd got a strong dose of vicarious passion from my friends (Penn State and USC supporters) who came to the US and instantly fell in love with the sport. And I truly believe that if you are a sports fan with an eclectic taste, you will follow suit. Last season we got heartbreaking close to challenging for the top honours in US college football. One failed interception (and an unhurried, unpressed one at that) at Lubbock was all that came in the way. Similar to missing a sitter in cricket, and watching the last batsman knock off the winning runs the next ball. Have bitter-sweet and enduring memories of watching that game live with friends at 'Docs' in Austin...and in my naivety I had come dressed in a black-tee, the clours of the Raiders (the guys who beat us that night). But redemption is close by...Sep 19, 2009 is hopefully a day that Texas-tech fans will want to forget.
