Oh! These IPL Games and Crazy Indians!!
This may be a freak incident but tells what Cricket is for Indians. IPL Games version 2 are taking place in South Africa. Only TV relays on a particular channel bring the actions to Indian homes. A family tussle broke up when a young son of 24 years was adamant on watching IPL Game, which was resisted by his father wanting to sleep. In the melee the father stabbed his son with a knife. Shows how crazy the Indians are and how this craze has brought about violence in the family.
Already it is common knowledge that Indians love cricket as they love cinema. This tablet version of Cricket called 20-20 has heightened the tempo, with its super fast actions by both bowlers and batsmen. Following the run away success of IPL Games inaugurated last year, the authorities were quick in cashing in on the fanatics and announced that this extravaganza of short time cricket games will be run every year.
Accordingly the IPL Games of 2009 have started – this time in South Africa, because of intervening General Elections in the country and consequent security arrangements getting priority for that – and are half-way through to the Final.
Along with these cricket games taking place every other day, more and more commercial gimmicks have been added to fuel the fire of craze. Dancing by cheer-leaders clad in colorful, but short attire, music with drums and any other instruments the fans could lay their hands on, fireworks spraying glitters everywhere – enough to have the excitement taken to the crescendo. Not only the thousands of fans watching them at the grounds, but also the millions watching them on TV get their flow of adrenaline.
Seizing the best opportunity offered, corporate giants have joined hands with cricket people in pouring millions of dollars into IPL Games. Not without reason – their ads right from the ground arena to the players dress, from placards to pavilion decorations, from playing venue to the soaps during live telecasts – all bring them money in sacks. All in all these IPL Games have transformed Cricket from a game for enjoyment to a commercial venture.
Also the eight teams and their players are auctioned like commodities and bought and bartered between Corporate Companies, cine-stars and millionaires. The price being paid to these “commodities” at the auction is astounding. Players get perks and prize monies to the envy of every one – from booties of cash to motor cycles and luxury cars, not to speak of the Royal treatment wherever they go. In the event of winning, a gala welcome awaits them back in the country, with showers of complements in prizes like a Posh Bungalow, acres of land and what not. (Gossips are already in the grape vine about the scandals by players on tour – Indian as well as Foreign). Media sources are minting money during this festival of cricket, which not even the World Cups are worth matching with them.
Sadly this way, the other games like Hockey, Football, Volleyball, Kabadi, Chess etc. are driven away from the lime-light, even though players of these games bring home world acclaims. The players are watching with regret the undue Hero worship of Cricket players in India.
Coming back to the pathetic incident reported above, father stabbing son and losing him, it is the price the country is paying for commercializing to disproportionate volumes the Cricket Game, which was once a Game of Gentlemen.
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