ಕೊರೆತ ಪುರಾಣ

ತುಳಸಿಯಮ್ಮನವರ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಪ್ತದೀಪ್ತಿಯವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಇದೆ ಜುಲೈ ೨೭ಕ್ಕೆ, ಬೆಂಗ್ಳೂರಿನ ಸುಚಿತ್ರಾ ಫಿಲ್ಮ್ ಸೊಸೈಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ೧೦ಕ್ಕೆ. ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಹೋಗಿ, ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕೊಂಡು ಓದಿ :-) ಭಾಗ್ವತ್ರಿಗೆ ಬರ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ವಂತೆ. ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಪುಕ್ಕಟೆ ತಿಂಡಿ, ಮಧ್ಯಾನ್ಹದ ಪುಕ್ಕಟೆ ಊಟ ತಪ್ಪಿಹೋಯ್ತು ಅಂತ ಭಾಗ್ವತ್ರು ತುಂಬ ಕೈ ಕೈ ಹಿಸುಕಿಕೊಳ್ತಿದಾರಂತೆ :-)
************************************
Did you watch men's Wimbledon finals between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal? It is one of the best live tennis matches I have ever watched so far. Breathtaking beauty it was. When I started watching, the match was held up due to rain (first time interruption). I was shocked to see Federer trailing. Then the match started again. I wanted the match to go into 5th set and it did!!! I was jumping in joy seeing Federer save 3 championship points. Ultimately Nadal won, and he deserved it, for he was the better player throughout the match. Federer is my tennis sport idol and I wanted him to win from the beginning. However, I had no complaints for Nadal winning the match! In my view both were winners, but yes, officially we can have only one!

I like these champions for their focus, determination, never-say-die attitude and perseverance. The absolute class with which Federer saved the match points and sets, how he maintained his calm, composure throughout those tense moments....I just love it. Even during the post-match interview, each player gracefully acknowledged the greatness of each other. May be they are groomed to behave like that by their image building agencies, but does that matter? Is there something for our new generation of over-hyped cricketers to learn from this?

The past one year has been very disappointing for me in sports:-) All my favourites are on back foot. My cricket idol Dravid abdicated the captaincy, lost his place in limited overs team, was humiliated publicly in IPL....New England Patriots lost in the superbowl (NFL) to underdogs NY Giants, Federer lost Australian Open, French Open and now Wimbledon.....It is so disappointing. After the Wimbledon finals I was thinking about the match and was feeling bit low for some times!! How should it be for Federer then? When John McEnroe tried to interview Federer, he was almost about to break down and he finally did. Tears must have rolled down, but he turned his face away and went back. McEnroe ended the interview there very sensibly. It is a testimony to what emotions, stakes go into playing those matches. Money alone isn't the factor there. Have you ever invested so much of your heart into anything like that?

I was following Dravid ever since I came across an article when Dravid was 19 or 20 years old. It was essentially saying that Sachin got into Indian colours very early because he was from Mumbai. Although Dravid had a similar record in domestic cricket, he had to wait till the world cup of 1996 got over. I remember the Ranji match commentary. Kambli was replaced by Dravid in the Indian team before the start of that Ranji match. The commentator, with his own leanings for Kambli, was criticising Dravid's technique comparing that to Kambli's!!! That made me like Dravid more :-) I followed him very closely ever since. I liked him for his perseverance, elegance, substance and patience. He will hold on to one end come what may!!

This never-say-die attitude...it is real great fun. You try and try and try and try....till you are convinced that there is nothing left and that you have tried your absolute best. It makes one happy just for that effort put in!!! To be happy, I think there are two ways. One is to be laid back. You should not be perturbed by any earthly matters :-) You are one and only one in the world and there is nothing else to disturb your peace :-) Second way is to 'want' something and have a full go to get it. It could be as simple as wanting to watch a movie in a theatre of your choice. Or it could be becoming Prime minister of India :-) Once you have decided that you 'want' something then you should go for it!! I think the excitement will be in the effort that we put in rather than in the result.

It does not matter what we are or what we are not, if we want to enjoy. All that matters is that we have only one life and no one till now has escaped death :-)....So... have it or lose it :-)