Friday, June 30, 2006

alienated?

I often wonder if pop culture in America is responsible for their growing alienation from the rest of the world. I'm only going to scratch the surface. My piece only targets their interest in sports.
Lets begin with football (i'm talking about soccer for those in america reading this piece). While the rest of the world watches with awe (sometimes terror - when referees make awful mistakes), fewer than ten precent of americans follow this beautiful sport. They did have their team playing, but did people in Ames, Iowa take an extended lunch break to watch the sport?
Soccer players in america get paid much less than their baseball, football(the american variety) or basketball counterparts. They do have a soccer league, but the women's league gets more television ratings.
If latest reports are true, America may well be bidding farewell to formula 1 after this year's race at Indianapolis. Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone doesn't believe there's enough public interest to continue in the country. And he's not wrong. With home-grown NASCAR to compete with. Tough ask!
America's favourite pastime, baseball is played seriously by fewer than 20 countries (most of them home countries of major ball players in the american league). The fact that the final of the league championship is called "the world series" is well documented.
American football is the most popular and one of the best-paying sport. And, as the name suggests, is unique to the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Its true that ice hockey and basketball (the other popular american sports) are played the world over. But they're mostly olympic sports and none of these include an extravaganza quite like the world cup with such frenzied fan following.
How, then, would the average american find common ground with people around the world. Since discussing sport is one of the most commonly used ice-breaker).
Do you think their internal affairs policy should include promotion of popular world sports. Who knows? Sport may be the answer.
Citius. Altius. Fortius.

posted by chandru @ 3:25 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

liar liar pants on fire

This i often wonder about. Why do people lie without reason. i'm not talking about those who lie and get their kicks from it. I have been guilty of lying for entertainment (usually my own) in the past. That's still alright( hey! i'm not one to judge). Its the other kind what leaves me wondering.
Take for instance, this friend of ours, X. Its been 4 years and we still dont know what she does for a living. I say 4 years because thats how long she's been working. We've known her forever. She claims to be working for a high profile movie producer now and is headed to dubai for some recce. However when one of our friends asked somebody from the production house about the unit in dubai, she said "not to my knowledge". And she's one of the head prodution controllers.
Shalini and i have tried to figure out what brings about this compulsive lying. Its not like we have very interesting lives that she has to match up in any way. Far from it. We have never judged her. In fact we've always helped her lie effectively to her parents when she's had a night out. She totally trust and loves us. Still the lies flow effortlessly. Not that i'm complaining. The stories make for compelling entertainment. And plenty of conversation pieces between me and shalini.
So, thanks are due, i guess. But she's a dear friend and a real sweetheart. It pains me, sometimes, to think of what's running through that head of her's that drives her to do it.

posted by chandru @ 10:08 PM 3 comments