I cheated. So what?

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value - Albert Einstein

 “He is not guilty,” declared Ben Johnson's sister Clare Rodney after the International Olympics Committee stripped the 1988 Seoul Olympics Gold Medalist for failing the drugs test. Ben’s is a rags to riches to disgrace story. History is full of such stories. This time the doping menace has claimed the glamorous tennis superstar Maria Sharapova. Like others before her, the Russian feigned ignorance to plead her innocence. At this level how can one afford to be so ignorant? Globally, I believe only the cricket fanatic Indians might have believed her innocent plea. Understandable. She had famously once said, “Who is Sachin?” Sharapova’s is not the first case of cheating at sports. Many top athletes have fallen prey to performance enhancing stimulants. The pressure to perform at the highest level is immense on these athletes. There is pressure from sponsors, fans and fellow athletes. The burden of expectations weighs on their minds. Ask Jennifer Capriati. A teenage sensation, the young prodigy’s rise to fame was meteoric. She was unable to handle all the media attention and the glory. She succumbed to the evil clutches of fame.

Drugs has claimed the likes of Martina Hingis (Tennis), Shane Warne (Cricket), Diego Maradona (Soccer) , Hulk Hogan (WWF), Marion Jones (Sprint), Andre Agassi (Tennis), Alex Rodriguez (Baseball), Alain Baxter (Skiing) and the list goes on. But what about other cheating tactics, that have been employed by sportspersons to achieve success? In one of the most disgraceful events to have ever been witnessed by Cricket, known to be a gentlemen’s game, Australian captain Greg Chappell ordered his younger brother and teammate to bowl the last ball of the innings underarm. Though considered legal as per the rules that existed at the time, the notorious bowling incident triggered a massive uproar worldwide among the cricket community. Top cricket commentator of that time and former Australian captain Richie Benaud described it as one of the worst things he has ever seen done on a cricket field. The incident not only marred Australia and New Zealand’s cricketing relationship, it also haunted the Chappell brothers for years to come.

Competition should be encouraged in sports but every competitor should have an equal chance of winning. Artificial help denies hard work a chance to prove its worth. And what about match fixing? We have seen outcomes orchestrated by players and managers to make money. Do these sportspersons spare a thought for the spectators who adore and look upon them as their idols? Arsene Wenger, Arenal FC Manager critically once said, “You cannot accept that somebody who works the whole week decides to spend his money to go to a game and you cheat him because all is decided before he gets to the stand.” Would you pay if you knew you were going to watch a drama instead of a game?

God Complex

It is the fans that give these sporting individuals a superstar or God status and these supertsars start acting like one believing they could get away with anything. Argentinian football legend Maradona cheated not once but twice. The first incident was famously self-declared as ‘The Hand of God’, involved Maradona just flicking the ball with his hand over an advancing Peter Shilton’s head into the empty net. The second of course was drug-related. The question to be asked is: Do your athletic skills give you a license to flaunt rules meant to be fair to all? Does one have to cheat to get to the top?

7 Deadly Sins

Sometime back I had read an article on why people cheat at sports. The reasons are listed below:

A ‘win all’ mentality. Athletes are conditioned mentally to develop a winning mentality. But some believe they have to win everything, no matter how.

Measurble achievements. Individuals in this category are motivated by trophies, medals and certificates and even degrees.

Perform or Perish. You will find this mantra everywhere in our society. Most of us fall prey to this.

Short sightedness. I bet Sharapova at first overlooked her drug habit as a minor thing which later developed into a long term habit that ultimately led to her fall from grace.

A level playing field. 'But Everybody's Doing It!' - was Lance Armstrong’s reaction to an enquiry on his doping habit. The pressure to be on par or be even better than the rest of the competition often drives individuals to opt for methods which defy the very spirit of the sport.

Mental fatigue. According to Maurice Schweitzer, Ph.D., professor at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of Friend and Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both, when we are mentally drained, we’re more likely to do what we want and that is to win with less or no effort.

Situation. Sports psychologists say that the desire to win can be so great at times that you can trick your mind into believing the wrong is right. In an interview in 2013 with BBC, Lance Armstrong had the audacity to say that he would not shy away from doping again if he were allowed to go back in time.

Parting Shot

I may not be an athlete or a superstar, in fact I’m nobody, but flirting with failure and success has taught me that it’s ok to lose, it’s ok to fall and it’s ok if nobody looks at me as a winner as long as my integrity is not compromised. Hard work and perseverance pays off in the long run. Acknowledging defeat and accepting that you are no longer the top dog is a humble virtue to possess. 14 times singles grand slam winner Pete Sampras said on his retirement, "I played to prove things - to myself, no one else. The record books don't matter. I really don't need to prove anything to myself anymore.”

Let the party begin..........

You can hear a certain buzz growing louder in the small dusty by-lanes of Mumbai. It’s T20 time. Hey I am not referring to the battle tank. Its cricket, the gentleman’s game. But hold on, the World T20 Cup is by no means less than a battle for glory and pride. Ask the boy who wields his willow like a battle axe at Oval Maidan. Right from big corporate honchos to the kids in the slums will tune in from

8 March to watch the biennial spectacle.

The colosseum is ready to erupt to life

16 teams will be vying for the coveted trophy. Teams like Afghanistan, Ireland, Oman, Hong Kong, Netherlands and Scotland have the opportunity to showcase their mettle. They may not have superstars among their ranks but their self-belief cannot be questioned. The twenty-20 format gives them the license to throw caution to the winds and bat without fear. It will be trial by fire for the minnows of the cricketing world.

And then there are the big boys of the game where the battle turns into an all-or-nothing war. Friends turn foes, mentees turn protégés, boys become men. Each player wears his country’s pride as he walks onto the field. Each team has superstars and superstars in-the-making. Let’s take a look at the teams.

Grounded eagles

A team with potential but without killer punch. Zimbabwe’s story is a team of have’s and have not’s. Guided by Dav Whatmore who led Sri Lanka to 1996 World Cup victory, Zimbabwe could make it past the group stage but further progress will depend on their mental strength and self-belief.

Tigers on the prowl

Filled with enthusiasm and bustling with talent, the Bangladeshi’s have the ability to humiliate any big team on its day. These guys believe in their cricket and they have shown it on a number of occasions. They resemble the Sri Lanka of early ‘90s. Best case scenario: Semifinals.

No chin music?

A star studded team brimming with talent. The Kangaroos are made of champion stuff. But will they deliver when it matters the most? They have been accused of not taking the shortest form of the game too seriously. Is that true? Or is it just that the Aussies have failed to learn a trick or two? Despite their not so impressive performance against India (at home), the Warners, Baileys and Maxwells will be keen on proving their worth. Cup favorites.

Black widows

The Black Caps are one of the favourites of this tournament. Can they play spin as good as their Trans Tasman counterparts? We’ll see. They will be playing without the Maverick Mccullum. The Kiwis possess one of the most potent bowling attacks in the game. They have an agile fielding unit and their batting prowess in the shortest form of the game is well known. Boult and Henry can be a handful on their days. Their ability to adapt to the slow pitches of India will be the key to their success.

It's A Bird... It's A Plane... It's Superman!

This team is brimming with champions led by the daredevil Devilliers. A formidable batting lineup backed by a disciplined bowling unit. But the springboks can deliver the knockout punch when it matters the most? They are big favourites. Imran Tahir will be keen on exploiting the conditions suited to his bowling and Rabada will be eager to showcase his skills. The million dollar man Millers will be the man to watch out for.

Calypso beats

A team that suffers from identity crisis. That’s how I would sum up the Caribbeans. They are not short of talent but they lack cohesiveness and the hunger to win big games. They are no pushovers though. A semifinal berth is expected. Can they put their petty issues and egos aside and play as a team? Only time will tell. Will the Gayle force come alive? Let’s wait and watch.

Scoop it up

The slinger is back and so is the swagger. Yes I am talking about the dynamic duo of Lasith Malinga and Tilakaratne Dilshan. The current world champions have their task cut out without Sanga and Jaya. They have an able leader in Mathews. This is a young team that is struggling to fit into some very big shoes. They are familiar with the playing conditions and that could play to their advantage.

Root-ed in fundamentals

Over the last 1 year the Poms have played some truly outstanding cricket. A well-knit unit with all round abilities this team has been overcoming one hurdle after another. Ahh wait. Isn’t spin the old nemesis of English cricketers? It will be interesting to see how the likes of Joe Root and Jos Butler tackle spin and uneven bounce on tricky Indian pitches. However, Moeen Ali will find himself at home in otherwise alien conditions to his colleagues.

Boom boom! Bang bang!

Once regarded as the sultans of swing bowling, the green shirts do not strike fear in the opposing bastmen anymore with their bowling. Led by the flamboyant Afridi (in possibly his last T20 appearance), the Pakistanis can be a surprise package. They always have been. Sami is back and so is Amir. They have plenty of experience to bring back home the coveted title. The dark horses of the tournament.

Spitting cobra

Indians are firm favorites of the tournament. Batting is their strength and bowling their weakness. However, they are playing in their own backyard. The last time India played at home in a multination event they became the world champions. In Jadeja, the team has arguably possesses the world’s best fielder. Dhoni himself has been electrifying behind the stumps. Ashwin has been bowling the right length. Overall a team to beat for the rest.

Having said enough, it will be nothing short of a carnival atmosphere in India as the T20 matches roll on. Everybody will be talking, breathing and living cricket for 26 days. Let the games begin first.

Till then dasvidaniya.