இன்றைய நகைச்சுவை

namma oorile "ulaga naayagan" illaiyaa? illai "puvi arasu" illiyaa?
The explanation often given is that the players are from different countries and are the best that the countries have to offer.

(knowingly responding to a baite here)

bb:Its' not an explanation,its the truth! except in this case truth doesn't hurt!it sure feels good.

among the major baseball playing countries besides the US of A Japan,Cuba,Dominican Republic & Taiwan ( the last 2 to a lesser extent) have the cream.And most of these players would love to be a part of MLB & lot of them do too.

This isn't about baseball!!

Too bad Venkat couldn't find anything else to scream foul ball!Once in every few weeks he has to show his anti US views,it sure seems like.Sour Grapes.Venkat,your ERA
is around 15.35,when you start belching foul about the US.

Bush went to Chile & helped one of his security guards to get out of a skirmish with a Chilean S.guard.
Work on this, you may find some fodder for next time around..

'உலக நாயகன்' எல்லாம் அடைமொழிகள். அதையும் இதையும் ஒரே தட்டில் வைக்கமுடியாது. நம்ம ஊரிலேயே கூட எந்த ஒரு செய்தித்தாளிலும உலகநாயனனான கமல்ஹாசன்(அவர்தானே?) இன்று இன்னது செய்தார் என்று வருவதில்லை. அவர் படத்தின் டைட்டிலில் வரலாம், சினிமாப் பத்திரிகையில் கிசுகிசுவில் வரலாம். இங்கே வந்திருப்பது செய்தித்தாளில். இதற்கு இணையாக 'ஜகத்குரு'வை சொல்லலாம் சேர்த்துக்கலாம்.(போச்சுடா அங்க சுத்தி இங்க சுத்தி கடைசிலே போயும்போயும் இந்த மேட்டரிலா வந்து சேரவேண்டும்!)

ஆனாலும் வாசன் சொல்வது போல வெங்கட்டுக்கு ஏன் யு.எஸ் மேல் இவ்வளவு கடுப்பு என்று தெரியவில்லை. மற்ற ஊர்களில் சொல்லிக்கொள்ளும்படி பேஸ்பால் ஆடாதது இவர்கள்தப்பில்லையே. ஆடும் தேசங்களிலே இருக்கும் அணிகளில் இந்த அணி கோப்பை வென்ற அணிதானே. சொல்லிக்கட்டும். நாம் வேண்டுமானால் 'உலக திருக்குறள் ஒப்பிக்கும் போட்டி' ஒன்று வைத்துவிட்டால் போகிறது:-))

balaji, Sure they do, back home. But, I have never seen Times of India, or Indian Express or The Hindu calling someone like that. Nor even Dinamani. That attitude is reserved for lesser media like raNi, dEvi, … That is why I put this. Had this come in San Jose Times or San Antanio Herald, I wouldn't have cared.

Kasi, We have written almost simultaneously :). As I said, I would not bother had it come from some gossip mag. USA Today??

Vassan, You must thank me for giving these opportunities to show your unconditional partiotism :).

Sure sour grapes for me! Thankfully, I am not from Aruba or Lichtenstein seeing my 'country' defeated 'only' by USA all the time. My country gets thrashings from pakistan, australia, south afria.

How is it that americans choose those games which are not popular in more than five countries? Baseball, (Ice)Hockey, Football - played mostly with hand, Basketball?? How is that they are some much out of sync with the rest of the world?

BTW, do these world champions care about how the game is played in the rest-of-the-world-according-to-america?

I have seen Japanese League Baseball, it is so much different from the brutal game played here. That is why Ichiro Suzuki or Kazuhiro Sazaki can do well in US league (not world league).

Do they sell world map in the Bush Country nowadays? How does it looks like? Do they have different world maps for NBA, NHL, NFL, etc?

That aside, I enjoyed Bush behaving like a human being in Chile. Kudos to him.

vassan - on second reading I see that Sour Grapes is written in a larger context (and not to my comment about the game or US media). I am surprised that you chose to attribute that.

mmm… I do not know what do you mean by this! Is USofA sour grape to me?

Definitely not, while I moved to Toronto, I had three other chances there. I opted for Canada and I am glad, I did. But this is personal, I do not generalize.

Yes, I do write anti-american. But definitely I do not carpet bomb on everything american. I write them because some of my friends "feel good" without caring to know what the rest of the world thinks. Never do I attribute anything personal to any of my friends who chose to live there. I am indeed dismayed and appalled that you wrote sour grapes.

Well, How many countries play cricket? Isn't it called the "WORLD CUP'? (Field) Hockey?

Oh well, yeah, Kabadi is a world game now and sure Indians are world champions (or are they?). In case you have missed, the Newspaper is 'USAToday' not 'World Today' :). I am not sure how many outsiders read 'USA Today' (except for that lone soul longing for that sour grapes in the liberal Canada).

>>>…brutal game played here…

Since when was any sports a softie game? And again you should compare rugby to NFL… that is brutal!

How many games there in Canada that are popular across the world. In case you wonder fishing, lumbering and building igloos aren't world sports either :).

-dyno

Dyno I appreciate your sense of humour!!

And you choose to echo that word! This is after me expressing resentment over personal attack!! I am surprised. I never expected some whom I considered my learned friends will stoop to this abysmal levels!!

Yes, we do have only 8 countries or so playing cricket and we do have a world cup. But, The Hindu does not report Madras I divisiion league as World Championship and Jolly Rovers as World Champions. Same is the case with kabbadi. Patiala vs Chandigargh is not world championship for Hindustan Times.

Pity your sense of humour about World Today. USA Today is one of the leading print media of US (and the world. They sure read that in Bombay, Tokyo, Sydney, Baghdad and yes, in Toronto too (we are after all liberals with a open outlook). It is the largest selling american newspaper both inside and outside USA. So it is a window on US for the rest of the world.

http://www.accessabc.com/reader/top100.htm...

I never whined baseball is brutal. I only compared the styles. Yes, they play the same game in Japan, but there are more subtilities there.

If you reckon that I write all these to bolster the image of Canada, I am sorry for your ignorance. It never was a canada vs usa line.

Venkat: Go through your blog's US related write ups and your past writings in mail lists,one can feel,understand your blind rather
deliberate hatred for the USA…let me correct,for the Govt. of the US.Talk about getting dismayed or disappointed.Its the imbalance that puzzles me.
But at the same time I can appreciate the pain one goes through when they are being held hostage by socialistic thoughts,though.

As a naturalized US citizen,whenever I see some unfair criticism of this greatest nation on earth,I shall respond.When I took the pledge of allegiance,I meant to take it seriously and I am.If you feel,I use it as an opportunity to show my Patriotism,so be it.[அமேரிக்கா பணங்காய்ச்சி மரமில்லை எனக்கு]

In reg to sour grapes,thats' what I've derived from your quite a few blowing it out of proportion criticisms of Microsoft,period.

n-iRka: Do you ever watch CFL,it isn't too bad.Lot of the NFL discards have blossomed in the CFL.Some even made it back to the NFL.
Years ago, when I had cable, watched the Argonauts few times.The late great John Candy was the major owner then.'bet you root for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Raptors

vassan, Yes, I admit that I write bitter criticisms about the current US policies. But, I do not do that blindly. I try to see, as much as possible, from a larger perspective and when I see that what is good for {some elements in US} is injustice to the rest (as the current gulf war), I do not hesitate to air.

As I said, I opted for Canada; I am not a hostage here. This affable country does not believe in holding people hostages. The dismay and disappointment is in seeing some of my friends making comments about my personal choice in living. Do not misquote, please. In fact, I consider myself lucky enough to have those choices, many of my friend did not.

I appreciate your loyalty to US and if you read back, I never mocked it (contrary to the indecencies showed here by yourself and dyno mocking my personal choice). One should be true to his country and very much like you, I will also be. But to me it does not mean that I blindly endorse everything that is carried in the name of power we have (after all we chose to live in demacratic countries, didn't we). If you go back and read my first ever posting here I criticized Canada's stupid policy on blood donation. I also expressed that through appropriate forums. I am sure you will do similar things. But, my etiquette will never permit me in making statement about people living in other countires, their personal choices.

And, again I am stunned that you ignorantly choose to equate my anti-microsoft views to anti-american views. Don't get blinded, please.

BTW. I occassionaly watch all games. None of the game styles (be it NHL, NBA, CFL, …) in north america appeal to me, so the interest is only academic and never passionate. I know fully well that CFL is enriched by former NFL-ers as much as american hockey teams (NHL) are, by Canadian players. I do not root for any teams in any of these games. That's why I never chose to write a blog about Canada becoming world champions (that is 'real' world, between countries, not league) and olympic champions in Hockey. Yes, I was passionate about Yomiuri Giants when I lived in Tokyo and I am still passionate about Glasgow Celtics.

>>>choose to echo that word

Venkat,

I didn't read your previous comment before posting. For some reason I saw only your first and second response after Kasi. I never intended (that word) as a personal attack and thought it would be taken in a lighter vein. Sorry if it hurt your feelings.

Thanks for pointing out US Today is the largest circulated news daily, but again as its title says it reflects the thoughts and sentiments of US and not that of the rest of the world and it would cover mostly US news.

There is nothing which prevents other countries from entering into US leagues. I read somewhere that Japan might soon be the part of the MLB. You might know how the MLB, NFL, NBA etc are organized here. So as far as they find a owner and a sponsor any country could participate in these leagues. What I couldn't resist is that you blaming Americans for not choosing a game that is not popular 'around the world'?

>>>liberals with a open outlook

We got a winner… a new oxymoron!:)

I don't see any harm in critisizing US policies (esp. foreign policies) but this post is just your hatred for America. Isn't there even an iota of a thing that you consider good to say abt America?

-dyno

Dyno, let's forget it.

I did not <i>blame</i> american's I was just <i>wondering</i> why american's choose to be different. Just don't be too sentimental One of my friends suggested this theory; to be popular in america, the game should have very short spells with lot of scope for commercials in between. Dribble the ball for 40 seconds and have an ad for 10 sec. Reaching the other base provides a nice excuse for a commercial. They can't have several half-times in soccer, can they?

If you define oxymoron like this you have a dozen for dime here

I am also wondering why I am not writing anything good about america May be there are tonnes of my friends touting US in a big way, so I generally leave it to them. There can do that more passionately than me :).

And you consider this 'hatred for america'? I guess, I overestimated the tolerance. If you have time, just see any episode of Royal Canadian Air Farce, (free at airfarce.com), you will the amount of satire canadians heap on themselves.

<i>contrary to the indecencies showed here by yourself and…

>And, again I am stunned that you ignorantly choose to equate my anti-microsoft

>If you go back and read my first ever posting here I criticized Canada's stupid policy on blood donation. I also expressed that through appropriate forums. I am sure you will do similar things. But, my etiquette will never permit me in making statement about people living in other countires, their personal choices.
None of the game styles (be it NHL, NBA, CFL, …) in north American appeal to me, so the interest is only academic and never passionate</i>

VENKAT:

The last thing I want to do is sort of bring back the erstwhile mail list bickering mentality.But not responding to you could create the assumption
what you have written is the truth,especially among the Tamil blog readers,hence.After all you asked for it.

What "indecencies" are we talking about. :)) haven't used words like ignorance etc,if that shows me in bad light,cant' help it.But if it would make you feel
better,scroll down below.

You do not have the courage to admit your blind hatred towards the US.But thats' what Socialistic thinking will do to one.Microsoft was an example.Why don't you go through your writings about the US & related topics in Kappi Club & other places besides your blog and decide.If you are so interested in talking about a Sports event
that isn't world renowned (as you have gleefully said) and use it as an example to bash the US,the thinker you are,you didn't have anything to say about the elections that were held in Afghanistan recently ..? wonder why..? now that would need the lack of imbalance one have to have.
'Not that I have any rights to dictate what You need to express,but sure can point out your hypocrisy.

Who gives a rat's a$$ if you criticized Canada or not.Is that supposed to make me feel better.Couldn't care less,even though it compensates a bit for the half a day
of misery that I went through when I was in Downtown filthy Vancouver.

“etiquette“ your etiquette means assuming things that others haven't said not even taking a minute to fully read what I wrote as replies..? or just loosing ones cool in a kneej erk reaction..? <u>I didn't make fun of people living in other countries..read what I wrote twice,couldn't find anything that would give anyone that feeling.</u>.what have you been doing !! sort of hallucinating immersed in Molson Gold !!!

SO by your own admission,your priority is Academics.Fine & dandy.The only time your read Sports is whatever you are reading has something in it that in turn could be used to make fun,ridicule of the US..right ! what a glorious usage of precious time.Bravo you deserve a

It doesn't matter to me,if its you or somone else that writes about the US in tamil blogs or other places it sure will bring responses from me.Brickbats or flower bouquets,it all depends .

vassan.

I can simply let you have the last word on this. But, for one last time I try to explain. You said:

{quote}
This isn't about baseball!!

Too bad Venkat couldn't find anything else to scream foul ball!Once in every few weeks he has to show his anti US views,it sure seems like.Sour Grapes.
{/quote}

The only way anyone could read antiUS views and sour grapes together is as how I have reacted. You (ambiguously) indicate that I show anti-US views, because it is sour grapes to me. This, as I can understand, is making a judgement on my choice of living or rather my inability to live in the US (sour grapes). And I indicated that I was displeased with it. Yet, in my next posting I mentioned in ligther words,

{quote}
vassan - on second reading I see that Sour Grapes is written in a larger context (and not to my comment about the game or US media). I am surprised that you chose to attribute that.

mmm… I do not know what do you mean by this! Is USofA sour grape to me?

Definitely not,…
{/quote}

It was very easy for you didn't mean it, as I was just wondering, "I do not know what do you mean by this". I used harsh words only at Dyno as I felt he was repeating despite my displeasure. He was quick in explaining it. You never explained or implied in any of your subsequent postings that you did not mean the way I read until (now) you come and say;

{quote}
<u>I didn't make fun of people living in other countries..read what I wrote twice,couldn't find anything that would give anyone that feeling.</u>.what have you been doing !! sort of hallucinating immersed in Molson Gold !!!
{/quote}
* * *

I never said, it is all about sports. Sure, I meant to bring the american attitude of care-less-for-others to light and I am glad it is read as such. (In the past I have done this when they refer to Hindi movies as Indian Cinema). More than a few times I clearly admitted that I write anti-US views; no cowardice. I do not hide this as they matter the most to the world now. When I have to say something I mince no words.

Rest of your last postings, I simply leave to the readers of this blog to appreciate. Nothing will be purged. I am sure the misreadings about microsoft and misplaced statement about vancouver will be put in right perspective.

I also mentioned that "north american game styles do not interest me" and that I am "passionate about Yomiuri Giants or Glasgow Celtics", while you misquote "SO by your own admission,your priority is Academics.Fine & dandy.The only time your read Sports is whatever you are reading has something in it that in turn could be used to make fun,ridicule of the US..right !". Academic interest is not priority in academics. Talk about knee-jerk reactions.

This is how I read the whole conversation. I then leave it.