People play sport for different reasons. Some play it for their physical fitness, some as hobby and some for the joy it gives. But none will take it as a profession if there are no spectators. The sponsors come in and players get paid only because of the spectators. People may disagree that they play for pride. Yes, players indeed should take pride in representing their country. But none will do it for free. And I don't ask them to do as well. What I am trying to say is that sport will not flourish as a profession if there are no spectators.
Cricket comes under this as well. We watch the game for the joy it gives us. The joy can be increased or decreased by the story teller, i.e. commentators.They narrate the untold stories of the game to a common fan. They even help a lot of people improve their language and communication skills unknowingly. I honestly believe that the very little amount of English I know, is learnt purely by listening to commentators like Mark Nicholas, Alan Wilkins, Michael Slater, Mike Atherton, Harsha Bhogle and a few others. Being an Indian, Harsha Bhogle has been an inspiration to me. His perspective towards the game has always amazed me.
If we look at the past twenty five years, there isn't a better commentator from India. A lot of cricketing legends has taken commentating as their second profession. But only a very few are genuinely good at commentating, like they were at playing. It is always great to hear from the legends and knowing their point of view about the game. But, to be a professional commentator certain skills are required and I believe only a few have it. Rahul Dravid could have become a commentator as good as Harsha. But there are bigger things he is capable of doing. And very rightly, he went to do that.
Now that Harsha Bhogle's term as commentator in IPL has been terminated without any notice, I would like to look at the possible reasons for it. Either it might have been the argument with organizer in Nagpur or the comment on the pitches during India -South Africa test series or that tweet and explanation regarding Ind-Ban match. Or all these might just have piled up. If there is a genuine reason, then that could have been explained.
Either he was so wrong that it wasn't explainable or it may be the fact that he was so good at telling the actual story which couldn't be bared. But I just hope like he himself has said, it's not because of the comments from the players. Because I believe he isn't one of those commentators who praises like god on a good day and ditches like the reverse of it on a bad one. Being a professional commentator he has always stuck to the story and told it as it is. He do praise on a good day but mentioning the past as well. Which means he clearly knows that one good or one bad day is not going to define a player. And there isn't a better commentator who criticizes in a gentler manner. In other words a very professional manner. And being professional is the only thing that he has always loved to be referred with.
But this is not just about him. When these petty politics happen to affect the sport it is definitely not good. More than on field which everyone knows, when it is affecting the small off field external things like these, it will not have a good impact on the spectators. It is really heart warming to see the spectators speak up in favor of a commentator in common, irrespective of the their favorite player/team.
It is for those spectators these tournaments are being held. Without spectators the game isn't going to flourish. I just hope the cricketing board thinks about it and I believe it is only for the IPL and not for the internationals. Like Harsha famously quoted regarding Sachin's name not in the Lord's Honours board, it's the loss for the tournament and the spectators for they cannot hear from a genuinely good story teller. And hopefully it doesn't last long.
Cricket comes under this as well. We watch the game for the joy it gives us. The joy can be increased or decreased by the story teller, i.e. commentators.They narrate the untold stories of the game to a common fan. They even help a lot of people improve their language and communication skills unknowingly. I honestly believe that the very little amount of English I know, is learnt purely by listening to commentators like Mark Nicholas, Alan Wilkins, Michael Slater, Mike Atherton, Harsha Bhogle and a few others. Being an Indian, Harsha Bhogle has been an inspiration to me. His perspective towards the game has always amazed me.
If we look at the past twenty five years, there isn't a better commentator from India. A lot of cricketing legends has taken commentating as their second profession. But only a very few are genuinely good at commentating, like they were at playing. It is always great to hear from the legends and knowing their point of view about the game. But, to be a professional commentator certain skills are required and I believe only a few have it. Rahul Dravid could have become a commentator as good as Harsha. But there are bigger things he is capable of doing. And very rightly, he went to do that.
Now that Harsha Bhogle's term as commentator in IPL has been terminated without any notice, I would like to look at the possible reasons for it. Either it might have been the argument with organizer in Nagpur or the comment on the pitches during India -South Africa test series or that tweet and explanation regarding Ind-Ban match. Or all these might just have piled up. If there is a genuine reason, then that could have been explained.
Either he was so wrong that it wasn't explainable or it may be the fact that he was so good at telling the actual story which couldn't be bared. But I just hope like he himself has said, it's not because of the comments from the players. Because I believe he isn't one of those commentators who praises like god on a good day and ditches like the reverse of it on a bad one. Being a professional commentator he has always stuck to the story and told it as it is. He do praise on a good day but mentioning the past as well. Which means he clearly knows that one good or one bad day is not going to define a player. And there isn't a better commentator who criticizes in a gentler manner. In other words a very professional manner. And being professional is the only thing that he has always loved to be referred with.
But this is not just about him. When these petty politics happen to affect the sport it is definitely not good. More than on field which everyone knows, when it is affecting the small off field external things like these, it will not have a good impact on the spectators. It is really heart warming to see the spectators speak up in favor of a commentator in common, irrespective of the their favorite player/team.
It is for those spectators these tournaments are being held. Without spectators the game isn't going to flourish. I just hope the cricketing board thinks about it and I believe it is only for the IPL and not for the internationals. Like Harsha famously quoted regarding Sachin's name not in the Lord's Honours board, it's the loss for the tournament and the spectators for they cannot hear from a genuinely good story teller. And hopefully it doesn't last long.
Totally agree with you.
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