The Indian Premier League.. Boon or Bane???

The Indian Premier League or the IPL has created a great amount of interest amongst cricket lovers all over the world. Some say its just too good with the fast paced 20-20 format while there are other purists who believe its killing the game.

If you ask me, I have always believed in changing for the good. And that is precisely what is happening here with the onset of the IPL. Consider a comparison between a football (and by football, I mean football for the rest of the world and soccer for the US) and our very own cricket. I agree the two games are great in their own sense and I proudly say that I am a fan of them both, but with football, isn't it much easier to watch the game for 90 mins. and get the result than to wait a whole of 5 days and maybe not get a result at all. Agreed, we do get to see some great bowling, superb batting, maybe centuries, five wicket hauls, but finally the game has no result. No wonder cricket is popularly known as the "old man's game" among the youth in England.

What the IPL is doing here with its 20-20 format, is making the game more watchable, more of a spectator sport than it ever was. And there is nothing wrong with it. Millions are enjoying it now. There are no longer the empty stadiums that were such an integral part of Ranji games, but the packed stadiums and glued eyes of millions across the world. Maybe this is the way we can market the game to places and countries which know nothing of it. People from these countires will get attracted to cricket only if its becomes more of a spectator sport and they actually enjoy it. Maybe we have found a way for stopping the West Indian talented youth from leaving cricket and turning to Basketball.

Apart from the spectator issue, one more thing that comes with the IPL is huge monetary benefits. Television broadcasting, live commentary, sponsors, ad campaigns etc. will give not only a lot of money but also help the economy grow faster. This is because, with a tournament of that stature, players, fans will throng the country and the hotel industry, shopping, tourism everything benefits. Why do you think every country involved tries to bid so hard to host the Olympics, or the FIFA World Cup or say the Cricket World Cup?

I had read a recent article stating that the IPL is a victory of the Indian passionate cricket fan or say fanatic. Why it makes a lot of sense to call it a victory is because, there was a time when teams used to tour India once in 5 or 10 years. As opposed to today, when players from other countries are cancelling their committments to get a chance to play in the IPL. Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Glenn Mcgrath, Shoaib Akhtar, Adam Gilchrist.... you name it and we have it!

This in turn is going to help India improve their performances and bench strength too, as with the IPL, many local talents who have waited ages to get into the Indian National Team, will brush shoulders with the best in the world, get experience, and on top of it get paid to do it.

Now something for our purists... Lovers of the game in its traditional form. Test Cricket is real cricket, totally agreed. It tests the mental strength, endurance, stamina like no other form of cricket. But there is no threat to test cricket, because people who love test cricket will continue loving it. All the 20-20 format and the IPL is doing is adding a new dimension to the game of cricket. Another comparison here. Football has so many variants - 6 a side, futsal (indoor version) etc, but has that reduced the popularity of the original game of football with 12 players a side??? The answer is a clear 'no'. Its the same with cricket. Whatever happens, cricket will only evolve, not die out.

So is there any doubt finally whether the IPL is a boon or a bane?
If the world's loving it, then, Kolkata KnightRiders or Chennai SuperKings, cricket is to gain without doubt!

Biography - Andrea Jane Corr

Well....
Just thought about writing something about Andrea today.... the youngest and ever beautiful member of the Irish band 'The Corrs' who have for sometime now been one my favorite bands and to be honest, I don't think I will ever stop listening to their songs.....

So here goes.....

NAME: Andrea Jane Corr
BIRTHDAY: 17th May 1974
BIRTHPLACE: Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
HEIGHT: 5' 1"
SUN SIGN: Taurus
FORTE: Lead Vocals, Lyrics, Tin Flute (Whistle)
FAMILY: Parents: Jean & Gerry. Siblings: Caroline Corr, Shanon Corr, Jim Corr


Andrea Jane Corr is a member of the Irish pop/rock/Celtic musical group 'The Corrs'.

In her younger years, Andrea was the best student among all her siblings. She began her life with the band as soon as she graduated from secondary school. The Corrs' parents were musicians who strongly encouraged each of their children to pursue music.

Andrea learned the piano, as did all of her siblings. In the Corrs' band, Andrea is the lead singer and is their main lyricist when the group writes songs. Andrea also plays the tin whistle, which when combined with her sister Sharon's fiddle playing gives the group its distinctively Irish sound. The Corrs music shows strong influences from traditional Celtic but also modern pop such as the Eagles and the Carpenters.

The Corrs first performed as a band when they auditioned to play in the musical film The Committments (1991). Andrea landed a speaking role in the film. The movie's musical director John Hughes saw potential in the band and became their manager. Andrea is also an aspiring actress, and in addition to being featured in "The Commitments" she also played opposite Madonna in a singing role in Evita (1996).

Andrea's favorite book is Crime and Punishment and her favorite authors are Fyodor Dostoevsky and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Andrea has performed in charity concerts for the following causes: Pavarotti & Friends, Liberian Children's Village, Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, for the victims of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland, and The Prince's Trust in 2004.

As of September 2007, Andrea is dating Brett Desmond, son of billionaire businessman Dermot Desmond.

Her hair is naturally brown. Her eyes are also brown, typical Irish beauty.

Andrea has a habit of sucking her thumb since childhood and she is proud to have not left it..!!!!!

Here is an interview excerpt that will tell you more:
(Source: Steppin' Out Magazine Sept. 1999)

Andrea: It's something that I did since I was a baby. So I've done it my whole life. I really never had a reason for giving it up and my mother didn't make me stop. Also, sucking my thumb comforts me. It helps me fall asleep. If I get tired the first thing I do is put my thumb in my mouth. But I don't think it's because I am insecure. It's just very comforting and I love it. I can't give it up.

Interviewer: Has anyone tried to break you out of the habit since you're obviously not a baby anymore?

Andrea: Oh, my God! I've had people pull my thumb out of my mouth.

Interviewer: Try putting Tabasco sauce on your thumb. That usually does the trick.

Andrea: Why? It's not like I want to stop.

Sharon: It's not like it's bad for you.

Andrea: [Laughs] Well actually, I have broken a few nails..!!

Andrea wears glasses/contacts and does not have a driving licence!!!!!

And, Andrea always performs on stage barefooted and likes to write songs in the bathtub....!!!!



FAMOUS PERSONAL QUOTES:

"Music is sexy, music is sensual. And an expression of yourself and that side of you comes out sometimes. I know I can be like that on stage but it's innocent. I don't do anything I just get into it, feel it."

"When I write a song with the family, the fact is that I am the 'little sister', and my Mammy is there and when it gets to something like sex you start thinking 'oh, I'm not supposed to have these thoughts about sex!!'I remember when I first wrote 'Runaway', with that silly line, 'make love to me through the night', and when I first sang it I was turning my face away, knowing my mother was going to say 'My God, where did you learn that?!' and then I'd say, 'from TV, Mammy!' "