Do not fuck with the BCCI

I’ve always been a bit sad that India did not have a true mafia-style operation.
Sure we had Haji Mastan, the Shakeels, D-Company, C-Rajan and bandits of the Chambal. But, nothing that oozed that ruthless, organised, mafioso efficiency.
Well, now we do.
It’s called the BCCI.
The manner in which it has destroyed Lalit Modi will shrivel the balls of even the toughest cookie out there.
Rather than hire someone to castrate him, they have deconstructed his empire brick by golden brick, million by tarnished million.
Do not fuck with the BCCI.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, we hear you.

GaGa over Florence and the Machine

About six months ago an Ulsterman, no less, introduced me to Florence and the Machine.
So when her Dog Days performance at the VH1 Awards moved her into the larger public consciousness, I indulged in a bit of bourgeoisie, ‘me-the-classess you-the-music-massess’ strutting around.
As I often do on this site.
Nevertheless, Florence, with her Sinead O’Connor- meets-U2-via-the-Cranberries sound has begun to appeal me as the evolved man’s answer to Lady GaGa.
GaGa has plateaued, musically at least, and is channeling so much of Madonna right now she is in danger of losing that very unique, deviously simple, pop sound.

The dog days are not over

Not with the first flush of beauty, Nor the rush of dark pain;
Not with the hollow of emptiness, Nor the seasoning of shame.
Not till the healer is released, To work upon the maimed.
Will my life bear meaning, will the chaos be tamed.

Not with the taunts of truth’s burdens, Nor fallow reasoning of blame;
Not with the blighting of the spirit, Nor the mind’s trivial games;
Not the failing of the sprit, Nor the body’s end game;
Not till the keeper of my conscience gets her chance at the wheel
Will love, joy and peace finally prevail.

Bring it on! (Oh dear)

I never thought I’d live to see the day when Manchester City was higher up the table than Manchester United.
As a modern United fan, I hate City. I would rather see Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool above United than City.
However, I did predict at the beginning of the season that this one was going to be difficult. A true test of faith and loyalty in the face of relentless disappointment and pain.
Quite like my life actually.
Nevertheless, if United have a record against you, this is the year to break it. Fulham, Everton, Sunderland, who is next?

NDTV’s brain-dead cricket coverage

Is it just me (it always is), or is there something in the water at the NDTV studios. Dean Jones and Ajay Jadeja spoke about the Indian cricket team looking like world beaters – this after a disastrous performance.
India dropped more catches than a paid-for Pakistan fielding side and basically handed the game to Australia.
The appalling insights were only aided by some pathetic anchoring by that mummy’s-boy-looking apology for a TV host.
Sample this question: Is this really the best feeling for an Indian – to be on top of Australia?
Yes, I kid you not.
Brain fucking dead.

A rare beauty

The most beautiful actress in Bollywood right now is Soha Ali Khan.
She captures her mother’s grace and her father’s presence in an aura that envelops her with a sensual beauty that transcends mere sex-appeal.
What I mean to say is, she is hot.
It’s not often that someone with such an acute nose allows it to fall in perfect line with the rest of her feminine bearing.
There are those that have the je ne sais quoi and Soha Ali Khan is one of them.
In Bollywood, where even beauty is often crass and over-dramatised, she is rare.

The truly premier league

The English Premier League has had its best start in years. And even though my beloved Manchester United is unlikely to win it, from a football perspective, the game is at an all-time high in the league.
Dimitar Berbatov, Florent Malouda and Joe Hart have all shown that form is a movement towards excellence – one that gathers pace with time and practice.
Sooner or later a gap will develop between the great teams and the rest – but for now, anyone can beat anyone.
Two games will decide the season – Man Utd vs Chelsea, home and away.
Glory, glory, United.