One nation

Miami Heat became first time NBA champion. The team got revived after induction of Shaq couple of years back was a good contender for the ring. The credit goes to the trio of Pat Riley, Shaq & Wade. After trailing by 2-0 against Dallas life was never easy for Miami they had to win all 3 home games and beat Dallas on there home court, which they were not able to do since 2002. Shaq’s presence guarantees you that he will be double teamed, which makes life easier for other players including Wade. As we have seen Shaq was not in his personal best otherwise the series would have been 4-0. He continues to face trouble at the free throw. But I guess Shaq would not mind that adding fourth ring to his record, this win is special to Shaq as it was without Kobe Bryant. Shaq and Kobe were involved in bitter power struggle at LA Lakers which led to disintegration of the team and Shaq moving to Miami. I think this was Dallas Maverick’s best chance with all players including Nowitzki firing all c...

India is in very good position in the 2nd test match against West Indies. Having bowled out WI for 210 and asked to follow India has excellent winning chance thanks to some discipline bowling. With couple of days still to go in the test, Dravid must be hoping to pull out a historical win. Rain may play a spoilsport as it did on the 3rd day, but the Indians should keep a attacking field and wrap the game before any signs of rain. Lara must be a worried man; evident from the fact he came after the fall of first wicket instead of Sarwan which shows lack of confidence. The Indians should utilize this vulnerability of the West Indian batting line up in their favor. It is important to see how Dravid rotates his bowlers. The last two days of the match would be a test for Dravid and his captaining skills. Even though advantage with India cricket is a funny game.....................

Yesterday I saw "History of Violence", Academy award nominated movie. I expected the movie to be about negative side of violence. The movie does show the menace of violence on life, but moreover it portrays a man's fight for denouncing violence. The movie starts with two killers going on killing spree in suburban motel. Tom Stall lives a happy life in small town Millbrook Indiana. He owns a diner and his wife is lawyer along with two kids. His life changes when two criminals try to rob him at gunpoint. Tom intervenes to save his co-worker and kills both the criminals. After that incident Tom becomes a local hero and his name flashes all over the news media. At first it appears to be a fight of common man against organized crime. But it soon changes with visit of a man from Philadelphia who recognizes Tom to be Joey, dreaded criminal from Philly. Tom fights battle between saving his family and concealing his identity. The man who had denounced violence for sake of simple ...

As the news poured regarding the death of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, Nicholas Berg came back to my mind. I saw that video showing beheading of the American, I thought I was strong enough to withstand but in hindsight I would have been better not watching it. That video is example of animal instinct and radicalism in name of Islam by Zarqawi. I think Iraq war has both sides to it. American invading a free nation supporting it by the whim and fancies of there president was a mistake. But at the same time killing innocent people under the name of religion in gruesome manner does not also find place in free world. What Zarqawi and his organization did can never be justified. I doubt his killing would completely end insurgency but it will severely hurt the network. The people of Iraq has been suffering for years, first under Saddam and now due to American presence and inability of there leaders to form a stable government. Hope this killing ends insurgency in Iraq and give it...

The first test match between India and West Indies ended in thriller against expectation with Windies tail enders saving a day for them. At the end of first days play it was assumed that the match would be drawn or won by West Indies thanks to mindless batting display by Indians players. As the match progressed, some good display of bowlers especially Anil Kumble revived the situation for India. Looking at the Indian bowling attack in first innings, lack of experience was evident coupled with slowness of the pitch. Munaf Patel bowled relatively well in the first innings, while VRV was in all sort of trouble along with Shreesanth. I think the Indian management made an error of judgment in exposing the young inexperienced bowling attack. Either Irfan or Bhajji should have been included; I think they will just do that in second test match. Positive for India was a magnificent double hundred by Wasim Jaffer. It has been long since an opener besides Shewag scored a double hundred for India...

Indians played decently in the second innings of the first test match against west indies. Wasim Jaffer once again proved that he good choice for opening. He was lucky at times but played with good shot selection. Shewag needs to be more consistent in converting his 40s into fifties and hundreds. He was playing well untill lack of footwork got better of him. Shewags still has problem with ball moving in air. He banks his batting on hand eye coordination as long as the ball is not moving in he is fine but late swing troubles him which was evident from his dismissals in both the innings. VVS Laxman was in good nick but i think he lost his confidence in getting bid scores. He needs to score a quick fifty to get his confidence back. Indians are in good position. They will have to play real bad to lose this test match. With Dravid, Yuraj, kaif and dhoni still in batting lineup, they can put the WI on back foot. Today's play will be crucial in determing whether india can go for a win. Ru...