Sambit Bal: Sachin Tendulkar, the man cricket loved back |
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The speech, soaked in by millions, transcended airwaves, percolated through TV screens, poured out through newspapers next mornings, and got permanently embedded in the internet. Yes, it wasn't profound, or filled with clever anecdotes. But it was from the bottom of his heart and everybody who's ever loved the game. How else can you explain grown men in tears re-reading it for the nth time. There were others that were perhaps bigger entertainers, and there will be more down the line. And someday his records will be gone, but no one, repeat no one, will have touched so many people, melted so many hearts and belonged to so many for so long. The detractors strangely found tears flowing down too. Those that were baying for his blood for the last 2 years were trying to hide tears. The journalists from New York Times, trying to fathom what this was all about had his eyes moist. The sincerety, the simplicity and the passion of the man touched them all. Goodbye, Sachin and god bless.
"Tendulkar's final words were a heartfelt thank you. "Sachin, Sachin will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing," he said. The crowd wept." - Sambit, you are making our eyes moist again!!! Only once during Sachin's speech the crowd disagreed with him, when he said, "my speech is getting too long and kinda boring" - we wanted him to go on talking and never stop. It was all a grand retirement party until the final wicket fell. And when we saw tears in his eyes when he was walking through the guard of honor it became really personal for each and everyone. The party became personal farewell. And it was grown men and women weeping - in the ground and around world in front of their TV sets. How can we not weep when our childhood friend/brother is saying goodbye!!!
If SACHIN had played his last test match away from India, his fans would have been ROBBED of seeing him for the last time. In all I think the farewell ended well on his terms. He DESERVED it. He earned it. He gave everything to the GAME!!!
When i was about 8 years old and started watching and understanding international cricket i read a lot about Sunny Gavaskar. That time he was the ultimate player to have come from India closely followed by Kapil. When Sachin emerged around the same time our thought was how can a Kid only about 6-7 years older to us be thrown into face Imran and Wasim? Me and my brother instantly felt connected with him and started watching him intently. Over the years he became the national icon and our love and respect for him kept increasing. It was the time i used to watch the match only until Sachin was batting. Now on 16th when he was saying goodbye i couldn't hold my tears, my Wife was not impressed though. I told her i can't explain it to you why i felt like crying or was depressed for most part of the morning. Its not a movie where you forget everything once it is over! Its my entire childhood memories! I mean, its apna Sachin, thats it!
Hope he comes back as a Indian coach soon...
a heart spoke and millions of hearts responded. it was as simple as that, and so poignantly captured by sambit in words. for once, it was not his bat that did the talking and to such effect.
6. I'm not superstitious but admit to have done silly things like not moving from my chair for hours or not switching on TV while reading commentary on Cricinfo when him batting so well with the fear of jinxing him. I don't claim of stopping to watch cricket after his retirement but I'll always miss Sachin on field "The fieriest and fairest battler the world cricket has known" Thank you Cricinfo and everyone for giving Master the fitting farewell he deserved. MASTER ...Take a bow !!! END OF AN ERA !!!
5. I have always been able to relate myself to Sachin in different situations. I have been able to get me out of the worst situations just reminding myself of the fighting ability of my hero who would come back from his father's funeral to score an emotional century in world cup it was the epitome of love for the game and the country. to be cont...
4. I don't think of him just numbers be it his 100-100 or his record test score (whatever it is) or 200 tests or under rate him for not achieving 300. They are no doubt testament of what he has achieved but he has achieved far more than these numbers he has gone beyond boundaries to win millions of Indian, Pakistani, Srilankan, Bangladeshi Australian, English, NZ, Southafrican, WI and hearts of cricket lovers all around the Globe and someone in future might take over his records of most runs or most test centuries or the rest but it would be very hard to emulate what he has done all these years and impossible to take away his love from his fanfare ...to be cont...
3. I never doubt his timing of retirement. I never thought he should have retired earlier after world cup win. Never ever I doubted his ability during his leanest phase over the last 2 years. He always hit hard to his critics in a best possible manner and that is with his bat over the last 24 years. He has never spoken against anyone over 24 year career span. Whoever doubted his abilities had to eat their words be it Sanjay Manjarekar or Chappell Brothers or so many others who have tried to attack him during his rough period only for him to answer them back with his bat. Last 2 years perhaps his leanest phase which he couldn't come out goes on to show his fallibility and more so human and all more so adorable. .. to be continued
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