U - Turn

Gee..long time. I m not doing engineering for this year atleast. Not sure I'll do next year or not.

I just saw my last post and got a tear in my eye. I was expecting 85+ in both English and Computers, but got doomed badly due to pathetic CBSE about whom I don't want to start on this blog, rest of the three predictions were banged on. Sigh, it doomed me to a good DU College as well, but somehow I managed to find one.

From DPS Dwarka to Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University it is guys. B. Sc. Electronics Hons., which is supposedly the most tiring and toughest course in DU University and is the only one comparable to Engineering courses in terms of duration and length. Sigh, now I realise why I'd take this. Add to that it basically teaches the main aspects of Semi Conductors, AC and all which I least like in Physics. Double Sigh.

Anyway, I'll go from next week and see a few days, how it is. If it is the way I expect it, that is most of it, I'll continue with it, but If its not the way I expect, then I mite study for next year and hope to get into some Engineering Institute, just any dammnit, like the whole World does :P

PS - It's good to reunite with all other school mates whom I've been competing against in Computers , Quizzes and Other Events and form a team with them to compete possibly against my own school mates :D

Wow! Exams!

Yeah, I have my exams going on currently. Shifted to Dwarka sometime back, got the MTNL Wifi Connection (though speed still sucks) and just moving about. 1 more to go and thats' Computers.

They didn't went well at all, but I have would have taken these marks in the starting of the year anyday as I just wanted 80%.  Here is my prediction for Board Marks , Range of 10..

Chemistry : 75 - 85

Physics : 80 - 90

English : 85 - 95

Mathematics : 85 - 95

Computer : 85 - 95 (Yet to give)

That will average me to 85-87%. Could have easily got more in Mathematics and Physics. Anyway.. Enteranes up next. Don't think I can break through them, just not that hardworking. My IIT Centre is DPS Dwarka though. :P I hope it brings some luck. Looking forward to my driving classes (Yeah! Finally inching closer to 18 years) and thinking about getting into a gym. 

Just to add some footie to this post,

Liverpool draw Chelsea in the Quarters of the UCL, yet again. 4 years in a row now. Aren't UEFA bored ? Bet both set of fans are. Man Utd on the other hand was given a direct entry to Rome with their draw being an absolute cakewalk for them. Anyway, I m more than enough confident of doing great against Chelsea, especially after the recent resurgance, shown by our team. The last week with 4-0 against Real Madrid and 4-1 against Manchester United will be to remember in a long time.

Ciao. Hopefully, by next post, I would have been a good prospect for some college *hopes*

 

Football - A Minor in Indian Television

"The Majority Carrier in the World is still a Minority Carrier in India" *

The most popular sport in the world, which generates highest revenues in terms of media coverage (Television, Internet, Newspaper, Magazines) of all sporting events fails miserabely in India. To get some statistics, TV Rights for the much hyped IPL were sold to World Sports Group (WSG), Singapore and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) for $1.1 billion for 10 years. Thats roughly $110 million per year. The recent inception of Champions League T20 (name and concept cheated from Football) delayed due to Mumbai Terror Attacks sold its TV Rights to ESPN Star Sports for $975 million for 10 years, roughly $97.5 million per year. Woah, thats a lot for BCCI to just become even more richer. But the success of IPL shows its a steal. Anyway instead of going offtopic, coming to Football and the Premier League. They sold their TV Rights to Sky Sports and Setanta Sports for a period of 3 years. Sky Sports paid $2000 million and Setanta Sports paid $597 million. So its $2597 million for 3 years only, roughly $866 million per year. 

Thats like $756 million dollars more than IPL per year only. Don't get me started with Champions League as it would piss over IPL and CL T20 combined from front, back, up, down and whatever position you'd think of.

Now, the thing, its still considered a steal in the European Market, even after spending such money. Companies like BBC, ITV, ESPN etc. have been rejected just shows the hype and the popularity of the game, which cannot be seen by the people of India.

Asia and mostly South Asia is considered a hot spot for the future in terms of Football. Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and even India are considered future destinations for most teams. The coverage in all those countries have been mammoth to say the least and the companies there are growing thick and fast, but sadly Indian companies are yet to realise it. Those are countries having just a fraction of India's population. 

Even in the time of recession, Sports and mainly Football is the only major sport not facing the heat of it. India's economy can go to an umpteenth level if only it follows the current growth of Football in the country. 

India is one of the Top 10 nations in the world to follow European Football (which includes other leagues as well including Seria A, La Liga etc.) and its expected viewership is reported to increase in the factor as a square to the power 3. You can just imagine the amount of people following the sport in another 3 years from now. Even with this progress, the telecast has been abysmal to say the least.

• English Premier League is telecasted on major scale by ESPN Star Sports
  
• The FA Cup is being telecasted by Sony Pix
• UEFA Champions League being telecasted by Ten Sports and Zee Sports
• Serie A being telecasted by Zee Sports
• La Liga being telecasted by ESPN Star Sports
• Bundesliga (Higlights) being telecasted by Ten Sports
• English Championship (Highlights) being telecastedby Zee Sports
• UEFA Cup (Later Stages) being telecasted by Zee Sports and Ten Sports
• Eredivese (Higlights) being telecasted by Ten Sports

This says for quite a lot of coverage, with ESPN Star Sports being the big boys of it, though combined efforts of Ten Sports and Zee Sports have given them some problems.

EPL is telecasted completely with detailed coverage, though ESPN take its right via Sky Sports, but still there are hardly any qualms about its coverage with analysis and all, the best being seen in India so far. However they do goof up with pathetic previews of Internatonal Events like the Euro's or FIFA's (no bashing about that in this post though ;). But they were taken by shock last year when Ten Sports out bidded them for Champions League. 

Ten Sports coverage of Champions League has been a major improvement from last season, due to combined coverage with Champions League. But still, the quality of commentary, previews, pundits they got is a major dissapointment amongst the fans.  Along with Zee Sports still they have done a good work in coverage of major leagues, though majorly highligts.

FA Cup Coverage/England Internationals were with ESPN and Star Sports until recently when they lost them as well. Disastrous, after Champions League it is all going bad for them. And SET won the rights but had no prime channels to show for it. So, what happens? They telecast it on Sony Pix (A movie channel). No preview, analysis or anything, just direct Setanta Coverage being shown. Moreover their schedule stated they were showing three live games on the opening day of The FA Cup, but ended up showing just one match (lucky for me it was Liverpool's). That's the problem here with India. They don't have direct telecast rights from The FA but rights through Setanta Sports. So they can wish to show whatever they want , decrease the number of games being telecasted or anything and there is no one to govern them. Which is exactly this topic is all about. The need for better telecast of Football in India. But rather being on the growth, its been on a decline with the prime network ESPN losing its stake more and more. The possible barriers for this are 

1. Cricket. Yeah, the god like sport in the country. ESPN Star Sports are leaving its rights for various sports just to pick more and more rights for Cricket. Agreed, Cricket following is out of this world in India and they might probably earn quite a lot, but having rights for Domestic and State Level Tournaments is just disaster. Sadly, they are nothing to keep their image. FFS its ESPN. The money realted to Cricket is way less than its related to Football , something Ten and Zee have learnt recently.
2. Money. The amount of money just required to pay for the direct rights is a hell lot more than what it is for other sports. Thats why NONE of the coverage of Football in India is being directly telecasted. The Indian Networks are not ready to shell out that much thinking its safer to play with less money. The returns are far better, ask SKY or something, I really hope it changes in the future, because its one of the major reasons.
3. Indian Football. Zee Sports has taken an initiative to improve Indian Football (League and International) but still vast improvements are to be done. Indian NT's ranking of 157th in the world speaks for itself (speaks what ? Well nothing. But still) Its a reason for major setback for International Football TV coverage even though the metros and major Indian towns might be having fans which show they are passionate about the Liverpool's, the Man U's, The Real's etc. etc. and are genuine for them. Though they might not have even played football that much but still. 

All in all, coverage of Football in India needs a vast improvements. I hope the growth of Football in India is seen by the big networks telecasting it India and improve the quality of coverage in every aspect. It's almost 10 years since the first football match was telecasted in India, and the coverage though expanded has not been upto expectations as they would have thought 10 years back. Anyhow, hope for the best. 

PS - Its football, not Soccer, bitches! :P

* - I got the 'major carrier' and 'minority carrier' terms from the chapter Semi Conductor while studying for Physics Pre Board Exam :P :P

 

 

Delhi Elections

First and surely not the last time I'll be writing about Politics :P So Delhi Elections are scheduled to be coming up in early 2009. The campaigin and shit has already begun from the parties, but its a rather dissapointing elections for me. To go back a bit in time, I liked and supported BJP since the time I came to know what Politics actually mean, majorly due to Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, who used to be the MLA of my locality Janak Puri for a very long time, some time ago and even got Best MLA Award for it. Moreover my family has good links with him, so it was pretty obvious. But at the time when I really started reading about Politics and took a bit of interest in it, it was Shiela Dixit and his Congress ruling Delhi and since then I always wanted BJP to win whenever the elections came. They came, Mukhi won, but BJP didn't, so I had no reaction. There was a time, when BJP were good and I liked them a lot, especially when they were at the helm at the Centre under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But since Congress came into act, they have changed the complection and that is partially due to advancement in technology, new and bright ideas etc, but still they have impressed me and removed all my hatred towards them. Coming back to Delhi, Shiela Dixit has taken Delhi to a new level, which wasn't seen, say 4 years back from now. For me, though there still exists a lot of problems, she has done argubaly the best work than any other CM of any state for me. And now, as such though once a BJP supporter, I know want Shiela Dixit to win the elections for herself and for her party and continue the good work. What I want to see in Dehi is advancement in each and every field, better infrastructure and world class facilties, thankfully something which Shield Dixit knows, unlike I-m-not-old BJP leaders who recently appointed Vijay Kumar Malhotra as their Chief Ministerial candidate. They are for me true politicians , more of politics and less of work. Add to that, most of the work done for the Commonwealth Games, supposedly the biggest sporting event in India ever, has been done not by IOC or other Sport Authorities but by Shiela Dixit and her government. When we won the rights to host them, I was surprised and didn't even believe we could host it. I probably thought in a few years, they'll shift the venue or something, but to my surprise Delhi has really done a commendable job, thanks to Shiela Dixit and I hope she gets the chacne to complete and continue this work of hers. Moreover, I really hope they make even a fraction of what they plan to make of the Venues of the Commonwealth Games, because if they are able to do that, then for once, me, the biggest Indian Critic especially in sports for once would find their Olympic 2016 or 2020 bid sensible. For now, its time for all the city to be painted with banners and hoardings of Elections, sigh.

PS - 1 more year and then I could vote! Yeah!

Duh

1. Its a week left for my exams and I m yet to start *sigh* yet again
2. I hate school, I just cannot make another computer club report again
3. Delighted with Liverpool's victory over Manchester United. Simply amazing.
4. Join Facebook.
5. Kimi has been a disaster this season. I just hope he improves next season (or this?)
6. Google Chrome is a pain, but I still use and like it a lot
7. I use this blog only when I have absolutely nothing to do, and i mean it :P
8. Champions League is starting this week. Yeah! Something to watch on Ten Sports finally
9. I m shifting after my exams to Dwarka, damn
10. Janakpuri was great. Damm. 

Someone save Gerrard

Why Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is a better England skipper than Chelsea's John Terry - Sportingo

Put Gerrard First - Mirror

Steven Gerrard holds the answer to England’s midfield muddle - Telegraph

Redknapp's England Astonishment, backs Steven Gerrard - Goal

England crazy to overlook ideal skipper Stevie - Echo

John Terry Wrong Choice As England Captain—I Back Steven Gerrard - Bleacher Report

We're wasting the special talent that is Steven Gerrard - Dailymail

'We are killing Gerrard by playing him left midfield' - Guardian

Gerrard better off without Lamps - Setana Sports

Gerrard should have been captain - Setana Sports

Fabio Capello should have made Steven Gerrard England captain - icLiverpool

Reid: Make Gerrard England captain - GFDb

Gerrard right man for England – Rush, Wales Online

Isn't this enough, how blind can The FA , Capello and the whole England NT Management be. Steven Gerrard should seriously stop giving his services to the NT and then they'll realise his importance. What amazes me is, all the club managers, the fans, the team players are backing Gerrard and criticizing the Manager for his decisions and Gerrard just comes up and says doesn't matter, "I'll always help the team". England is killing the talent of Gerrard and he still wants to give everything for England, how great one can be. Sigh.

Was surfing across and came across this,

England	With Gerrard	With Lampard	With both of them
Games	21	15	46
Wins	16	6	28
Draws	3	2	12
Losses	2	7	6
Goals for	45	19	91
Win %	76%	40%	61%
Goals for/game	2.14	1.27	1.98

Source - Opta Stats

Sigh! What more do you want me to prove?

Amateur to Professionals

2 years ago, we participated in a few events and won nothing apart from a few individual events. Last year saw us rise to a great unexpected level, being recognized all over Delhi in 2-3 events, but this year, we've beaten all records and started in the best possible way ever. 2 events and Top 3 in Delhi in both of em. I really feel, my farewell year would be special and we'll conquer the Computer Symposium Circuit. We have the team to do it, some of the best we have. Lets hope for the best.
Just to let others know,
Gateway 08 (Montfort) - Overall THIRD
Minet 08 (Mothers) - Overall SECOND

More to come surely.

New Computers!

They were due last year in August. We got an year late, but they are worth it. Truly love them, and they look so nice. Sexy to be honest. Sleak and beautiful :)
17'' inch TFT Monitors, 160 GB HDD, 2 GB Ram, Core 2 Duo Processors from HP.We got 20 of them. Now the main thing, we got them for CORE 08' , YES!!! Finally, we are hosting our very own computer symposium, though not yet finalised but looks likely. Always waited for this, one of my dreams coming true :)

Spain NT - Under Performers

Spanish National Team. The team who always goes in a major tournament as one of the favourites and as one of the potential winners but time and time again fails to deliver. 1964 was the last time they won something, which was the different format Euro's. To be honest, they have one of the best teams in the world and they try to play attractive passing football but the team just can't perform consistently for a long periods and all the blame goes to Luis Aragones for me. He has been poor for Spain but still at the helm for a very long time. I hope even if Spain wins this tournament, he'll be gone. He's too old to manage and probably someone who can gel them as a unit would come.

Till then, I can't stop supporting Spain. Why? Obviously cause of Fernando Torres. Also Alonso, Reina, Arebloa. Add to the Villa, Ramos etc. who have just been brilliant :D and I do hope Villa comes to us. Torres and Villa upfront for Liverpool looks potentially the best attack this planet has ever seen. But its still a dream.

Anyway, Spain NT at a glance.
Casillas - El Captain! Experience and Youth both actually. Big stage performer
Ramos - Trump! At 22, one of THE best Right Wing Backs. Need I say more?
Puyol - Expert! All his leadership and experience would help Spain, the Barca Captain
Marchena - Fiery! Can lose his temper, but cool enough for Spain, experience is key
Capdevilla - Atttacckk! He's exactly like Sergio Ramos, just that he plays on the left
Xavi - Playmaker! One of the best in the world, by far the best in Spain.
Fabregas - Creativity! Following Xavi's footstep, a possible star for the future.
Alonso - Pass-o-meter! Pass master who has all class and can deliver absolutely anything.
Silva - Silver Horse! At 21, a bright winger who can be anywhere for the attack
Villa - Goal Machine! He has 4 already in 2 matches. The cooldude has everything to his game.
Torres - El Nino! Yeah still a kid, but with Liverpool's name now. Best striker on the planet ATM

Spain! Spain! Spain!

PS - I m looking to get a David Villa hiardo. Love it ;)

Euro 2008

Phew! Finally some football back in action. I and guessing the whole of the football community were so utterly bored and sad of the much hyped IPL in India. Thank god its over and the cricket fans would be happy copying football and their stuff. Still there's a lot to be done for them to match Football which is something next to infinity for them though. Anyway continuing.

2 game rounds have finished, and it has been as expected apart from the Group Of Death which has been a complete turnaround for everyone, partial for me though. France and Italy are both struggling in their groups while Netherlands have already qualified with some mouth watering attacking football. Romania was never expected of anything so its decent with them. Portugal are just proving their tag of challengers with confident displays while Czech are outsiders for it though doing enough to get past the Groups. Germany were taken a piece back when Croatia aka England's Daddy defeated them. Was a brilliant match. Modric is fucking beauty. Spain, the team who I am supporting btw, have done the necessities too and now its the time when they'll be tested in the group stages. Sweden most likely would join them I guess.

Here is my prediction of the Euro's.
Quarters -
Portugal vs Germany, Czech Republic vs Croatia
Netherlands vs Sweden, Spain vs Italy
Semis -
Portugal vs Croatia
Netherlands vs Spain
Finals -
Portugal vs Spain
Winner - SPAIN!

Or atleast I hope. Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. One of them definitely.