Midwest, Game 4 and Wimbledon '05

The midwest league game we had this weekend got cancelled. The other team pulled out of the tournament and so we got 2 points without having to play. 3 more games to go and all 3 are tough ones. We need to win atleast two to have a reasonable chance of making it to the playoffs. Very interesting and challenging situation...

Safin lost in the 3rd round and thus my interest in this year's Wimbledon has come down. It's probably gonna be Federer again. I'll now have to back up Ferrero, Coria, Nalbandian, Grosjean, Gasquet and Johansson in that order to win the cup! Doesnt look very promising, i must admit.

Midwest, Game 3

EDIT(June 21-6pm) ::::::here's the scorecard

UCCC played its 3rd league game in Group A of the Midwest Cricket Tournament yesterday. The game was against Charleston, supposed to be an easy team to beat. Some of the current players of UCCC had some unfinished business at Charleston. UCCC was defeated in a humiliating fashion by Charleston two seasons back and they did not get to meet last year. So, UCCC was hungry to take revenge and revenge they took...
It was a 4-hour drive to Charleston. Our captain lost the toss and we were asked to field first. On a terrific batting wicket, our bowlers managed to bowl Charleston out for 120 runs in 26.1 overs in a 35-over per side game. I managed to bag 4 wickets in 7 overs for 33 runs and failed miserably in bagging that magic 5th wicket from the last last 6 balls i bowled. The last ball of my spell was a yorker which missed the target by less than an inch outside off stump and went through to the keeper...it just wasn't to be. Anyways, this happens to be my best bowling figures in the Midwest Cricket League. All our bowlers bowled well and made sure that the opponents don't get to score a lot.
The chase was a joke. We chased down the target in 13.5 overs with 9 wickets to spare. It was a very sweet revenge with Vijay S, who was also part of the UCCC team that lost to Charleston two years back scored 52 from 20 balls! He made good use of the ridiculously short leg side boundary for a left-hander and in the process ensured that he, not me, gets the Match Ball as an acknowledgement for the Man of the Match performance!
It was a very good victory, UCCC winning for the first time this season with me being a part of the team ;).

The "Know Me" Tag

I have been tagged again and this time by Shy! Well, there was no name for this tag when it reached me- so i've named it the "know me" tag!

Well…here goes!

Three Names I go by:
Ram- by most friends
Jagan- by parents and relatives
Machi- aint it universal!!?

Three screen names:
rammgopalt
minimal ego
Ram- well...

Three physical things I like about myself:
my lips
my eyelashes (damn!)
my forearms- had to name a third one- hehe

Three physical things I dont like about myself:
My hair"style"(it's a mess!)
My feet(they are flat!!)
My double chin(am hoping it'd be out of the list very soon ;) )

Three parts of my heritage:
Chennai- home sweet home
Coimbatore- holidays meant Kovai until a few years back
Chengalpattu- childhood days were spent there

Three things that scare me:
peer pressure(it sucks big time!)
the thoughts after doing something morally incorrect
a bad marriage(what if?)

Three things I want in a relationship:
A girl to whom money means very little...if it means nothing, it's a big plus!
A girl who's voice isnt cacophonous...sweet voice is a plus!
A girl who's open-minded or atleast is willing to be open-minded to hear out things i tell her- obviously, there's no obligation to agree to what i say- but i have the confidence that if she knows me well, she'll find it hard to say NO :P

Three statements which are not all true or all false(Shy- u left this out :P- i changed it a little to make it interesting):
I have 6 fingers on my left hand.
I have never been in a relationship before.
I find it hard to maintain eye-contact while talking.

Three physical things about the opposite sex that appeals to me:
Just-about-right figure- too fat or too thin dont attract me physically.
Big eyes(am getting ambitious now!).
A nose that is neither sharp nor blunt, big nor small, long nor short- hehe!!

I guess- in other words, someone like Aishwarya Rai ;)

Three things I want to do badly right now:
Be in Chennai(damn my next point)
Finish my Masters degree
Start working

Three places I want to go on a vacation:
Europe(my knowledge about places shows, i guess :P)
Srirangam- have been there only once and have absolutely no memories from that trip...
Shimla, maybe

Three kids names i like(Shy-omitted, again :D):
Aishwarya
Divya
Priya

I'll leave it for my wife to decide the name if it's a boy :P.

Three things to do before I die:
Take photographs standing next to 1.Sachin Tendulkar 2.Kamal Hassan 3.Aishwarya Rai.
Do something good for my countrymen(especially the financially challenged), that gives me satisfaction.
Give my best to raise my children(or child-we'll adopt a child in the event of failing to have one on our own- i have had thoughts of adopting a kid in any case...but am not sure if am that courageous and it also depends on what kind of wife i get) as (a) selfless individual(s) and also secure a good future for them(him/her) by never ever forcing them(him/her) to do things that i failed to do(or aspired to do but couldn't) as a child.

Three of my everyday essentials:
A shower and the prayers that follow.
Internet.
Music.

Three things I am wearing right now:
My spectacles(i also use contacts!).
My Poonal(Sacred thread that goes across my torso from left top to right bottom).
My Watch(i part it only when there's a good chance of my left wrist getting dirty/foamy(note: not "wet"!)).

Three people who have been tagged by me now are:
Harish(favour returned- hehe), Jammy(i hope u dont mind!) and Niranjan(are u even reading my blog these days, beta?)

The TFM Tag

Got tagged by Harish, which means i'll have to write on the same stuff which he did, which happens to be Tamil Film Music(TFM)...as most tagged posts that i have come across, this one's pretty lenghtyyyyyy too!

No. of albums I own:

250 mp3 albums in my laptop and very few CDs and cassettes which are as good as zero anyways, since i hardly listen to them...

First Album that I bought(not including downloaded stuff):

Gentleman

Last Album I bought(not including downloaded stuff):

Anbae Sivam

Currently Listening to:

Idhu Oru Pon Maalai Pozhudhu- NizhalgaL- Ilayaraja

Albums that I'd want to take with me if marooned on a deserted island(20 albums):

ARR's Jeans<--- if i shall take just one !!
ARR's Kandukondaen kandukondaen
ARR's Alaipayuthey
ARR's Bombay
ARR's Rythm
ARR's Gentleman
ARR's Kaadhalan
ARR's Uyirae
Deva's Aasai
Harris Jeyraj's Anniyan
Harris Jeyraj's Minnalae
Ilayaraja's Anjali
Ilayaraja's Mahanadhi
Ilayaraja's Kadhalukku Mariyaadhai
Ilayaraja's Thalapathy
Ilayaraja's Mouna Raagam
Ilayaraja/MSV's Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Ilayaraja's Punnagai Mannan
Ilayaraja's Gopura Vaasalilae
Vidyasaagar's Anbae Sivam

Favorite Singer(s):

Male- SPB...the second name is not close enough to even merit a mention!
Female- Chitra(absolutely!), Harini(damn-she's married!) and Janaki(few of her solos are too good but i find some not so appealing)
Duets- SPB/Janaki, SPB/Chitra, Unni Krishnan/Harini

Songs that you are most likely to hear me sing or hum (Song - Movie - MD)- (20 songs):

These must probably the ones i frequently sing out loud.
Everytime i sing "Kaadhalin Deepam OndRu", i stop midway to find both my hands inside my pant pockets, invariably! Coincidence is that Rajni has his hands inside his pockets pretty much throughout that song! freak out!!! :P

EnnavaLae - Kaadhalan - ARR
KannaaLanae - Bombay - ARR
Yen Kaadhalae - Duet - ARR
Kaadhal Rojavae - Roja - ARR
Yaakkai Thiri - Ayutha Yezhuthu - ARR
Ennai KaaNa villayae - Kaadhal Desam - ARR
Minnalae Nee Vandhadhaenadi - May Maadham - ARR
Oruvan Oruvan - Muthu - ARR
VeNNilavae VeNNilavae - Minsaara Kanavu - ARR
Anbae Anbae - Jeans - ARR
Enakkena Yaerkanavae - Paarthaen Rasithaen - Bharadwaj
Konja NaaL poru thalaivaa - Aasai - Deva
Vaseegaraa - Minnalae - Harris Jeyraj
Ennai Thaalaatta Varuvaaloa - Kaadhalukku Mariyaadhai - Ilayaraja
Enna Enna Kanavu Kandaayoa - Valli - Ilayaraja
Engaeyoa Thikku Desa - Mahanadi - Ilayaraja
Kaadhalin Deepam OndRu - Thambikku Yendha Ooru - Ilayaraja
Inji Iduppazhagi - Thevar Magan - Ilayaraja
SingaLathu Chinna Kuyilae - Punnagai Mannan - Ilayaraja
Mun Paniyaa - Nandhaa - Yuvan Shankar Raja

Favorite Lyrics(10 songs):

Am a big time fan of Vairamuthu...the man can be unbelievably subtle in writing...he's simply great!

Rythm- Kaatrae Yen Vaasal Vandhaai

Kattil Idum Vayadhil Thottilida Chonnaal Seriyaa Seriyaa?
Kattilil Iruvarum kuzhandhaigaL aanal pizhayaa pizhayaa?

Ayutha Yezhuthu- Yaakkai Thiri

Jeevan Nadhi Kaadhal Kadal Nenjae
PiRavi Pizhai Kaadhal Thirutham Anbae

Gokulathil Seethai- Yendhan Kural Kaettu

Aayiram malargaLil aanandham kaaNgiRaai
niRangalae vaettRumai unarndhidu naNbanae...
...yaaridam kuRayillai yaaridam thavaRillai
thookkamae nimmadhi thoongidu naNbanae

KaLathoor KaNNammaa- Ammavum Neeyae

Poonai Naayum kiLiyum kooda manidhar madiyilae
petRa piLLayaippoal nalluRavaai koodi vaazhudhae
engaLukkoa anbu seyya yaarum illayae...

AruNaachalam- Adhaandaa Idhaandaa

...iLamayil uzhaippavan mudhumayil sirikkiRaan
iLamayil paduththavan mudhumayil thavikkiRaan...
...thanakkena vaazhbavan irukkayil iRakkiRaan
piRarkkena vaazhndhavan iRandhumae irukkiRaan...

DharmaduRai- AaNenna PeNNenna

ponnum poruL pogum varum anbu mattum povadhillae
thaedum poruL odi vidum deivam vittu povadhillae...

Thullaatha Manamum Thullum- Innisai Paadi Varum

kuyilisai podhumae ada kuyil mugam thaevayaa?
uNarvadhu podhumae adhan uruvam thaevayaa?
kaNNil kaatchi thondRi vittaal kaRpanai theerndhu vidum
kaNNil thondRaa kaatchiyil dhaan kaRpanai vaLarndhu vidum
ada paadal pola thaedal kooda oru sugamae...

PayanangaL mudivadhillai- ILaya Nilaa PozhigiRadhu

MugilinangaL alaigiRadhae mugavarigaL thavaRiyadhoa?
MugavarigaL thavaRiyadhaal azhudhidumoa, adhu mazhayoa?

Jeans- Anbae Anbae

PeNNae unadhu mellidai paarthaen adadaa brahman kanjanadi
sattRae nimirnthaen thalai suttRi poanaen aahaa avanae vaLLaladi

I tag:

hmmm...let's see...k7, Sri, Aks and Shy.

Canoe Trip Pics

A lot of my friends were here last weekend and part of the time we spent together was doing canoeing...some pics from the trip, though none actually shows us rowing a canoe for it was a little risky to carry a camera along while canoeing.

canoe gang-1.JPG, originally uploaded by Minimal Ego.

canoe gang-2.JPG, originally uploaded by Minimal Ego.

gang.JPG, originally uploaded by Minimal Ego.

gang-2.JPG, originally uploaded by Minimal Ego.

just like that.JPG, originally uploaded by Minimal Ego.

The midwest game-2 scorecard isn't up yet...keep looking here...should be up in a day or two.

EDIT(june 17th 11:30 am) :::::::: The midwest scorecard for game-2 is here.

Midwest, Game 2

My team won the second league game of the Midwest Cricket Tournament, on saturday. I did not play the game cos a lot of my friends were here, visiting Cincinnati. This victory puts us in a good position now...less pressure in the following games. Will post the scorecard in a few days in my next post!

Syed Abdul Razaak

I came across this heart-wrenching article in today's THE HINDU. Just made me think what good I have been/am/would be. Am trying to trace this person, to find out if there's a way i can donate(i feel terrible using this word for some weird reason) him some money. Ofcourse, what i give him wudnt be enough- but am sure this determined fellow will save his mother's life at any cost and my effort would just help take some burden off from his young shoulders.

Sachin-Ramgopal-Warne!

Somebody win this online auction for me and i'll be at your service for the rest of my life!

EDIT(june 14, 4:00 pm) :::::::: What a shame!...see this

Midwest, Game 1

We played a pathetic game today. I have a few excuses to give in the first place. The opposition team was not exactly the team i thought we were going to play. They had brought in a few players who played for a different team last season and this team was almost as good as our team when the toss was done. But, only almost. We were certainly the better team.
We made 159/9 in the 35 overs and i did not get to bat, because of some incomprehensible strategy of our captain who sent the guy who would have otherwise batted at number 11 at number 8. It was frustrating given the impeccable way i batted during practice, on friday. The total, as such, was very modest. The fact that the newly laid mat was a batsman's paradise only worsened our cause. Even with the kind of bowling we had, this total was atleast 20 runs shy of what'd have been a defendable total.
I opened the bowling from one end and ended up with figures of 4-0-24-1. After my spell, i felt i was gonna end up being the costliest bowler, but in the end i was the second most economical bowler of the 6 bowlers that were used! That sums up the kind of day we had with our bowling. Our fielding was even worse! I dropped a return catch off my bowling(though i had the guy in my next over and he had added 7 more runs to his total before getting out) and a slightly difficult chance at midwicket in the 22nd over. There were a few more catches dropped and some poor outfielding and a lot of overthrowing. They chased the target down in 24.5 overs and won by 6 wickets. A former India under-19 player who played for them scored an unbeaten 78 and he had just one life(the midwicket catch that i dropped).
In my opinion, we failed to deliver in every department of the game. I'd give a major credit for our loss to the uninspired leadership of our captain, which can, to a very small extent, be credited to a REALLY PATHETIC DAY he had with the ball. We have to play a level above our potential in the games that follow to make it to the playoffs.

I'll provide link to the scorecard of this game in my next post in a few days.

Windmills of the Gods...

I finished reading this book last night. I did not like the only other book of Sidney Sheldon that i had read before, "The Doomsday Conspiracy", as much as i liked this one. He has now become one of my favorite authors! He certainly made me feel good about the way he said things on a lot of occasions throughout the book.
There were quite a few little surprises(not cos of the story, but cos of the way the narration was) throughout the book, ones that made me tingle with joy! Then ofcourse, there was this sequence of events where my opinion on who the bad guy was swayed at a rate faster than a pendulum time-piece going from right to left and back to the right! It had all the masala required to make a Hollywood film- infact the movie was released in 1987. I'd like to watch the movie some time to see what compromises were made to accomodate some of the minor suspenses in the book, which while reading i felt were impossible to show on screen! There are some impossible sequences in "The DVC", the book, too- am keen to see the way they are shown on screen.
Next, am going to read "Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand which is THE favorite for a lot of people i know...hope i like the book too!

Federer bowed out of the French Open Championship 2005 as i was typing this post! Somehow, i don't like Federer. That has been my initial reaction towards many other greats in the arena of sports. I dont like him because he's being compared to Sampras already, who in my opinion is the best player tennis has ever produced! Federer's game is very good, no questions about that. But I'll like him only when he starts being humble(the thing that defines my favorites like Sachin, Sampras and Steffi) on and off the court. Safin's my favorite as of today!

Midwest Cricket Tournament

The major tournament that our university participates in begins on June 4, 2005. I'm not as excited as i was the last few years i've played for my university- nevertheless cricket is cricket and there's no lack of motivation! :).
The details of the tournament can be found at www.midwestcricket.com and my team name is UC, the short form for University of Cincinnati, listed under Group A. You can follow my team's progress at www.uccricketclub.com and my progress here. I am one of the 5 selectors of our team as well and take immense pride at that. There was a chance that I might have become the captain following our "elected" captain's resignation, but my academic committments did not leave me a choice. Life sucks when you can't do the things you want to without any inhibitions! Thank God, I can atleast play- our captain resigned his post because his wife got pregnant and so he wudn't be playing a majority of the games! It worries me to think that worries like that arent far away for me either! Damn- am getting old!
Anyways, the game on june 4th should be a nice start for us. We are expected to beat the opponent team quite easily. Looking forward to the game...