BON VOYAGE MICHAEL !!!

There's nothing more that I can add, to what hasn't already been said and written about the untimely death of the moon walker, the gloved one , the undisputed King of Pop.

Three days gone, and the out pour of sad emotions continues unabated across the globe. As the shocked world comes to grips with this bitter reality, one thing is for sure, there will never ever be another one like him. So colossal is the magnitude of his popularity, that even people who are remotely connected to his music, seem to know MJ and are saddened by his loss.

On a personal note, I was shell - shocked, when I first saw the news of his sudden demise scrolling across the monitor. I was completely numb looking at those frames of MJ covered with a white sheet being taken to the hospital in an ambulance by paramedics. A VERY SAD END INDEED, TO ONE OF THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THIS WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.

Just like any other celebrity MJ too had his fair share of controversies, but I think that's all right . It's not easy when you are constantly in the public eye and there is very little room for privacy. Some people handle it well, some become lonely, and some lose the equilibrium and end up on the wild side. MJ was an incomparable music genius. Whether he was in the recording studio or setting the floor ablaze while performing on the stage, his passion was unparalled . His music has given succor to millions of music lovers for more than 40 years in every single part of the world. UNDOUBTEDLY HE WAS THE PETER PAN OF POP MUSIC.

So long Michael. May your soul rest in peace.

And I sincerely hope that your music will continue to heal the world and the man in the mirror will surely try to make a difference.

BRAVO SAINA !!

It's not since legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone made India Proud by winning the most prestigious All England Championship in 1980, we have witnessed so much of buzz n excitement around the sport of Badminton in this country. And the entire credit goes to young Saina Nehwal. This ace Woman Shuttler has just won the Indonesian Open Badminton Championship. In fact she is the first ever Indian Woman to win a Super Series Badminton Tournament.

In the finals she bested world no.3 Wang Lin in three gruelling sets and etched her name in the record books.

I think she is a supremely gifted player and she has got what it takes to excel at the very top. I won't be surprised if she goes all the way and becomes World No. 1 .

GO SAINA! GO!!......................We are proud of you.

GHOST RIDER OF URBINO !!!

Rossifumi, Valentinik, The Doctor.................his ardent fans call him by many names. But to the world he is a legend called Valentino Rossi. One of the greatest professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP world champion.

I was privileged to see his blaze of glory on sunday, 14th June 09, at Catalunya( Spain) MotorGP 500 cc race. And boy! what a monster of a race it turned out to be. The Doctor and his Fiat Yamaha team mate Jorge Lorenzo gave the crowd the most spine- chilling display of motorcycle racing on the last 4 laps. I have been following MotoGP for a long time, but I haven't seen a cat and mouse chase like this one ever before.

It wasn't a race..................it was something else. The last move by Rossi right before the chequered flag made me freeze. I just couldn't believe what I saw......I SAW A MAN TURNING INTO A GHOST RIDER. I saw the supreme display of UNBRIDLED PASSION AND UNENDING QUEST FOR SUCCESS.

WOW!!!!!!!!

FALLEN LORDS........BROKEN HEARTS !!

I agree, a purist has no business to comment or criticise the lackluster show of our very own Lords of T 20 at the mecca of cricket, the Lords, last night.

But the passion for the sport runs deep and flows unabated through these veins even after all these years. Can't just sit back and see the team in disarray. Once again, we have failed to rise to the occasion, and this time, due to the lack of application from its budding stars. It was appalling the way we went about chasing a modest total. I am not convinced about the mental approach of Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina at the top. I was shocked to hear Rohit's comment in the previous match after getting out cheaply. " I should have scored, but that's the way I play, its OK " , what an irresponsible thing to say. Every player is important when it's time for deliverance. T 20 isn't just about going hammer and tongs, it's also about commitment and discipline.

I think the sooner our younger lot learns about this, the better it's going to be for their own good. Hope Rohit and Suresh are listening.

MORNING HAS BROKEN !!

Wake -up, it's time o my dear
through the window glass
comes the first ray of light
only for you, o my dear




dewdrops are fallin'
cool breeze is blowin'
can you hear those birds chirpin' o my dear
wake-up, it's time
morning has broken, o my dear



yesterday was lovely
today could be the day, o my dear
earth meets heaven
clouds at your feet
wake-up, coz the time is here o my dear
morning has broken o my dear.

ROGER THAT MR FEDERER.......YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST !!

At last he has done it. Finally the long standing debate has been put to rest. Roger Federer has conquered the Parisian red clay in his inimitable style, a straight set victory over Sweden's Robin Soderling.

14 Grand Slam titles along side the great Pete Sampras and only the sixth player in the history to have won all the four grand slam events. Now that's quite an enviable record, isn't it ??

I have been an ardent fan of Roger from the very beginning and I am mighty pleased and relieved that after mounting numerous challenges, finally he has won the title which has eluded him for so long.

VIVA ROGER !! YOU ARE INDEED A TRUE CHAMPION AND A GREAT AMBASSADOR OF THIS FABULOUS SPORT.

WIMBLEDON IS WAITING!!

PAES THE PARISIAN !!

I don't think after yesterday's gritty, comeback from behind win in the Men's Doubles finals at Roland Garros, the people of Paris would mind Leander and his partner Lukas Dlouhy calling themselves natives of the city which has given them their maiden Grand Slam title as a team.

It was a superb match with the Indo - Czech pair on top of their game, displaying vintage tennis. Leander was absolutely pumped-up and it was quite a sight to behold. I don't think there's a better player than him at the net today . Both, he and Dlouhy combined beautifully to keep the big serving duo of Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Dick Norman of Belgium at bay and eventually drubbing them style to lift the title.

Yours truly simply loved this match. "Paisa vasool" as we call it up north, in this part of the world.

QUE SERA, SERA !!!

On a long and winding road he marches on
covered in dust with a punctured soul he marches on
another day gone, he marches on



crossing the chasm won't be easy he knew it
high up on the desert plain there's so much to lose
and precious little to gain he knew it



What are the odds? will he survive this dare
or be pronounced dead somewhere
Nobody knows, there's no one who'll care
they just give a damn
that's all there is, that's all they care


down this long and winding road
it's always a bitter fight
dawn till the break of the night
it's always a bloody fight

..................................Brand Pundit and the ring of fire

HOLY SMOKE !!! DID YOU KNOW...........

Did you know that 31st May was world no tobacco day. I didn't. Every year millions die due to Lung Cancer. Tobacco is the front-runner, snuffing out precious life in every part of the world. Alas ! Who is listening?

FROM THE SMOKER'S DIARY :

Life's on a high

gimme a drag brother

Life's a draggy

just one more puff o' brother



Hey you ! Stop preachin'

Can't you see

I am too busy soul searchin'

You will never know how it feels

It's an amazin' high, that's all I need

Go somewhere else and plead

Nothing's gonna happen, I am never gonna bleed