Over the weekend, I discovered that there were two stories that dominated the headlines here: 1) The Indian Cricket Team's astonishing losses to Bangladesh AND Sri Lanka in the World Cup and 2) Shakira's arrival in Mumbai for a concert performance last night.
I'll start with cricket. It all started last week when India lost its first match (not game) to underdog Bangladesh. The country was in an uproar, but things only worsened when the team lost to Sri Lanka on Saturday night. I've been told that it's the thought that the Indian team was athletically better combined with the nationalistic pride that made these defeats to India's neighbors so painful. Whatever the case, it's all anyone can talk about now. Everyone is ranting that the team and coaching staff are paid so much but don't deliver. I didn't realize that money was a guarantee for success, but apparently that what people think here.
Some of the players' homes have been damaged by rioting crowds and armed guards were placed outside of most of their houses after the second loss. Scenes on the news show people burning effigies of the players. There's also a parody of a commercial featuring the Indian Cricket Team that is constantly shown on every news channel. But I guess this is nothing compared to what the Pakistani team is going through right now. They are in London at the moment, on their way home after losing to the often-mocked Irish team. I've heard they are scared of returning for fear of what the masses will do to them. And there coach was murdered.
The second major new story switches from Sports to Entertainment and features Shakira, Shakira. She performed a concert in Mumbai last night. So what? Over a 3 hour span yesterday, I saw at least 10 news features about her on various news channels. One of them showcased two young Indian women trying to dance like her. Another had a quasi-interview with her that revealed her diet and exercise regime that enables her to stay so fit. Again, so what?
I've been away for the entire day (6am until 10pm) for a work trip and I'm quite relieved that I've been able to avoid the news today. I haven't read a newspaper or turned on the TV. But I'm sure the stories will be about the cricket team and Shakira. And these stories will remain headlines until another unimportant headline emerges (a la Shilpa Shetty and Big Brother). And so it goes in India...
I'll start with cricket. It all started last week when India lost its first match (not game) to underdog Bangladesh. The country was in an uproar, but things only worsened when the team lost to Sri Lanka on Saturday night. I've been told that it's the thought that the Indian team was athletically better combined with the nationalistic pride that made these defeats to India's neighbors so painful. Whatever the case, it's all anyone can talk about now. Everyone is ranting that the team and coaching staff are paid so much but don't deliver. I didn't realize that money was a guarantee for success, but apparently that what people think here.
Some of the players' homes have been damaged by rioting crowds and armed guards were placed outside of most of their houses after the second loss. Scenes on the news show people burning effigies of the players. There's also a parody of a commercial featuring the Indian Cricket Team that is constantly shown on every news channel. But I guess this is nothing compared to what the Pakistani team is going through right now. They are in London at the moment, on their way home after losing to the often-mocked Irish team. I've heard they are scared of returning for fear of what the masses will do to them. And there coach was murdered.
The second major new story switches from Sports to Entertainment and features Shakira, Shakira. She performed a concert in Mumbai last night. So what? Over a 3 hour span yesterday, I saw at least 10 news features about her on various news channels. One of them showcased two young Indian women trying to dance like her. Another had a quasi-interview with her that revealed her diet and exercise regime that enables her to stay so fit. Again, so what?
I've been away for the entire day (6am until 10pm) for a work trip and I'm quite relieved that I've been able to avoid the news today. I haven't read a newspaper or turned on the TV. But I'm sure the stories will be about the cricket team and Shakira. And these stories will remain headlines until another unimportant headline emerges (a la Shilpa Shetty and Big Brother). And so it goes in India...
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