The Indian team is slippin' down,
slippin' down, slippin' down,
The Indian team is slippin' down,
My FAT FLETCHER,

Whatcha gonna do to bring it up,
bring it up, bring it up,
Whatcha gonna do to bring it up,
BIG FAT ASS FLETCHER

(on the rhyme of "the london bridge..")

It was meant to be.... Even after 44 years

Maktub - meaning written or fate (Arabic) - is the first word that comes to my mind when i witnessed the victory of Spain over Germany in today's 2008 Euro cup football finals at Vienna. A far fetched dream by a coach and the team for a nation, known for its downfalls at international level, could not have a better justification than the events that were witnessed by almost a billion people around the world. Drenched by the sweat of failure and distress for 44 years a team defied its fate and redeemed its status as a European powerhouse. A victory, acclaimed to be so unattainable by the masses, that the media tagged the team to be jinxed. Not one, three. Let me explain.

1) The first jinx was about the team not winning matches on June 22nd. They have lost to different teams, on 4 occasions, on this fateful day. This is only including the World cup and the Euro cup tournaments. On june 22 2008, it was almost the 5th day. Tied 0-0 against the current world champions - Italy - for 90 minutes and the 30 min of extra time forced them on to penalties. Italy with their world renowned no.1 goal keeper, Buffon, were about to enforce the jinx.... but Spain won causing everyone to believe in the team. This wasn't just a win, it was the breaking of a jinx, overcoming disbelief, injecting optimism and above all thinking anything is possible.

2) The second jinx was about Spain not reaching the semi finals in a long time. This was broken with the same win agains Italy and made this day even special for spanish people all around the world.

3) The third jinx was about the color of their jerseys. It was said that Spain didn't win major games when they were not in their traditional red and black. They played Russia in the semi finals with their yellow and white kits. Superstitious fanatics feared this day. And it wasn't just a blind one. The day Italy were defeated, they were not in their usual azzuri - blue - kits. So the game wasn't just about challenging the amazingly improvised Russian team but was also challenging superstition. But as fate had, they did not just win but destroyed the Russian defense by wining it in Spanish style. Scoreline - 3-0.

In a span of 3 days, a team ,so famous for their big tournament lossed, overcame 3 jinxs and went on to the finals to meet the mighty Germans. Germany, with already 3 European wins in their pockets, looked intimidatingly onthe spanish side, whose players have never had the touch of a medal to their chest. But as philosophy has it, something great is always followed by its reason. Spain won the final 1-0 in regular time. Their first major international tounament victory since 1964 and their first major finals since 1984. They defied superstition, rewrote history and made a point in the life of every individual - Anything is possible, you never know whats written by the hand. Maktub.

XLII - A lesson in life

Let me start of my sports section with the extremely famous American game of FOOTBALL.. mind you all my non-american readers... this sport has les to do with "foot" and more to do with ball (which boggles me due to the shape of the ball.. i mean whatever it is) The Super Bowl XLII which means 42 was a clash between power house New England Patriots and Under dogs NY Giants. Giants won in a historic match which i was very luck to witness in this life.... it was a Giants play between Eli Manning, QB and the receiver David Tyree.... (i guess it should be on you tube by now) which won the match for us.... the GIANTS. I like watching upsets in sports and this was the epitome of all. Upsets tell me to believe in all the possibilities of life. They are so motivating and atleast drives me to do something out of proportion or which was not contemplated at all by many. Life lessons like these are hard to get and for a lucky few like me... they come by sometimes. Its all about grabbing the moment and living in it.... to understand the importance of the moment and learning from it... making your self a better person. I guess thats it.... see yo all later.