Crazy Cricket

It's a sad, sad state of affairs in the cricket world right now with Bob Woolmer's death and the exit of Pakistan and India from the World Cup. I can't even imagine what is going on in the sub-continent right now!

I spoke to my students about the demolition of Dhoni's house and the way some fans throw their T.V.s out of their windows and die of heart attacks when India loses. One of my students stated, "Americans are too materialistic to do that to their T.V.s!"

Why this hysteria surrounding cricket wins and losses? Indian cricket players are demi-gods to the Indian fans; when they don't perform, Indian fans are quick to forget that these players are only human, not demi-gods.

But the cricket fans aren't, for the most part, crazed individuals. When I was in Delhi, I saw the India-Pakistan test match at Feroz Shah Kotla. The individuals in the stands knew their cricket, stats, and trivia. It was impressive.

Then what happens when India loses? Is it disappointment? Is it a feeling of personal loss? Is it the money lost on bets? India is a developing nation and cricket is the one sport, on the international circuit, that India actually performs well in. So when the cricket team loses, it's a sense of loss for the Indian fans. A loss of pride, for a nation that deeply values honour and pride. It is a loss of hope, when all the Indian common man and woman really has to survive is hope.

But suffice it to say, cricket is really a crazy sport.