Mar 08
AdityaCricket, Humour, Pune Bangalore, chennai, Cricket, deccan chargers, delhi daredevils, ipl, kings xi punjab, mumbai indians, puneri peshwas, rajasthan royals
Warning: Long post. Potentially enjoyable.
The BCCI probably doesn’t want Pune to have an IPL team. That’s why they postponed the bidding process due on Sunday (March 7). That’s what I would infer if the insightful thoughts part for the postponement of the bidding was up to me!
But it does help that for whatever reason, the BCCI has taken a reality check and is scaling back on its monetary demands. In other words, someone has told them to open their mouths a bit less!
Coming back to my original argument, it wouldn’t make sense for the BCCI to have two teams from cities just three hours apart. Having said that, Delhi and Punjab (KXIP, based in Mohali) are no different. So a franchise from Pune with the Mumbai Indians already present would perhaps dilute the Mumbai Indians’ fan base. Didn’t happen with Delhi/KXIP and don’t think would’ve happened with Pune/Mumbai.
What does amaze me is that there is enough money to invest in this ($100 million guarantee etc) as confirmed by Atul Chordia of the Panchsheel Group:
"The reason given was that they unilaterally cancelled the bids," Atul Chordia, chairman and chief executive of the Panchshil Group, said. "It is not the question of happiness about the previous terms. Whatever terms and conditions were there we abided by it, whatever the tender form asked for we gave it, we tendered. We gave the 100 million dollar bank guarantee."
Whether or not Modi & Co. feel there is need for a Pune team, here are some arguments for it:
- There is only one team from West India (North has 3 with Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan; South has three with Deccan, Bangalore and Chennai).
- Pune is not Mumbai. It is not Navi Mumbai or Thane either. It is a whole other city. That is big enough to have its own IPL team. Serious.
- There are cricket fans in Pune. Although the lack of a ground may prevent us from proving this, we are ready to assemble eight times in two months at one ground to cheer our team. Promise.
While the BCCI and Modi mull over these compelling arguments, one has started to wonder what the name of this team could be… some thoughts:
- Puneri Peshwas: The flip side of this is if the Peshwa style of thinking and working came about, this team would fare worse than the KKR!
- Pune Marathas: This would be an invitation to large scale caste discussions. I hope not, but unfortunately there are enough disruptive elements around who would try to cash in on the fact that it is not only the Marathas who live in Pune (and the regions it would represent).
- Pune Pilots/Penguins/Parrots/Pensioners: Unfortunately, it could be some such alliterative nonsense that the city is saddled with. My imagination in all its limited ability could only come up with this. It is also unfortunate that Pune Pensioners for some reason, sounds like a good name for this team. Bah.
- Pune Chhatrapatis: Hey, if there can be two teams that are Kings (Super Kings, KXIP) and two Royals (RCB and RR), there can be a vernacular King as well.
As mentioned, my limited imagination stops me there. As does my ever-increasing fear of having a team that has some ridiculous name and even more ridiculous punchline etc. But hey, KKR is living with it, so can we. Chin up.
The Glam factor: This is critical for any IPL team. KKR, KXIP, RR, RCB, MI definitely have it. DC, DD and CSK definitely don’t. If Pune does get their team with the announced consortium (Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor and corporates), we will certainly have it. Much more than the others! Also, we can count on local bigwigs to turn up in all their vociferous and 010 glory (the 9-yard saree) to the games. Be sure to spot Atul Kulkarni, Sonali Kulkarni, a bunch of Firodias, Poonawallas, Kalmadis and the usual smattering of the P3P (Page 3 People). Hm. Come to think of it, that does bring down the glam quotient a notch, but we’re sure the Khan and Kapoors will come with their coterie/entourage to keep up the glam.
The Icon Players: With Pune hardly having any big name cricketers of note, we would have to look beyond our shores mountains plains railway tracks to find someone to ‘iconize’. I say bring in the foreigners, but only from southern hemisphere countries. We don’t want the whole “Northern fellow” issue being raked by the SS and MNS. I also propose that Hrishikesh Kanitkar come out of retirement and be involved with the team in a non-playing captain capacity. He has the brains, he has the experience, just never got the exposure. I also propose that we make Greg Chappel our coach. He is the only one who could keep the Peshwas awake, I daresay.
Schedule: One strong argument in favour of Pune having its team is that it will ensure the best possible lifestyle for players, fans and viewers on TV. Historically, Pune as a city has slept (siesta is too mild a word) from 1pm to 4pm. Phone callers during this time are routinely abused with unkind references to their mothers, fathers, sisters or all of them together. So a match in Pune may not start before 5pm. That is when Chitale Bandhu, Hindustan Bakery and Kayani Bakery will be definitely open for the fans to buy their bakarwadi, mawa cake and or wafers and head over to the ground (wherever that be). This timing would also ensure that teams playing in Pune get that extra hour to reach here. They will need it since there aren’t that many flights coming to Pune. And if they try to be smart by taking the bus from Mumbai, they will only have to suffer at Lonavala and also Vashi toll naka.
Facilities: One unfortunate fact of life would be that the team would invariably practice either at the Poona Club ground or at the Deccan Gymkhana ground – the only two venues in the city with grass on them. In the first case, they would live at the Blue Diamond or at Le Meridien. The Sun ‘n Sand is just too passé now. In the second case, the choices are limited. The Oakwood, Deccan Rendezvous, The Ambassador, The Coronet, The Pride, The Gordon House Hotel and The Orbett are a walk or a jog away, but may not be available at all times. The team owners/management would do well to have rooms on standby at Shreyas, Raj Lodge, Rajhans and even Ashish Plaza just in case an important politician from Baramati were to drop in and book all rooms available just to keep miscreants guessing where he is staying. Of course, the new hotels at Hinjewadi are an option, but I believe the lack of entertainment options would keep teams away from there. I mean, you can go to Mezza9 only so many times! If nothing works, Pune offers some of the most competitive rates on cot-basis sharing accommodation. Available in abundance around Deccan and Camp.
To sum up, Pune does deserve an IPL team. We are woefully short of good-looking people to cheer for on posters around the city. It would help to look up and for once, not see politicians celebrating their birthdays. It would be worth having merchandise that says “Pune *****”. It would be good to be at a stadium where we can whip Mumbai’s Kolkata’s a** for the world to see which is the better city.
And most importantly, we need the attention. The city needs roads. History has taught the Punekar that roads in Pune are built only when a major event is coming to town. So please, give us a cricket team.
P.S.: Please disregard the above if it offends you. It is a feeble attempt at humor. Don’t come after me with bats, stumps, cricket balls or plastic bottles. If you do like it, send me money. I also want to be part of the ‘consortium’ bidding for the team. Then we can make sure the team is NOT called Pune Pensioners.
Nov 09
AdityaCricket, Pune Cricket, cricket world cup 2011, ground, India, Mumbai, nagpur, Pune, stadium, world cup 2011
What a sorry, sorry state of affairs. The World Cup cricket returns to India after 1996 and there is no game for Pune.
Nagpur, on the other hand, gets four games. Including some big tickets ones including AUS v NZ and IND v SA in addition to two smaller games. So where does that leave Pune?
The MCA has done nothing of note to build a stadium worthy of international games in the city. Even recent Ranji Trophy matches have taken place at the Poona Club ground or at the Deccan Gymkhana ground neither of which have seating.
It’s pitiable, but a reflection of what the city is doing to itself. While definitely lacking in basic infrastructure, it is certainly better in support infrastructure (hotels, restaurants etc) than Nagpur. But the basic missing link – a ground – has yet again cost the city.
As Mr Kalmadi, our esteemed MP continues to bungle the CWG2010, the city reels. Sure, building a ground is not his job, but he does have a finger in every pie in the city’s development. Or the lack of it.
Much has been said about this, and it is really pointless crying over this. We will perhaps need to plan to catch the games in Mumbai (the Final is there) or Nagpur. Or maybe Bangalore or Ahmedabad… all accessible. Of course, none closer than a ground in the city, but one can’t live on pipe dreams, now, can one?
Sep 18
AdityaPeople, Pune fantasy, India, roads, spikes, suggestions for traffic, traffic
Yes, it’s one of my pet peeves. And I can’t be like some who find Zen in it. No disrespect… just that, I’m too hotheaded!
But there is hope yet. Some solutions can go a long way in “curbing the overenthusiasm” on Pune’s roads. Suggestions:
- Place spikes (big enough to puncture bus tyres too) at the STOP line that come up when the light turns yellow and go down only when it turns green. This will not only control speed, but also stop that irritating habit some have of standing across the line or zooming through before the traffic light has turned green. Or worse, after it’s turned red!
- Create separate routes for buses and trucks. Ideally, don’t allow trucks into the city from 8am to 10pm. That’ll ease the roads.
- Allow citizen policing. That is, if I see someone breaking the law, I can report them. Or beat them up. Maybe just report them!
- Refuse taxi licenses. Outright. Bas.
- Give drivers authority to run someone over (pedestrian or driver) if they are breaking the law. Serious. Else, we’ll only amplify this state of chaos we call traffic.
- Build better and bigger roads. I know, I’m clutching to straws here, but hey, I can wish right? Thoda aur wish karo!
Sure, none of the above is going to happen. And I may just have to heed to Alok’s advise about finding Zen in Pune traffic. The trouble here, though, is that if I smirk or giggle at someone, that’s good enough to start a fight! So I have to just stare at them. It’s a never-ending game of “who blinks first”. And normally, the flow of traffic decides the winner!
Sep 10
AdityaPeople, Pune flats, house, property, pune homes
It’s a fee paid for enabling contact or a service. That’s how I understand it. I’m not against it, but at times, can’t understand the value demanded by those who live off it.
Prime examples of commission proving to be a pain in the seat is when house hunting. And I’ve felt this pain many times over the last few years. None more so than in 2007 when I moved into my current rented accommodation in Pune. I’d paid commission in Mumbai and Bangalore previously where the norm was one month’s rent by the tenant and one month’s rent by the landlord (or so I believe… I couldn’t know for sure since I was always the tenant). In any case, I had never paid more than 30 days’ equivalent of rent to a broker/agent.
In Pune, though, landlords are truly lords. They don’t pay commission. The tenant needs to pay for two months’ equivalent. And there is really no scope for negotiation. 45 days? Bah. 50? Get out. 60 days’ minimum. More
Sep 02
AdityaGadgets, Pune croma, house of laptops, ipod, jbl, Lenovo, panasonic, plasma tv, Pune, shopping, vijay sales, xcite
1. Some of the comments in this article may well apply to stores of the chains mentioned in other cities as well, but my experiences are limited to the specific outlets I visited. I don’t aim to generalize my opinions for the entire chain.
2. The disclaimer above is to ensure that none of those big stores sue my a** off!
Now that we’re done with disclaimers (and their disclaimers!), it’s time to tell you the dirty truth about electronics store chains in Pune.
Recently, I have been around looking for an iPod docking station, a laptop, an LCD/Plasma TV and cell phones. I have bought all these items from different stores. That itself begs the question: what are these massive one-stop stores good for?
Yes, the hint is at Croma. As someone who takes his electronics quite seriously, I do expect store salesmen to be well informed. I don’t expect them to know all the minute details, but their suggestions should mean something. And at no store in Pune have I found this. The obvious incentive for them to push a brand/product is the commission they or the store stands to earn. In this regard, Vijay Sales (Sadhu Vaswani Chowk) is perhaps the best of the lot. More
Aug 12
AdityaPeople, Pune ajit pawar, h1n1, politics, Pune, suresh kalmadai, swine flu, virus
That would be the normal retort if we knew which pig to blame for the flu. As cities start to panic and people start to believe anything they hear, the government is starting to make some knee-jerk decisions. Take Pune, for example, where the outbreak seems to be the worst.
As of Tuesday morning, Pune had reported 5 H1N1 deaths of the total 8 in India in addition to over 300 other confirmed cases. While this hasn’t come about overnight, it is a typically lazy response to what now seems like a pandemic.
So what one saw on the streets of Pune this morning was a Sunday-like but only eerie silence. There was a heaviness about and one could really gauge what was being thought. As everyone adorned the “bandit queen” look, the ridiculousness of the entire situation was overwhelming. Despite repeated reports that the masks are to be used for just a day and not all masks are useful, people continue to buy them en masse. A report claims that almost 250,000 were sold across the city on Monday! Good business!
The solutions by the powers that be? One of the first things that the authorities have done is stay away. Pune’s two ‘powerful and influential’ ministers — Suresh Kalmadi (Congress I) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) have been conspicuously absent. Except for Mr Kalmadi’s face on posters welcoming Digvijay Singh to Pune, the city hasn’t heard so much as a peep out of him. And Mr Pawar responded to a newspaper report about his absence by making some nonsensical statement. Ignore, please. Then, remotely, they have administered the shutdown to the city. For those who aren’t aware, all schools, colleges, malls and movie halls are to remain closed for 3-7 days starting Tuesday. When some people were asking for this action about a week ago, there was ridicule that we should not bow down to it. More
Oct 13
AdityaPeople, Pune call centre, credit card, hdfc bank, telemarketing
*OR How I stopped unsolicited calls from a credit card company
I moved back to Pune over a year ago and when I got my new cell phone number, I wanted to have one that still let others identify what city it belonged to. Or an older series number. So Idea, whose services I had used previously, was chosen and a number taken.
Little did I know, however, that whoever had that number before me had not updated his records. So his calls kept coming to me (still do, in fact). Nonetheless, that wasn’t the trouble. The real problem was the telemarketing call. At least two daily from credit card companies (haven’t they seen my credit history?) and numerous others from random offers. But the random offers ceased once I registered for the DND.
Credit card companies, though, are a law unto themselves. Specifically, HDFC Bank.
During this time, I also made the mistake of opening an account with them and giving them the cell number. Thus began the endless saga of offering me a Platinum card (I must confess that it was an ego boost to be offered a Platinum card but I won’t take it since I do realize I will some day have to repay!).
Repeated refusals are not the kind of thing to deter these marketers. One (a Mr Krishna, I think) even went so far as to ask me, “Why not? What is wrong with it?” In the face of such stoic and single-minded selling, I almost wilted. But I held my own!
After the calling went out of hand (number had risen to four per day), I finally told “Sangita madam” to send their executive over. My resistance had given way. Or had it?
Unfortunately for her, she called me on a Friday and I told her to send the fellow over on Monday at 11am sharp. Accordingly, she called me on Monday at 10am to confirm the address and take directions even putting the chap on conference call. So I explained. And he assured me of his presence at my office at 11am.
And he wasn’t late. But since I never intended to take the card, I just met him and asked if all was ok with him and whether he would like tea or coffee. A bit puzzled (and irritated, I assure you), he asked, “What?”
“I never wanted a card but your guys kept calling and insisting I meet you,” I told him. “So I thought we should meet.”
“What?”
“If I hadn’t asked for you to come over, they would be still calling,” I explained. He was seeing the light of day by now.
As he despondently shook his head, I was surprised to see him perk up and smile. “I understand what you mean. These guys don’t give up. I assure you you won’t get another call from us,” he said.
I perked up and smiled!
And off he went taking in only a glass of water of my hospitality. And true to his word, the bank hasn’t called back. And I pray it stays that way!
Sep 19
AdityaPune
In four simple words:
- Ignorant
- Indifferent
- Arrogant
- Stupid
There. I said it. And yes, I belong to the above.
Aug 21
AdityaPeople, Pune bus, girl beats up conductor, pmpml, Pune, violence
It’s sad. But true. And very believable. See this all the time.
She beat him up!
Jun 17
AdityaPeople, Pune car cleaner, employees, hired help, life, maid, People, Pune
Yes, it exists!
And after ‘Traffic Signal’, nothing really surprises me. But this weekend was an eye-opener to be honest. So here’s what happened…
There’s a guy who is supposed to be cleaning the car daily and once weekly from inside. He is a habitual bunker and after about four warnings over the last year, I finally decided I had had enough. Apparently, he hadn’t! And that counted more than what I thought! More
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