And the Confusion Starts

A new study by researchers associated with princeton study has found that corn based Ethanol may not be the solution for world's climate problems. This study underscores the complexity of the global warming problem. The new study claims that land usage patterns are likely to change causing increasing destruction of existing forests. Infact, the study claims that corn based ethanol is likely to release twice as much carbondioxide into the atmosphere as gasoline. The renewable fuels industry has already begun questioning the results of the study. Their contention is that the study too "simplistic" and fails to put the issue of deforestation into context. Let the blame games begin!!!

Govinda! Govinda!

It is tough enough to play professional tennis. It is tougher if you are woman and you are Indian. Apparently a Tirupati advocate has filed a case against Sania Mirza for allegedly disrespecting the Indian tricolour during the Hopman cup in Australia.

Controversy has followed Sania Mirza forever. So this is nothing new. However, it is unfortunate that the controversies have driven her towards not playing tennis inside India for the foreseeable future. No wonder, Indian parents do not want their children to focus on sports during their formative years. Even if you are successful, what do you get? Harassment in the purest forms...

I am absolutely certain that nobody would have complained if Sania had been scantily clad in an Indian movie shaking her hips along with Nagarjuna for a Telugu masala song. We would even possibly have our Tirupati advocate standing in the queues outside one of the theatres desperate for a ticket.

I find the refusal of the Indian media to provide some sort of moral support for Sania Mirza astounding. When are we ever going to realize that she is just a kid pursuing her passion and trying to fulfill her dream. When are we ever going to realize that she is an inspiration for thousands of kids to take tennis as a sport and possibly one day win a grand slam tournament. When are we ever going to realize that if we just let her focus on tennis, maybe, very maybe, she can have a half decent tennis career.

I don't know about others...But here is a whole-hearted supporter of Sania Mirza.

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Black Sea Oil Spill

We are still reeling from the effects of the Bay area oil spill. Now there is second one that is even much bigger. We have now spilled 1.3 million gallons into the Black sea. I wonder who is responsible for cleaning up this disaster. Increasingly, it looks like an oil driven economy is not sustainable anymore...

Bay Area Oil Spill

Human error seems to be the cause of the oil spill under the Golden Gate Bridge. The ship, known as Hanjin, brushed against the bridge; leaving a gaping 100 feet gash resulting in a 58,000 gallon spill. The clean up cost for the state of California has probably already run into the millions, not to mention the amount of environmental damage. Further proof that oil is way more expensive than we think...

And it gets more complicated!

Looks like the person who finished 2nd behind Marion Jones in the 100m dash Kateria Thanou has already served a 2 year sentence since the Sydney Olympics for testing positive. Don't think she deserves the gold medal from Jones now.

There are complications with the other medals that Jones won as well. Especially the team medals. Two of her 4x100m team mates have tested positive for steroids since the 2000 Olympics.

Is the battle against steroids unwinnable?

The Heartache Continues

I am sports junkie without a doubt. I have been big time fan of all the philadelphia sports teams for the last 9 years. In this time, the philadelphia flyers have reached the conference finals twice, the philadelphia eagles have reached the superbowl once and the philadelphia sixers have reached the NBA finals once; all of them have comeback emptyhanded and broken my heart. Now add the phillies to this list. The fightin' phils reached the playoffs for the 1st time in 14 years only to fizzle out after 3 games. The phillies were swept by the colorado rockies in the division series and heartache of being a philadelphia sports fan continues...

Fall from Grace

We have been always too eager to criticize sportspersons over their inability to win. The lack of a killer instinct, no mean fighting spirit, inability to be strategic...the list goes on and on.

However, does winning always come at a cost? After years of denying, Marion Jones finally admitted to being a willing partner in the BALCO scandal. Once a symbol of everything that is right about being a female athlete, Marion Jones's fall from grace is now complete. Rightfully, Marion Jones is going to be stripped of all her medals.

We live in an world that is unforgiving to people who finish 2nd. Marion Jones has not only disgraced herself, but also taken away the joy from a person who rightfully (with a big IF) finished 1st.

I have always been an admirer of American sportstars. I am not so sure anymore. America seems to have a culture problem as far as sports is concerned. Corruption seems to have immersed itself in the American sport. Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong, NFL players and everybody else seems to be involved. Astoundingly American society seems to be unwilling to admit the extent of the problem.

Sure it feels good to come 1st. But I will always take the nice guys who fight hard but may not win! Because the word "win" now seems to stand for everything that wrong with sports today.