I am still in Greensboro. Since I had some free time, I thought I would post this.
This happened on our way to Greensboro, North Carolina.
We had booked our flight from San Francisco. It was an A 321 (Air Bus). The plane was fully booked. Whenever I pay for myself, I travel by “cattle class” only. Thank you Mr. Shashi Tharoor for coining that phrase. We could not sit together. My wife’s seat was 7B. My seat was 8B.
In an A 321, there are 3 seats in each row. A is window seat. B is center seat. C is aisle seat. The best is aisle seat. Window seat is second best. Center seat is the worst. We both had the worst seat.
As soon as we entered the plane, my wife sat in 7B. I went to the next row. There was a good-looking girl sitting in 8A. There was a guy sitting in 8C. Now I have to sit between them. The guy was already flirting with that girl. As soon as I approached them, the guy told me he would be glad to sit in the center seat and I can have the aisle seat. It was a win-win situation. I got the aisle seat for me. He has an uninterrupted 5 hours of flirting with that girl and get cozy.
However, man proposes and God disposes. (That good-looking girl must have been a frequent flyer with lot of points to her credit. She must have asked to be upgraded to executive class.) After a few minutes, the airhostess comes and tells the girl that she has been upgraded to executive class. She picks up her stuff and leaves saying goodbye to that guy. Now I took pity on that guy and asked him if he wants his aisle seat back. He said no and he would be happy to sit in the window seat.
However, the airlines think otherwise. Since the girl in 8A has moved to executive class, now that seat is “officially” vacant. After a few minutes, a big fat guy has been allotted that seat and comes and sits in that seat. Now our friend is in the middle seat. I asked him one more time if he wanted his original aisle seat back. Now he is embarrassed to take back what he gave me originally. He said no and I can sit in the aisle seat.
While this is happening in my row, in row 7, a guy came and sat in 7C, the aisle seat. I asked him if he would like to exchange to 8C. He said he would be happy to. Therefore, I took 7C and he took 8C. Now my wife and I were sitting side by side in 7C and 7B.
The poor guy, who gave up his aisle seat in 8C for me so that he can flirt with that good looking girl, ended up sitting in the center seat 8B, between 2 fat guys.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
And Now The Award Goes To....
I received this Beautiful Blogger award from Neha.
Thank you Neha. I am honored. I would also like to thank you for being the spokesperson and recommending my blog to other readers.
Now, I would like to pass on this award to:
Insignia – She has no idea that I consider her as my blog guru. I got my inspiration to write my own blog only after reading her posts. To this Ekalavya, she is like Dronacharya. I hope this Insigniacharya does not ask my typing fingers to be cut and given to her as guru dakshina.
Renu - She is one of my favorite blogger. She writes on different subjects and is not afraid to voice her opinions.
Shruti - She is a down to earth blogger. I like her writing style.
I am off to Greensboro, North Carolina, for a week. See ya’ll when I return.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Serena Williams
Serena Williams’ behavior at the semi final of the U.S. Open brings disgrace to the entire sports community. Almost at the match point, a lineswoman called foot fault. Serena was so incensed that she began a tirade against that woman.
According to CBS, approaching the lineswoman who made the call, Serena said “I’m going to shove this (bad word) ball down your (bad word) throat”. A review of the tape showed that Serena did not make a foot fault. However, her behavior cannot be excused. Even Mr. Nice Guy John McEnroe said that was too much. A tennis player with a star status, Billie Jean King criticized Serena.
It does not matter what the circumstances are. No player should be allowed to engage in this type of behavior and not face the consequences. This includes some cricket players also.
I am not saying questioning the umpire is wrong. The limit should not be crossed. Many professional American baseball coaches argue with the umpires. The most famous for this was the late Billy Martin. He was the coach, at different times, for Oakland A’s and New York Yankees. He said once: I do not go and argue with the umpire thinking he will change his decision. I argue with him so that next time he wants to call against my team, he will think twice. I also never use any foul language.
Serena did not argue with that lineswoman. She made a verbal assault. What did the tennis association do? They fined Serena $10,000. This is nothing for her. What they should do is to ban her from professional tennis for at least one year. That will send a message to all those unruly players.
Some call questioning a decision of the umpire shows a determination. We all should have the determination to win. But verbal assault is not a sign of determination to win.
Also some athletes loathe opponent’s victory. Here is a page from the history book.
4th test match India vs. New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi which began on March 19, 1965. On the last day, almost at the closing time, India started to bat for the second innings. India needed 70 runs to win. After about a few overs, the drinks came on to the field. This is a good chance for the New Zealanders to “waste” precious time and thus end the test in a draw. Do you know what the New Zealand Captain John Reid did? He told the drinks people to get off the field and continued the match without a drinks break. India won by 7 wickets. New Zealand 262 and 272. India 465/8 declared and 73/3. John Reid wanted to fight the Indians till the last ball is bowled but in an honorable way. He should be a role model for other cricketers.
For those who are interested, here are some more details of that test. Venkatragavan took 12 wickets (8 in the first innings and 4 in the second innings). Nawab of Pataudi and Dilip Sardesai hit centuries in the first innings. The winning run was hit by Dilip Sardesai.
The End.
According to CBS, approaching the lineswoman who made the call, Serena said “I’m going to shove this (bad word) ball down your (bad word) throat”. A review of the tape showed that Serena did not make a foot fault. However, her behavior cannot be excused. Even Mr. Nice Guy John McEnroe said that was too much. A tennis player with a star status, Billie Jean King criticized Serena.
It does not matter what the circumstances are. No player should be allowed to engage in this type of behavior and not face the consequences. This includes some cricket players also.
I am not saying questioning the umpire is wrong. The limit should not be crossed. Many professional American baseball coaches argue with the umpires. The most famous for this was the late Billy Martin. He was the coach, at different times, for Oakland A’s and New York Yankees. He said once: I do not go and argue with the umpire thinking he will change his decision. I argue with him so that next time he wants to call against my team, he will think twice. I also never use any foul language.
Serena did not argue with that lineswoman. She made a verbal assault. What did the tennis association do? They fined Serena $10,000. This is nothing for her. What they should do is to ban her from professional tennis for at least one year. That will send a message to all those unruly players.
Some call questioning a decision of the umpire shows a determination. We all should have the determination to win. But verbal assault is not a sign of determination to win.
Also some athletes loathe opponent’s victory. Here is a page from the history book.
4th test match India vs. New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi which began on March 19, 1965. On the last day, almost at the closing time, India started to bat for the second innings. India needed 70 runs to win. After about a few overs, the drinks came on to the field. This is a good chance for the New Zealanders to “waste” precious time and thus end the test in a draw. Do you know what the New Zealand Captain John Reid did? He told the drinks people to get off the field and continued the match without a drinks break. India won by 7 wickets. New Zealand 262 and 272. India 465/8 declared and 73/3. John Reid wanted to fight the Indians till the last ball is bowled but in an honorable way. He should be a role model for other cricketers.
For those who are interested, here are some more details of that test. Venkatragavan took 12 wickets (8 in the first innings and 4 in the second innings). Nawab of Pataudi and Dilip Sardesai hit centuries in the first innings. The winning run was hit by Dilip Sardesai.
The End.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)