Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born 24 April 1973) is an Indian cricketer. He holds several batting records, including the most Test centuries and the most one-day international centuries, and was rated in 2002 by Wisden as the second greatest Test batsman ever, after Sir Don Bradman. He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, for 1997-1998, and the civilian award Padma Shri in 1999. Tendulkar was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997. Early daysBorn in Mumbai (then Bombay) into a middle-class family.

Sachin Tendulkar was named after his family’s favourite music director Sachin Dev Burman. He went to Sharadashram Vidyamandir School where he started his cricketing career under coach Ramakant Achrekar. While at school, he was involved in a mammoth 664 run partnership in a Harris Shield game with friend and team mate Vinod Kambli. In 1988/1989, he scored 100 not-out in his first first-class match, for Bombay against Gujarat. At 15 years and 232 days he was the youngest to score a century on debut. International career Sachin played his first international match against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989, facing the likes of Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir, and Waqar Younis. He made just 15 runs, being bowled by Waqar Younis, who also made his debut in that match. It was an inauspicious start, but Tendulkar followed it up with his maiden Test fifty a few days later at Faisalabad. His One-day International (ODI) debut on December 18 was equally disappointing, where he was dismissed without scoring a run, again by Waqar Younis. The series was followed by a non-descript tour of New Zealand in which he fell for 88 in a Test match, John Wright, who would later coach India, pouching the catch that prevented Tendulkar from becoming the youngest centurion in Test cricket. The long anticipated maiden Test century came in England’s tour in 1990 but the other scores were not remarkable. Tendulkar truly came into his own in the 1991-1992 tour of Australia that included a brilliant century on the fast and bouncy track at Perth. He has been Man of the Match 11 times in Test matches and Man of the Series twice, both times in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
His first ODI century came on September 9, 1994 against Australia in Sri Lanka at Colombo. It had taken Tendulkar 79 ODIs to score a century.Sachin Tendulkar is the only player to score a century while making his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy debut.

Wisden named Tendulkar one of the Cricketers of the Year in 1997, the first calendar year in which he scored 1,000 Test runs. He repeated the feat in 1999, 2001, and 2002.

Tendulkar also holds the record for scoring 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year. He has done it six times – 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003. In 1998 he made 1,894 ODI runs, still the record for ODI runs by any batsman in any given calendar year.

While not a regular bowler, Tendulkar has 37 wickets in 132 tests.

Highlights of Tendulkar’s Test career include:

• Rated as the second best batsman of all time (next to Don Bradman) by Wisden.
• Highest number of Test centuries (35), overtaking Sunil Gavaskar’s record (34) on 10 December 2005 vs Sri Lanka in Delhi.
• Played in the highest number of Cricket Grounds – he has played Test Cricket on 52 different grounds, ahead of Azharuddin (48), Kapil Dev (47), Inzamam-ul-Haq (46) and Wasim Akram (45).
• He is the fastest to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket history. He holds this record along with Brian Lara. Both of them achieved this feat in 195 innings.
• 4th highest tally of runs in Test cricket (10,323)
• Career Average 55.79 – Has the highest average among those who have scored over 10,000 Test runs
• Second Indian to make over 10,000 runs in Test matches.
• Has 37 Test wickets (14 Dec 2005)
• Second fastest player to reach 9000 runs (Brian Lara made 9000 in 177 innings, Sachin in 179.)

Highlights of Tendulkar’s ODI career include:

• Played more matches than any other cricketer
• Most Man of the Match (50) awards
• Appeared on the most grounds (89 different grounds)
• Most runs (14,146 as of 15th February, 2006)
• Most centuries (39)
• Most centuries vs. Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
• First cricketer to cross 10,000-run mark in ODIs
• Only cricketer to cross 14,000-run mark in ODIs
• Only player to have over 100 innings of 50+ runs as of February, 2006
• Over 100 wickets (141 as of 15th February, 2006)
• Highest batting average among batsmen with over 10,000 ODI runs (as of March 17, 2006)
• Highest individual score among Indian batsmen (186* against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 1999)
• Holds the record for scoring 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year. He has done it six times – 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003.
• In 1998 he made 1,894 ODI runs, still the record for ODI runs by any batsman in any given calendar year.
• In 1998 he hit 9 ODI centuries, the highest by any player in an year.
• World Cup
• Most runs (1732 at an average of 59.72) in World Cup Cricket History.
• Player Of The Tournament in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
• 673 runs in 2003 World Cup, highest by any one in a single Cricket World Cup.

If you know any other details about My Lord Sachin Tendulkar, then please feel free to add to this Biography.

http://damodarology.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/10/second-test-on-kumble-s-lucky-date.htm

Miniclip, provides the best online flash games and has been growing tremendously with millions of users surfing every day. First time I came to know about miniclip was in the year 2003 when I contacted them for online advertising of our product.

There are plenty of online flash games portals with Zapak as one indian company which is badly advertising their product on Google PPC, investing huge some of money in online advertising. I have seen Zapak, Miniclip and other portals, the best among all flash game portals is Miniclip.

Which one do you guys like?

http://onlinegames.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/09/online-flash-games.htm

After the presentation on the college and the meeting with Professors and tea, we were ushered into a huge hall which was lined with chairs in a rough circle. We were then told that we would be playing some games to get to know each other better. Everything in me protested at the two words ‘playing games’. Whoa! Hold on a minute! What do you mean ‘playing games’! We never signed up for that! Playing games is for kids, right? My daughter is now grown up and starting college! Isn’t that why we are here for godssake! And I am a menopausal woman with knee pains now. Who’s bright idea was this anyways? I groaned inwardly and looked around desperately for an escape exit but it seems that all doors were sealed and that we were good and properly trapped.

The program co-ordinator began to explain the rules of the game and I had a feeling of starting out on one of those roller coaster rides where you do not know what will happen or how you will react. I began to wonder whether there wasn’t some law to protect innocent citizens into being coerced into doing funny things and generally making fools of themselves. Seems there wasn’t or else we were all dumb sheep meekly submitting ourselves to the tyranny of the ‘games’.

The first game was a version of ‘pass the parcel’ the old birthday party game, except that here the parcel was a bright red balloon which was filled with helium so we had no option but to hold it tight when it came our way and then pass it on. I am the kind of person who does not relish public attention, to put it mildly, so I was quite sure that if the buck (the balloon) stopped with me and all eyes turned to me, I would react like a deer struck still by the headlights of a car. I wouldn’t know what to say or do. The balloon did it’s merry rounds though and stopped at all the right places (if it didn’t stop with me the place was right) and we watched others squirming as the centre of attraction, a nervous middle aged woman, a garrulous teenager, a shy boy and thanked God it wasn’t us.

This game over I breathed a sigh of relief, now we could all wend our ways home sweet home. But, no, my dear, there was more to come. More games, more rules, more directions.
Funnily enough, by now, I had given up my misgivings and got into the groove of things so to say. ‘If you can’t win ‘em join ‘em’ became my philosophy of the moment. I began to appreciate how inhibitions were being shed, how playfulness and cheer was being brought about, and how a sense of camaraderie was being created in us as a group. When it came my turn at the mike I spoke without stuttering or breaking out into a sweat and managed to say all the right things. And whaddya know, I actually won a prize at the end of it!

Now I’m thinking maybe there is something to this ‘playing games’ business after all.

http://neeras.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/playing-games.htm

http://www.groundreport.com/Lifestyle/Security-At-Olympics-2008

At some point of time in our busy lives,we tend to sit back and dwell on certain things we have done,certain things that we do and we feel that we can or could have done better….

But it does not happen coz we do not have anyone to guide us or at times,we do not get the support from the right people….

As you read this blog,you might think of certain things that you might want to improve upon…..It might be the way you behave with people,it might be the way you do your work,it might be the way you care for your family…..

Everyone amongst us in unique….we are good at some things bad at some things….Its just about seeing other’s good and imbibing those good things into our lives and becoming a better person afterall….

We all get to live only once as the person whom we are,right now…..So lets try to figure out what we are wrong at and then improve ourselves by active support from fellow bloggers…..This way,we are heping some other person sitting in some remote corner of the waold,we are helping him/her become better……I am saying this coz no one is perfect…Including me….

I am putting forth one of my weaknesses….I would like you all to help me out with my problem……And at the same time you can put forth something that bothers you….So that any samaritan reading this blog will come along and post his views to help you out…

My Problem:
I am a chain smoker….I know many of you will squirm in your seats when you think of smoking,many of you will think its not a big deal smoking…

But the big deal is to QUIT SMOKING!!!!!!
I am unable to do it right now and i am sure i want to do it….It is in this matter that i want your support to lead me to a smoke free life…

As i said,i am starting this blog…so i am putting forth my waekness first….You are always welcome to deviate from this topic and share your own feelings

Thanks in advance….Looking forward to your active participation….

http://downpourofwords.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/lets-play-a-little-game-to-unearth-ourselves-and.htm

PICTURE STORY!

Olympics Games opens in Beijing in the National Stadium nicknamed as Birds Nest !
The National stadium will host the main track and field competitions for the 2008 Summer Olympics as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium can seat as many as 91,000 spectators during the Olympics. This stadium costs 423 million US$ for China to build .This is the showpiece of the Olympics and was designed by Swiss Architects.This is an architectural wonder which shows Chinas emergence as superpower.

Inside Story !

Ai Weiwei one of China’s renowned artists collaborated with the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in designing the Bird’s Nest. But since then he has become an outspoken critic of Chinese government policies on civil liberties and other issues. The man who designed this stadium says this “I was questioning whether it’s possible for a society that doesn’t have democracy to excite the joys and celebrations of its people. And is it possible for such a society to win international recognition and approval when liberty and freedom of expression are lacking? “Ai has coined the phrase, “pretend smile,” as a label for China’s Olympic effort. The biggest disappointment as per him is that China has fallen short of its promises, which is, “One World One Dream,”As the result of criticism he has not received any invitation for the opening ceremony!

PICTURE STORY!

Birds Nest at Night

China has spent estimated $42B To Host Beijing Olympics which is a big sum for a developing country to put into a two-week sports show. This Olympics hosted by Beijing would take the title of the most expensive games ever seen, thanks to the $20 billion worth of city improvements undertaken along with the games by the Chinese Government.

Insider Story!

The ground was broken on December 2003 to build Bird’s nest , and construction was started in March 2004. In January 2008, concerns about construction working conditions arose when it was revealed that 88 workers had died during the stadium’s construction. Chinese officials deny that there have been any deaths.

Picture Story

Aerial view of the Northeast Second Ring Road, a new highway interchange, from the top floor of a housing complex.

The plan to triple the size of Beijing’s expressways and build dozens of sports facilities is one of the largest construction projects ever in China since the construction of the Great Wall.Beijing had spent $12 billion in 10 years to spruce up the city. Much of the money will be spent on infrastructure and environmental projects regardless, but hosting the Olympics is seen as a natural extension of efforts to improve Beijing.


INSIDE STORY



New sports venues and $40 billion spent to improve China’s infrastructure have not solved Beijing’s air-quality woes.

Half of Beijing’s 3.3 million vehicles hs been pulled off the roads before the
Olympics to help clean the city’s air for the games. Under the Government plan during Olympics vehicles will be allowed on the roads on alternate days according to even or odd car registration numbers from July 20 until Sept20.

The Government has shutdown polluting factories in Tianjin, about 70 miles east of Beijing, part of the regional plan to temporaryly close factories across a large part of northern China during the Games.

SUCCESS STORY !

This turtle-shell-like structure is a terminal for a new express train linking Beijing Capital International Airport to downtown Beijing.Terminal 3 will be the world’s largest at nearly 10 million square feet.


At the same time, the money spent is already bringing benefits to China. This has given a powerful impetus to the construction of housing and transport facilities; Additional government contracts have encouraged the development of domestic high tech companies working in adavanced technology areas and expertise.

TECHNOLOGY STORY !

Light glitters on the glass-and-titanium shell of the National Grand Theater and on the surrounding water.

SMOG INSIDE STORY

Members of the US athletics team arrived in the Beijing city wearing face masks Pollution levels on a typical day in Beijing

Some researchers say pollution levels are nearly five times above WHO standards for safety.

While China Succeeded in creating a world class infrastructure for thIs Olympics on par or better than any other country which hosted in the past, this is one area which appears to be a challenge and huge embarassment to the Chinese Government .

Chinese promised green with the commitment of clear sky at the time of bidding for Olympics.Chinese officials promised to pour $12.2 billion into cleaning up. The difficulty is that Beijing has been trying to control pollution as its economy grows at more than 10% a year, Workers flood in from other provinces and more than 1,000 cars are added to the road each day.

President of the IOC, has warned that outdoor endurance events will be postponed if the air quality is poor.

While everyone was fighting for freedom and rights for Tibetians during the Olympic Torch events , the air quality has proved to be the biggest challenge now . It is finally going to be Mother nature who will decide the air quality .Wind can blow pollution to Beijing from thousands of miles away, while a lack of wind can cause chemicals and particulate matter to build up in the city.

Now the embarassment for Chinese Government for now is not freedom or human rights but this issue of freedom to breathe! The Western countries are trying to further embarass China by such gestures of asking athletes to land in China with face mask!

FINAL STORY OF ACHIEVEMENT

OPENING CEREMONY REHEARSAL

The Beijing Olympic Games will be a perfect occasion to fully display China’s 5,000-year history and its resplendent culture, a grand ceremony that will gather athletes from all over the world and present diverse and brilliant cultures.

The Olympic Games, especially the opening ceremonies, will be a showcase for the world’s fastest growing major economy. From the fantastic “bird’s nest” stadium to the lavish Olympic facilities which were all but complete last year, China is staking out its territory as an unprecedented success story on the world stage.

WELCOME BEIJING OLMPICS

WELCOME ASIAN SUPER POWER CHINA FOR THE SUPER SHOW

LET THIS BE THE MOST SPECTACULAR SPORTS EXTRAVAGANNZA OF THE YEAR 2008 !

http://sivaram56.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/beijing-olympics-picture-and-inside-stories.htm

But guess what! that ’something valuable’ came to me in the most unconventional manner, totally unexpectedly.

While traveling in an auto rickshaw, listening to Radio Mirchi, I was enjoying the music when traffic update came. Many people from different parts of NCR had reported the traffic situation to the radio station which they broad casted to the city.

I thought to myself what if these calls were fake! Or let me put the question in another way.

What if these callers had applied game theory before calling the radio guys?

Let me explain. There is this guy (lets call him Shankar) who travels from place A to place B everyday in the morning. Everyday he meets traffic jam and hence gets delayed. Recently he studied about game theory and its applications. So he thought to try it out.

Next day when he was traveling to place B, he calls up Radio Mirchi and informs them about the concocted traffic jam (not in reality) on that route. Now Radio Mirchi broadcasts the message over its network, listening to which many people don’t take that route that day. Our man Mr. Shankar does not encounter any jams and gets to his destination in time.

I know there are umpteen assumption in this simple example but just think of the possibility. Certainly it is possible if more than one person is involved in the act and when it happens, we would encounter a not so good yet interesting application of Game Theory.

http://chanakyaspeaks.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/07/interesting-example-of-game-theory.htm

A captain should never blame his team.

It is irresponsible of you to blame the defeat on the batsman.
When you lose, do not start pointing the finger of blame at anyone.
I would have expected you to have learnt from the mistakes of your immediate predecessor.

The ‘team’ lost.
A team is not only the batsmen,
but also the bowlers, fielders and a captain.

That team lost because they let the opponents, who were 100/1 at halfway mark, reach 315.
A team, where 5 bowlers conceeded 156 runs for no wickets in 15 overs, an ER of 11.
A team of youngsters, who you told us would justify their selection on the field.
They didn’t.

You chose the team, Mr Dhoni. You chose the entire squad.
Those 156 runs is your failure – you got your bowling lineup horribly wrong.

You decided on field placements that could not contain their batsmen.

You decided on the batting order too, that could not deliver in the circumstances.
It is for you to know every batsman’s capabilities, experience, form and his mindset
before you decide on the batting order, not after.
It is not a ‘gut’ thing.

This is not a lesson of how to play, to hoick sixes,
it is a lesson in how to be a true leader your players will look up to.

http://www.thesillypoint.com/blogs/#top