THIS OLD RUSH!

TIM De Lisle, in a lovely article on Sachin Tendulkar’s recent match winning century at the Compaq Cup final, used the term ‘The Old rush’. Indeed looking at the world of Indian sport this week, it’s quite relevant. Leander Paes won his 10th grand slam and he isn’t exactly a teenager right now and the same is the case with Sachin. Both of them, for Indians, are era defining sportsmen in their respective disciplines. But, personally, my connection with them runs deeper. Since my initiation into watching either cricket or tennis, these have been two names that have been a constant. The sad passing of Michael Jackson this year meant that the music world lost an irreplaceable icon, but it was apssing of an era for me, someone who’d literally grown up knowing only one real pop star. No one, or nothing in the music world will be like that again.

In sport? I won’t even wish to contemplate what it would be like to watch cricket in a Sachin less era, knowing that his flashes of genius and masterclasses of talent will not be seen again. Or who would be an Indian tennis player I can empathize as much with, and get enthused by the burning passion like Leander Paes. Forget about their stats – they are much too good, anyway – what makes them stand out is their constancy. It’s a thrill to see them going great guns, and the only thing I hope for is to be able to enjoy this ‘old rush’ as long as possible and cherish it.