The Consummate Professional
September 22nd 2006 02:26
"Playing off his pads"
Stars are born not made. They have the unique ability to master a sport, an art or even a skill. One such star is Sachin Tendulkar. Although admired for his craftsmanship within a cricketing arena, people sometimes forget to understand the preparation and the durability of such a star. Sachin is a consummate professional, he practices for hours and devotes him self to the one thing he adores, his life is cricket.
If only you and I were able to direct our most concerted efforts to the things we love. That is solemn the difference between stardom and mediocrity. Sachin has just returned to the world game after an injury that has plagued his return for the past year. He is continually being written off and labelled unfit to play the game he has mastered. How can the general population be so easily persuaded to believe such fickle rumours?? I acknowledge that he is coming to the end of an outstanding career however it is extremely unlikely for a man of his integrity to bow out without a fight.
There are few sportspeople around the world who are idolised the way Sachin has been for the past 17 years of his cricketing life. He has carried the burden of Indian cricket since he first debuted as a young 16 year old. He has since amassed the support of a billion passionate Indians who live and breathe his every move. He has conquered the pressure, the reliance of playing for his country with every calculated innings.
Since returning to world cricket Sachin has again silenced his critics with another graceful but calculated return to world cricket in the DLF Cup played in Malaysia. He was always going to fire, it was just a matter of timing for such people are born with the talent to entertain combined with a willingness to succeed. Even to the neutral observer Sachin is a graceful batsmen who makes the art of batting look quite effortless but to those who are stars, people like Tiger Woods, Michael Schumaker and Roger Federer to name a few, will realise the burden of such a gift.
Stars like Sachin only come around ‘once in a blue moon’, I therefore encourage cricket lovers, sports lovers and critics around the world to acknowledge and cherish his efforts as his innings comes to a close. He undoubtedly deserves to leave the game at the same dizzy heights as an Andre Agassi or a Steve Waugh. He is the consummate professional and he will continue to practice, prepare and deliberate as thought it were his first match.
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