There
have always been contentions and conflicts between superstars of their
respective games and administrators. However, the recent spate of such
instances has again ratcheted up this issue into the public domain.
Fans
of any sport are left in a conundrum when they are asked to take sides, and end
up questioning themselves whether their favorite star has become
bigger than the game. As many of us know, it is not an ideal situation to be in
and is ultimately unhealthy for the game – ever more so – for the people
directly involved.
Let’s
explore a couple of instances and look into the probable causes that has
resulted in complications – fueled and fired by all sorts of reasons
and played out in the open through press conferences, public tirades, official
statements, unofficial remarks, SMSs, leaked letters, social media
updates, rumors and speculations; scoops, conspiracies, and almost
anything that one can think of.
Kevin Pietersen – The
Troubled Genius
One
unfortunate case that is currently being played out has resulted in Kevin Pietersen
commentating rather than dishing it out in the field at the ICC World Twenty20
2012 – which is set to continue as he has been omitted from the Test tour of India.
Although
it is a loss for cricket aficionados, many analysts believe that the ECB is
justified in its actions and his exclusion could actually be better for the
greater good of the team and the game of cricket itself. Further credence is
offered by the fact that this is not the first time that Kevin has been at
loggerheads with the ECB – with his teammates and some section of the media
having borne the brunt this time around – and is an eventuality that was just
waiting to happen looking at the timeline of his career thus
far, and it would be a misnomer to say it was not expected.
Indian Tennis – Game,
Set, Ban
When
it comes to tennis in India, things have reached such a low that nothing seems
to baffle the ardent supporters of the sport that has brought India such rich
accolades, and made us proud over the years. The latest was provided by
the All India Tennis Association (AITA) banning Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan
Bopanna from representing India for two years– which, although could be
challenged – has already brought the great sport of tennis into disrepute and
maligned the reputation of some its greatest exponents. As if that was not
enough, it was followed by an explosive press conference by Mahesh Bhupathi,
spilling the beans and letting the world know what exactly was cooking in the
once hallowed underbelly of the sport.
Many
experts believe the ban is a culmination of the long tussle between Leander
Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi – whose doubles pairing made it through to all the
Grand Slam finals in the year 1999 – decided to go their separate ways in what
was seen as a clash of egos with the world seemingly at their feet, where the
AITA played its part towards flaring up the dispute to perfection.
Although
the pair did go on to win many big titles with different partners, the
legendary duo of Indian tennis failed to bring the kind of laurels and medals
they could have brought for their country, if only they would have continued to
play together.
Their
excruciating parting left fans contemplating what could have been, and
questioned the players’ commitment to the country. It left many others to
ponder over the selfish nature of the sport, and questioned whether the stars
have really become bigger than the game that they adore.
Now,
all that the players are really fighting over is their legacy, and the stage is
set for the dispute between the troika of All Indian Tennis Association (AITA)
Chief Anil Khanna, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes – whose role in the whole
dispute in still unraveling – to be played out in the judicial courts
and legal arbitrators, that could manifest into many more suits
and counter-suits.
Perhaps
the most unfortunate part of all this is the public mudslinging that has
reflected the national heroes in bad light. I guess the time is long gone when
there was great dignity in silence and arguments. Today, differences and
conflicts are being stirred and perhaps settled in the public domain, rather
than in the obscurity of closed doors by level headed minds.
Some
other case in points comes from the most popular game in the world, football,
with the long drawn-out saga of Carlos Tevez and Roberto Mancini; the farcical
episode about Cristiano Ronaldo being sad at Real Madrid, and the never-ending
problems of Mario Balotelli with seemingly everybody else just to name a few.
Although
there are many other instances playing out around the world, emanating from different
sports that can be elaborated and analyzed profoundly to prove that stars are
perhaps becoming bigger than the game, the more important thing to address now
is where does this leave the fans – the most important stakeholders in any
sport – who are feeling disillusioned and disheveled, which is
possibly the biggest threat of these sordid and inauspicious tales. We might
have the answers sooner than we think and all we can hope is that things get
better, and we can continue to enjoy our favorite sport played by our beloved
players.
Source: Sportskeeda.com
