So what is the supporter of an IPL team supporting? His city or the team or one of its players? Each fan has his own reasons. To many at an IPL venue, it is just about an evening of fun, about soaking in the fairground atmosphere. But there is a place for the IPL in the Indian cricket fan’s mind. Teams that have made an effort to maintain continuity and win local fans over have reaped the rewards.
In the summer of 1990, Fiorentina sold Roberto Baggio to Juventus, triggering riots in Florence that left at least 50 people injured. The clubs shared an animosity that preceded this transfer — “We’d rather be second than thieves,” Fiorentina were already singing — but things went really sour after Baggio’s move. Sol Campbell’s move to Arsenal from Tottenham Hotspur, after running down his contract and leaving on a free without warning, will never be forgiven. Luis Figo famously had a pig’s head thrown at him at the Camp Nou after he moved from Barcelona to Real Madrid. And Arsenal fans circulated fake 20 pound notes with Ashley Cole’s face on them when he arrived at the Emirates Stadium as a Chelsea player.
YET THERE WAS BARELY a murmur when Yuvraj Singh moved from Kings XI Punjab, where he was an ‘icon’ player in his home State, to Pune Warriors in 2011. This season, Yuvraj is turning out for his fifth IPL side in nine seasons, but there has been no out-pouring of anger or grief. After six years of representing his hometown side Delhi Daredevils, Virender Sehwag joined Kings XI Punjab in 2014. But there was no uproar, no outrage.
TO COMPARE EUROPEAN football clubs over a century old, with established fan-bases, to an eight year-old T20 league is unfair. Take the case of Barcelona, a club that became a vehicle for expression of the Catalan identity, or that of one of the many Premier League clubs in England that have working-class roots and were built by the community. How can a Sunrisers Hyderabad engender that same feeling of ownership and pride? How can Kolkata Knight Riders evoke the same passion as Mohun Bagan — a club that played a role in the Indian freedom movement — in a Mariners’ fan?
Bu hikaye Sportstar dergisinin April 23, 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Sportstar dergisinin April 23, 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?
The making of a batting behemoth
If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.
A question of recognition
After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.
Thinking straight, thinking right!
“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.
The league of the masses
With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.
