Sports news > Cricket news > Silly point: How the IPL is turning cricket into sport's laughing stock
Silly point: How the IPL is turning cricket into sport's laughing stock
Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly suddenly becoming bosom pals, Shane Watson hitting a six with a broken bat and wickets prepared by cowboy curators. Welcome to the BCCI's new get-rich-quick scam.
by Craig Hackney on 23 April 2008
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If, before he died, someone had asked Liberace to design a sporting contest that was roughly derived from an existing sport, it would be fairly easy to predict what he would have come up with.
It would have been loud, flamboyant, adorned with way too much glitz and, importantly, it would have been entirely pointless.
In short, he would have designed something almost entirely indistinguishable from the Indian Premier League.
The experiment has begun and it is becoming clearer that the IPL is a competition without a soul. For those outside of India, there is nothing to become attached to. It is like an interminable series of exhibition matches, fun once in a while, but quickly losing their gloss.
Comments (30)
by Senthil Kumar on April 23, 2008
what don't know what the buzzword 'soul' means for sports? Any sport we like have the so called "soul" and anything we don't like don't have this "soul" thing. Is that the criterion?
by Craig Hackney on April 23, 2008
Sorry Mr Kumar, but what I mean is that the IPL has no grounding. It is an entirely artificial entity with no connection to a nation or city. It is more like Cirque du Soleil than a sport.
by canadaenglan on April 23, 2008
a scientist. had probably by helping I got Behind had probably turtles I got and saw from reminded exploring
by n n on April 24, 2008
this comp had potential but they are making a mockery of the game, with what they've done. The names, the outfits, the idiotic owners, and the tacky cheerleaders/dancers, hot girls are nice but have no place on the side of a cricket pitch. I've lost interest in the series already even though there are people hitting 30 runs in an over etc.
by Partha Rajagopal on April 24, 2008
Like it or not, IPL has been a huge hit in India, which is what it was intended to be. It is a domestic tournament in India with global talent being allowed, much similar to the county cricket in England. It is a new format of the game which attracts the younger generation more. And no one is denying the fact that it is 50% entertainment. Cricket is being packaged and presented in a new wrap to keep up interest. The only other place where it can draw crowds and TV audience is England. In other places, it may not gain that much popularity. This is a new experiment where players loyal to different countries are mixed in and made to clash. Interestingly, all seem to be playing with passion. It will take time for spectator loyalties to evolve. This is a new thing and it will not draw fierce loyalty right away. Players like Warne, with their leadership and passion will take it to a new height. Like it or not, IPL is going to stay and the world cricket will need to accommodate it or cricket, as we know of it, will disappear from this fast paced world.
by Rohit Sakunia on April 24, 2008
the moment somebody starts turning it on. ppl like you mr.hackney start hitting it below the belt, but IPL for a change is definitely too big for u. after reading this piece i came to understand what u really enjoy in the game. players fighting on the field. sledging etc.after all australians are known to enjoy "stuff". aint they. but IPL is an initiative to increase camaraderie. another frustrating point for u, i believe is that why cant any other board apart from BCCI do such novel things but my dear freind for that, apart from money u need a lot of creativity which india being the biggest knowledge powerhouse possesses it.
by Craig Hackney on April 24, 2008
Well done Rohit, completely wrong again. T20 was invented in England and the whole concept of combination teams for a tv audience was pioneered in the 1970's by Kerry Packer, so it's not that creative really. You also need to learn to read if you think that I said that I enjoyed sledging and fighting. As for the IPL being an initiative to increase camaraderie, not even you can be that naive. It is an initiative to make money -nothing more - nothing less. if you can't see that then too bad.
by Greg Smith on April 24, 2008
Yes the Tata motor car too, is here to stay... I doubt it will ever be a Ferrari ! The IPL is the IPL ! In ATP tennis terms, the French Open or US Open or Wimbledon will never dominate the sport. The IPL is the Hungarian Open of cricket.
by Maihu Don on April 24, 2008
I find it amusing when people without understanding/ following a thing jump on to conclusions. I guess you are not a journalist and if you are then I am sure that you are a english man.
by Arun Kumar on April 24, 2008
This all club system etc already happens in football ... So wht's the prob in cricket... Oops !!! Got it ... No other country have such a huge finances ... If cricketers r earning then y u getting so jealous ... U can't keep underpaying them in the name of keeping the so called "true cricket" alive ... U like it or not ... Cricket is only ruuning cos of finances from India ... Indian invented yoga but does the mean tht no other nation can use it? Wht a rigid mentailty .... IPL is the future and the sooner u accept it the better for u ... Even if eng or aus start their leagues then how can they have such finances???? Oh yes they have to target indian television market to sell the tv rights like IPL did in USD1 billion ... I am sure they will not get even 1% of wht IPL is getting ...lolzz .. I guess it wasn't long when australian (when they have control of all finaced) didn't toured india for nearly 10 years ... Now tht is wht u call as cash soaked board .... Now its the other nations turn to sit and watch and watch and watch ....
by Rahul Sharma on April 24, 2008
Everyone lust for a Ferrari, Mr. Smith, but only a handful can afford it. The car from Tata might not be a Ferrari, but it certainly is making the luxury of owning a car a bit more affordable....stop being a snob, which you cant help but be...........And Craig, dude, ur still a muppet....Just collect your pension and spend your time on the great outdoors, of your prison country, just dont get too close to your computer.
by Raven z on April 24, 2008
You're jealous about the way the game is progressing. Especially when it has become the Endless passion in Asia, it nomore belongs to England. I witnessed a match b/w Sussex and Surrey, hardly 1000 people were present in the stands… Goddamn, how boring it was… That why I say aou gotta be a Fanatic Loser… Get a life
by rohit sakunia on April 24, 2008
To me creativity is not only inventing something new but adding so much to it that the craze is sustained over a long period of time. as far as my knowledge about inventions in cricket is concerned i dont need a certificate from u. the point is though it started in england but it was the sub continent which added charm to it. remember what happened to the world cup when india and pakistan bowed out. its guys like lalit moi who had the aura and guts to come up with such a great idea and i hope u know that nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. tell me one thing why cant u have so many international players playing for english county, they wont. so mr hackney the next time u talk money plz remember that money no doubt is important in every sport but it ability to continously improve on a concept which brings you money. australians cant do all this, so stay behind and enjoy whats happening in india because it happens only in india. thats one of the reasons why today 4 out of the top 10 richest ppl in the world are from india.
by yatendra singh on April 24, 2008
its good
The IPL has been running less than a week, not exactly sustaining the craze over a long period of time. And what about the IPL has charm? As for your bigotted view of Australians, you have no idea. Your point about what happened to the World Cup is ridiculous - nothing happened to it, it didn't get any better or worse. It was a shambles from the start and although India going home may have dropped ratings in your country, it still did pretty well in mine. I suspect it did all right in Sri Lanka too and New Zealand and South Africa - do not overestimate the importance of any one team. One final point about County cricket is the reason that there aren't more internationals playing is because the rules won't allow it. The game is there to develop local talent, not prostituting long and proud traditions in the chase for on-field success.
by Chandra on April 24, 2008
I am an avid test cricket follower and I love test cricket. I am an avid ODI cricket follower and I love ODI cricket. I am an avid 20-20 cricket follower and I love 20-20 cricket. Whether IPL will succeed or not is something we dont know....only time will tell...so let us not look stupid by making statements one way or the other so early in the day.... The other day I was stunned when Sehwag got no applause for scoring a 50 against the home team -Hyderabad.....India's regionalism is so strong...IPL is only going to make it visible to foreigners......
World cup was flop just cos India was knocked out early ... Now if u don't like to hear tht then nothing can be done ... India is the only country which can make or break any tournament ... When India gets knocked off early it certainly will affect any tournament cos only Indian r the viewers .... hehhe... U get more Indian in a match of eng vs India tht too in england ... Just try comparing it when eng plays in India ... Talking abt the so called talent generated by england ... It for whole world to see ... Eng do't even a worth mentioning ODI or test team ... Haven't won any major tournament .. Their cricket start with ashes and end with it ... Now ashes is just a piece of crap ... India Vs Aus, India vs pak, India vs SA ... r considered more bigger games ... Notice the keyword here ... India ... Lolzz ...
by Craig Hackney on April 25, 2008
What a ridiculously conceited argument, Arun. The World Cup was a flop from the start. It was overpriced, overcontrolled and badly scheduled and that is why it failed, it had nothing to do with India's pathetic performance. This article is not anti-Indian, it is anti IPL. I am happy to acknowledge that India does a lot for world cricket, but not everything they do is right for the game, in my opinion. The IPL will almost certainly succeed for a while, but that does not make it good or right.
by rohit sakunia on April 25, 2008
Craig its a worldwide known truth that the wcup was a flop because india and pakistan bowed out. if u want i can give u figures as well. as far as cricket being enjoyed in australia and other parts. am sorry but i dont believe in something which gives enjoyment but does not get revenues because both enjoyment and revenues in cricket and other sports is directly proportional. yeah as far the prostituing point is concerned. u seem not to read indian papers becaus eif u read u will understand how local talent is being helped by these foreign pros to improve the game. this was one of the agendas of mr. modi and the early u understand it the better for you.
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