Media, Hype and disappointment of Indian Cricket fans!

It was unfortunate that so many Indian fans reacted in such a violent way burning effigies, ransacking the houses of the cricketers after the defeat against Bangladesh. Cricket is called a gentleman's game. I don’t think the same can be said about cricket fans, especially in India and Pakistan. Cricket is no longer taken with the Sporting Spirit. A win is associated by the fans with upholding the country's respect and a defeat is viewed as a national disaster. The same fans who sing their praises, idolize them, resorted to violence after the defeat. When we win, we use all the superlatives to describe them. We would share their accomplishment and celebrate their success. Media would elevate them to the status of demigods and inspire us to worship them. When we lose, we go to the extent of hurting the family members of the cricketers. Media would again use all the expletives only to describe the pain of losing the match. We gladly share the success but don’t share the pain of their defeat and give more pain to them. Are we right in doing so?

Sporting Spirit! We all studied about Sporting Spirit in our school days. We are all told by our teachers and parents that it’s the spirit of participation that matters, not the result. Then why does Young India react so violently for a defeat? The educated along with others resort to such violence. I wonder what they would achieve by doing so.

These extreme things apply not just to cricket but to our lives, our professions as well. In our work and personal life, there are lot of people who have expectations from us. If we are right in behaving in a violent way for the cricketers not meeting our expectations, would we be ok if we were met with same response when we don’t live to the expectations of others? Do we ever bother to think about it? When it comes to us, we are humans. Aren’t the cricketers humans?

I wonder if there aren’t better things to protest against! Would there ever be a protest if some political leader lets us down? I don’t think so! I wish we could use our energies against something which would benefit us.