Skanda on Murali 

By T.M.K. Samat 

ONE aspect that is difficult to keep out from any tribute to Muthiah Muralidharan is the controversies of his 12-year career. It would've been nice if his world record were celebrated purely for the awesome achievement it is. But, inevitably, it won't _ and Hair, Emerson, the doosra, bias and what have you would work their unwelcome way among the roses and champagne.

There are times indeed when you wonder if it is about paying tribute to the hero or a reason to fling poisoned darts at perceived enemies of Muralidharan. Expressions of angry emotions can be nasty, ugly and remote from reason. And that, I am afraid, is what we've been mostly hearing and reading since the off-spinner replaced Courtney Walsh at the top of the bowlers' tree.

So, when the Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club staged a felicitation dinner to Muralidharan the other night, it was pardonable to expect a continuation of that trend. But the name of S Skandakumar on the list of speakers promised it might be different. He is, after all, Group Chairman of George Steuart, a revered business house from colonial times. They don't leave the fortunes of a 169-year old company, in the hands of one given to, among other flawed traits, a reckless tongue.

As well, Skandakumar knows his cricket; played it for Royal, the Colombo University, Tamil Union and was Board Secretary more than once. And has attended ICC meetings at Lord's. The man's background showed on that night Muralidharan was honoured. He chose his words well and delivered them with eloquent dignity. It's not that he didn't go into the controversies of the hero. But his subtlety drove the point harder than hard-words can, laced with humour at times. He went beyond the playing fields, reminding Muralidharan not only of his part as national cricketer, but also his role in the country's quest for peace.

Enough _ I'll leave it to Skanda to say his piece:

Ladies and gentlemen, I consider it a great privilege indeed to have been invited this evening to propose the toast, at a function as unique as this, and before such a distinguished audience

When Jim Laker demolished the might of Australia at Old Trafford in 1956, with a Test match haul of 19 wickets,the world of cricket was convinced that it would never see a better off-spinner in the game. Today, a nation that was not even remotely considered for Test status, at the time of Laker's feat, stands united and proud by its prodigal son, on a spectacularly unique achievement.

It was in 1992 that a former cricket captain of our club, Damian Nadarajah, enrolled a shy young Anthonian to the Tamil Union.  Thank youDamien, for that introduction.  The lad was Muthiah Muralidharan. His first international tour with the club's team was to Dubai in 1992, where thanks to the wide experience of teammates of the calibre of Channe Wijemanne, Champaka Ramanayake, Thilan Wijesinghe, etc., he was inducted into the ways of the world! The Tour Manager, Felix Perumal's private diary had this to say of Murali -  ''he stumbled on his first catch, but learnt quickly and held his own thereafter." Murali was never shy ever again!

It is common knowledge that Murali's outstanding international career has not been without its distractions.  While sordid allegations of match-fixing, ball-tampering and drug-taking have sullied the good name of the game, Murali has kept his integrity, whiter than white. He has demonstrated that the heavy commercialization and intense competition do not have to impact in any way, the high values and standards of the noble game, and has humbly acknowledged the age old adage, ''no matter who you are, the game is always above you." 

We all know that it is the tree that bears the finest of fruits that attracts the largest number of stones. In that respect, Murali is no exception.  Many have been the attempts to distract him from his focus and many there will be in the future as well. I recently read the opinion of an ex-Test cricketer from a neighbouring country, suggesting that Murali should be credited with 527 Test run outs.  Somewhere beneath a turban may well lie a serious tragedy, a condition that would merit sympathy rather than outrage. Nevertheless, a response to such unadulterated rubbish, would only dignify ''trash."  Murali would therefore, be best advised to leave aside issues of this nature, which are of nuisance value, in the hands of Sri Lanka Cricket, and to continue to focus on the game, in which he has the strongest of identities. The upside of all of these controversies is, that Murali, is as easily recognizable the world over, as the Bushes, Blairs Mandelas and Annans of today.

Murali's batting has been less predictable than his bowling and fielding.  His attempted pulls to mid-wicket, may occasionally have seen third man on the run, whilst his Wally Hammond like cover drives, oftenput fine leg on alert. 

But at Asgiriya, in a recent Test series, Murali came into his own, when he put the might of Australia's bowling to the sword, demonstrating that if he gives his batting the same attention as his fielding and bowling, the world of cricket may well see the emergence of another all-rounder.

The Prime Minister has in his address, vividly outlined the contribution of the Tamil Union to the nation's cricket. I will, therefore, not labour on the point further, except to reiterate that the Tamil Union's association with national cricket and its controlling body has been long, close and unique.  It was appropriately picked as the venue for the inaugural Test vs. England in 1982 and almost as if a blessing was conferred, the venue registered Sri Lanka's first ever Test win in 1985. From the 70s, the club was  ''home" for many less-privileged outstation cricketers and amongst those who eventually made the national team, were Athula Samarasekera, Champaka Ramanayake, Dileepa Wickremasinghe, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, who moved from us to the SSC, Indika de Saram and Upul Chandana.

Today, sadly, a deafening silence surrounds the P. Sara Stadium, where international cricket is concerned and I have no doubt that our friends at Sri Lanka Cricket who are amongst our distinguished guests today, will redress that in due course. There are simple things that add meaning to life.  Let me share one with you. ''A society that forgets its past, is often in danger of being surprised by its future."  After all, today is what it is and tomorrow what it might be, simply because of all the yesterdays. I make this observation more as an appeal to our distinguished guests from Sri Lanka Cricket, rather than a criticism.

Murali, congratulations on joining your equally illustrious colleague, Sanath, as the United Nations second ambassador from our national team to fight hunger. Your total acceptance throughout the length and breadth of Sri Lanka makes you both excellent Ambassadors to deal with another form of hunger that hangs over our nation.  I can see Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala already making his notes! Yes, to help our elected leaders to alleviate the nation's burning Hunger for Peace. 

Murali, ''thank you", not just for the pride you have brought to our nation, but also for the exemplary manner in which you have achieved your success. Your sense of gratitude is reflected in the way you have responded to your parents, your school, your coach and your former captain.  Your compassion is seen in the numerous charitable causes you are associated with. Your commitment is written in ''black & white" whenever you are on the playing fields, and your loyalty, a rare commodity these days, is borne out by your uninterrupted association with the club, throughout your distinguished international career, for which we are most grateful.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask you please, to rise and drink a toast to an outstanding cricketing son of Sri Lanka, to thank him for the exceptional pride he has brought to our nation. May he continue to walk ahead, in the path of cricketing success, as he has done in the past, with his head held high and his feet firmly on the ground: To Murali.

Well spoken, Skanda.

Marzook: They still call me 'Boxer' 

''MOST of the people I meet on my work-rounds call me boxer," says M.H. Marzook, the one-time boxer who these days sell an assortment of imported wares to Colombo's five-star hotels. ''I doubt if boxers of now will be called that when they get to their 50s."

Ours was a chance meeting after some years, not surprisingly, by the ring at the conclusion of the 62-year-old Layton Cup meet two Fridays ago. We hadn't been treated to any exceptional fare; the essence of the boxing as we knew it _ blood and pain _ were conspicuously missing. 

 ''Back in the 60s and 70s the ring was pretty much Torture Square. The contestants entered the ring consumed by a desire to poleaxe the opponent; the canvas invariably was bloodstained and more than one boxer left the stadium swathed in bandages, looking like a half-done mummy. Spectators came by the thousands to see a bloody spectacle _ and boxers were remembered long for their bravery," said the Asian Championship bronze medallist of 1967 and undefeated National Feather weight champion, 1967-74. ''These days even women can do boxing, and they do. The sport is too much a softie for boxers to be remembered as boxers."

The 56-year-old appears to be a classic case of a once-famous pugilist clinging to the world of his youth to keep afloat his ego in a sea of change. Suggest that to him and he snaps: "Everyone has an ego to feed _ and mine's well fed. Thirty years after retirement and to yet be called 'boxer', is. well, that makes my day, everyday." And the two-time National Best Boxer adds: ''I might sound like an old sentimental fool, but don't tell me today's boxing is better than yesterday's _ that's a lot of bull s." 

Try arguing against that, and Marzook will throw at you achievements from the 60s that would floor you, as his right fist of old literally did to those who stood in its way.  "HK (Karunaratne) won a gold medal at the '67 Asian Championships, I won a bronze and Jaroof lost on a split decision to the eventual goal medallist. The last time a boxer fought in the Olympics was Karu in1968 _ no one since," barked Marzook.

 ''Today a lot is made of the SAF medals our boxers have won. But who are their serious challengers _ Indians and Pakistanis. In the 60s we fought against them in international duals, and won, especially in the lighter weights. Also, I can't remember us losing any of the (annual) Indo-Ceylon Schools contest in the 60s. Boxing was at a peak then."

You might get this impression: he's a video from the past, a voice from the blabbering world of old punch-drunks, blindly loyal to the half-forgotten days, his days. Not so. "I am not saying that talent stopped with the end of our boxing careers. It's just that amateur boxing itself has changed dramatically. AIBA has put in many safety requirements _ so many that boxing has become something else, not the blood sport it once was. And so, is losing its public appeal," says Marzook, who counts fourteen years of active boxing, beginning at St Michael's, Polwatte, in 1960.

In his era, and before, boxers went to combat with only the bare essentials: a pair of horsehair-padded 8-ounce gloves, and, as former ABA president DIG Jayakumar Thangavelu succinctly says, "anything to hide your nudity."  These days: 10-ounce gloves padded with foam; foamy head protectors, gum shield, cup protectors and boots. ''During our times, boxers fought barefooted and none of the present-day paraphernalia. Unless, you knocked your opponent out before about 15 seconds, it's pretty certain you're going to take some punches on the face _ and that would leave you with cuts in your lips, inner cheeks and gums, sensitive skins crushed between thudding leather and your 'ivory', " says Marzook.

He looks at present-day boxers in their silky Everlast trunks, cotton vests and tall shiny boots and says, "they are a lot luckier than us. It's great for the sport that it has big businesses like Slimline, Unichela and Caltex putting in money. Dian Gomes as president is one helluva a boost. He not only recruits to his workplace outstanding young boxers, but also provides them with everything, from gym to ring, plus living quarters in the factory premises _ as well as, boxers' diet, nutrition and medical. These were things we only dreamed of. If this environment was there 30-40 years ago, I think we wouldn't have had to wait half century to win our second Olympic medal."

So what was it like during the 60s? "The one word answer would be hell. Of course, we didn't think it was that because we were taught that comforts don't make good, tough boxers.  Boxing was a hard world then," says Marzook, who wasn't born with a sliver spoon, same as his Slave Island boxing mates like, M Jaroof, M Johoran and T N Yehiya, all National champions.

''(But) we had our followers, mostly small-time traders from the many Cross Streets of Pettah. They were boxing fans and we were their heroes. There was one merchant who supplied us our daily eggs. There was another, one U G Corea, who provided us with a room and meals at the Bristol Hotel a few weeks before a meet_ he was the hotel's manager and boxing-crazy," says Marzook. ''Home (in Slave Island) was only two bus halts away, but Bristol had a bed to sleep on."

The lot of today's boxers is luxury in comparison to what boxers of  Marzook's endured. Would he rather have been born some thirty years later and boxed in these times? ''That's a tough one to answer." And after some deep pondering, he adds, ''I think not..I'd rather be called boxer even in my later life."

An unending story of greed and betrayal 

By Peter Roebuck 

South Africa has been thunderstruck by the exposure of widespread corruption in its leading sport. Within a few weeks of securing the 2010 World Cup detectives across the country swooped to arrest nine referees on charges of taking money from club owners and coaches to fix the results of important matches. Apparently the going rate was rather more than forty pieces of silver. Further arrests are expected. A senior club official is in hiding and numerous referees are jumpy. Reports indicate that many of the accused are eager to turn State's witness by way of saving their own skins.

It is yet another tawdry tale of greed and betrayal in sport.. Not even the most childlike optimist can any longer pretend that athletic recreations elevate the soul. More drugs are taken at the Olympics than at a hippy convention ( if such can be imagined). Australian cyclists have been described by a team-mate as having more holes than a pin cushion. Sumo wrestlers have been taking bribes to fix their contests. Nothing can be taken at face value, not at the highest levels anyhow, where fortunes are made and those playing by the book are left behind. Golf, kabbadi, bowls and tiddly-winks look better by the day.

South African detectives allege that South African soccer has been corrupt for years. Cynics will suspect that investigations were discouraged until the campaign to stage the World Cup had been completed. Certainly authorities took little notice of a ref prepared to blow his whistle upon his colleagues. Instead he was ostracised. Uncompromised inspectors sent to scrutinise matches were forced to hide in the stands for fear of retribution.. It is hard to avoid thinking that South African soccer did not want to know about the cancer in its bowels.. Meanwhile the bank accounts of the corrupt swelled and their numbers rose.

No excuses can be made for those guilty of greed and opportunism. Corrupt referees and complaisant administrators deserve to spend the rest of their lives having dinner with Donald Runsfeld. Appointed to the role of the honest broker, the referees betrayed the game and their position. Players are expected to accept the decisions of officials without demur. It is a great tradition and top referees and umpires are respected around the world because they display humanity and firmness besides which their eyes and ears work uncommonly well. Its part of the discipline instilled by any game worth a rupee. The corrupt were servants of a wonderful sport , stewards of a great tradition.

Apparently fixing matches was easy. Players were given yellow cards for minor offences, free kicks and penalties were awarded willy-nilly, off-side flags were raised and so forth. Often some of the money was given to linesmen and influential players representing the side that was supposed to lose. Generally it only took a few blatantly prejudiced decisions to provoke a rash of red cards, penalties and so forth. Moreover, the chosen team only needed to prevail by a single goal.

The audacity of the refs was mind-boggling. After several years of more or less independent activities they formed themselves into a cartel responsible for regularising the fees needed to fix a match. They might as well have started a trades union for corrupt referees. Sometimes loot was taken from both camps. Whichever side won, the ref apologised to the losers and promised to make amends whereupon he rang whichever mate was blowing the whistle in the team's next match to call in a favour ..Apparently the going rate was 9,000 rand for an important league game and 40,000 rand for a cup match, not bad for a fellow collecting a legitimate fee of around 1,000 rand

. , Nor can officials escape scott-free.They stand accused of ignoring the evidence or else putting their own spoons in the honey pot. Referees were paid a pittance and treated without respect. In most cases taking charge of soccer matches was their profession and sole source of income. Most of the accused are young men in their thirties with families to feed. They were as vulnerable as an underpaid policeman. As corruption became endemic, referees were forced to choose between conscience and career.

Clearly the corrupt must be pursued with the full weight of the law. Nor can compromised officials survive the falling of the guillotine. Senior officials acted like the three monkeys. They did not see because they choose not to look. Every manjack of them should resign. In default, every manjack of them should be sacked. Of course it is not going to happen. Administrators everywhere have a cartel of their own.. Contemporary sport is not replete with instances of men taking responsibility for dark deeds discovered on their watch.

'Tikiri Varam' rewards excellence in sports 

Seylan Bank's "Tikiri Varam" scheme provides for reimbursement of surgical expenses, if any, incurred by Tikiri account holders.

In addition, the scheme also provides for monetary rewards for the best Advanced Level results district-wise.

Those talented Tikri account holders who represent their country in sports and cultural events etc too, are recognized and rewarded.

In accordance with the spirit of the scheme, four Tikiri account holders who represented Sri Lanka at the recently concluded SAF Games in Islamabad, Pakistan were rewarded monetarily for their excellent performance at the games.

Miss. Menaka De Silva of St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo 07 won the silver medal for 50m free style and bronze medal for 4X100m free style relay.

Miss. Miniruwani Samarakoon of Gateway International School, Kandy was the youngest swimmer aged 12, at the SMF Games to win a medal. She was awarded two bronze medals for the 200m butterfly stroke and 4X100m medley relay. She was also placed fourth at the 100m butterfly stroke.

Miss. Chathuri Abeyakoon of Ladies College Colombo 07 won the silver medal for 100m free style and Bronze medals for 50m free style, 4X200m free style relay, 4X100m free style relay, 4X100m medley relay.

Mast. A Milinda De Silva Wickramasinghe of St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 was placed fourth in the  4X200m free style relay

The Director / General Manager / Chief Executive of Seylan Bank - Ajita Pasqual presented them with the rewards under the "Tikiri Varam" scheme and encouraged them to reach for higher goals in the future too.

Anil, Devin win P&O Nedlloyd Keells Trophies

Last Sunday saw 38 sailboats compete for the P&O Nedlloyd Keells yachting trophies in the choppy waters of Bolgoda Lake, off the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club.

A total of 24 GP-14, Enterprise and Laser sailboats participated in the open national class, with Anil Gunawardana, crewed by his wife Michelle, emerging the clear winner. Sailing a GP-14 Series II (the only boat in the race made in Sri Lanka, by the master-craftsmen of the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club) and flying a blue and white spinnaker, Gunawardana finished almost 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rivals, Joseph Kenny crewed for by Pramukshi Kariyawasam & W.P.K. Janaka crewed for by K.D.S. Kumara of the Navy Sailing Club.

There were 14 participants in the Optimist Class race, which is limited to children between the ages of 9 and 15. Despite winds gusting to 12 knots, there were no capsizes and all completed the gruelling hour-long race. Devin Goonewardena of Stafford International was the clear winner, with Radhika Jirasinha of Ladies College and Viren Dias of CIS being runners up, after first-runner up Sacha Guneratna (S. Thomas' Prep) was unfortunately disqualified over a technicality.

The awards were given out by British High Commissioner Stephen Evans, himself a keen sailor. Speaking at the event, High Commissioner Evans expressed his delight that P&O Nedlloyd Keells (A joint venture between John Keells Holdings and P&O Nedlloyd), were supporting the sport of sailing, for which much hope is being held in the coming 2006 Asian Games. On behalf of P&O Nedlloyd Keells, Mr Romesh David gave an assurance that sponsorship of sailing was something the company was committed to in the long term, especially given Sri Lanka's potential as a south Asian wind- and water-sports hub.

•  3rdAsian Grand Prix 2004-Colombo Leg

Lanka aim for more gold 

By Hishan Welmilla 

The second leg of the third Asian Grand Prix 2004 is to be worked off  on a  grand scale today at the Sugathdasa Stadium, Colombo under lights. This  will  be the second Grand Prix hosted by Sri Lanka which had the privilege of  hosting the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix 2003 as its first ever  international Grand Prix meet.

Sri Lanka will field over 50 athletes for the Colombo leg and they will  compete in 23 events with over 180 top athletes in the Asian region  representing nearly 20 countries. They will be performing in front of  their  home crowd, which is expected to be high. The crowd turned out for the  last  years' Colombo leg was remarkable and it may be the largest ever  recorded in  an International athletic event in Sri Lanka.

As hosts Sri Lanka could field two athletes per event at this second  leg and  it would be an ideal platform to the budding athletes since they gain  an  opportunity to compete against the top athletes in the region. AA Sri  Lanka  will field 29 junior athletes in today's competition in Men's 100m  (10),  Women's 100m (10) and Open long Jump event (9). They also have the  chance of  winning nearly seven million rupees or even more depending on their  performances. Sri Lanka bank on their top athletes Susanthika  Jayasinghe,  Damayanthi Darsha, Sugath Tillekeratne, Rohan Pradeep Kumara to bring  glory  to the motherland in their respective events together with youngsters  to  grab more gold on the home soil.

The day's proceedings will star with the men's discus throw and women's  4x100  at 4.15 in the evening and final events for the day will be 4x400m  relays  scheduled to commence from 6.30 in the evening.

Sri Lanka bagged two golds, one silver and two bronze medals at the  first leg  of the Asian Grand Prix held in Bangkok last Wednesday. Olympic bronze  medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe had a clean sweep in her event, women's  200m  but it was not the best of Susanthika. She clocked 23.34 seconds. Rohan  Pradeep Kumara gave Sri Lanka the other gold medal when he finished  first in  the men's 400m with a time of 45.83 seconds. Unfortunately another  medal  prospect Sugath Thillekeratne could not compete due to and injury and  Jani  Chathurangi who participated in the women's 100m in Susanthika's  absence had  no success and finished fourth. The Sri Lanka relay team bagged the silver  medal  in the men's 400mx4 event finishing behind India even without their star  sprinter Sugath Tillekerantne. Damayanthi Darsha who returned to the  international circuit after an year managed to clinch a bronze medal in  her  pet event women's 400m with a time of 52.82 seconds. The middle  distance  runner Chaminda Wijekoon gave the other bronze medal when he finished  third  in the men's 1500m with a time of 3 minutes 58 seconds

With the initiative of the officials of the Athletics Association of  Sri  Lanka and the guidance of the new Minister of Sports Jeewan  Kumaranatunga   arrangements have been made to hold cultural events depicting Sri  Lanka's  customs and traditions to make today's event a remarkable one in the  history  of athletics in Sri Lanka. The ministry of sports has granted seven  million  rupees to the organizers to conduct this event with a few more sponsors  like  Abans and Sri Lankan Airlines.

 On the completion of the Colombo leg athletes will leave for Manila,  Philippines to compete in the third and the final leg of the Asian  Grand  Prix 2004. Although last year's Grand Prix comprised four legs,  India  could not host its event in Hyderabad due to the general election during  the  later stage of May. The three meets of the 2004, Asian Grand Prix  series in  Bangkok, Colombo and Manila will offer total prize money of nearly  23.3  million rupees. The Asian Grand Prix Commission will meet the entire  sum  needed only as the prize money for each of three meets and USD 2000,  1000,  500 and 200 offered respectively for the top four places. This series  will also give the last chance to the Asian athletes to reach the qualifying  standard for the 2004 summer Olympic games in Athens.

Negombo hotels take the field 

THE Negombo Hoteliers Association plans a memorable celebration to mark its 25th annual cricket competition between hotels within the district on July 3 at the Albert Peries Stadium, Wenappuwa..

Former Sri Lanka captain and current Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arjuna Ranatunga, will be chief guest at the event, a 17-hotel Softball Six-a-Side competition. An array of attractive prizes, including radios and bicycles, is on offer.

"Some of the participating hotels will have more than one team and we're preparing to cope with a crowded day's program. The tournament will staged on a league basis and will be conducted on two different pitches," said organizing committee official, Samantha Guneratne, General Manager, Club Hotel Dolphin, Waikkal.

The 17 competing hotels: Ayurveda Pavilion, Blue Oceanic Beach, Browns Beach, Camelot Beach, Club Hotel Dolphin, Club Palm Bay, Golden Star, Goldi Sands, Palm Village, Ranweli Holiday Resort; Royal Oceanic, Sunflower Beach, Seashells, Sunset Beach, Starbeach, Topaz Beach and Silva's Beach.

The event is the highlight of the 29-year association's calendar of events, and is intended to foster camaraderie among the staff of the many rival hotels in Negombo. ''I think there are more tourist hotels per square mile in Negombo than anywhere else, with the probable exception of Bentota. The competition for business is intense, and meeting up with fellow competitors in a friendly atmosphere, off-season, is helpful," says Guneratne.

The fun and games kick-off at 8 a.m. Saturday next and, as Guneratne lyrically says, ''won't end until the setting sun has dissolved the last of the boats on the blue."