From sporting heroes to commercial monsters

The cricketers want to enjoy all the privilleges that come with stardom, but insist on privacy when it comes to spending a little time with their fans, writes VIJAY LOKAPALLY.

WHEN AND why did the cricketers transform from sporting heroes to commercial monsters? From being performers bringing joy to the masses to robots who move from one venue to another with very little emotions.

The rapid change, or deterioration should one say, in their attitude is the direct result of this too-much cricket syndrome.

If the credibility of the game has taken a beating, can the cricketers be far behind as critics point out the ugly commercialisation of the game as the prime reason for cricket degenerating into a money-making, unending soap opera on the small screen.

True, a cricketer's career does not span long but should that give him a licence to think only in terms of making money. Let them remember one great line from former Australian skipper Allan Border who is reported to have once told his colleagues ``you perform and the dollars would follow.''

None should grudge the cricketers making money from their genuine efforts on the field. I remember how once the West Zone and South Zone teams donated their match fee as a gesture for an Orissa medium-pacer when they learnt that the concerned player was not getting much from the souvenir he had planned to bring out and absolutely nothing from the state association. Times seem to have changed.

Cricketers are considered role models in India but these days the distance between a player, even an ordinary newcomer, and the fans is big.

The players want to enjoy all the privileges that come with stardom, but insist on privacy when it comes to spending a little time with their fans.

Few Indian cricketers, with the exception of Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, sport a smile when signing autographs. It takes nothing to smile at a kid with an autograph book. Worst are these two senior medium- pacers who sulk at the slightest opportunity of mingling with the public and another young wicketkeeper who revels in refusing autographs.

One incident comes to mind. It happened in Hamilton in New Zealand when a cute Kiwi kid handed his cap and pen to an Indian `star'. This cricket fan must have been hardly seven or eight years of age.

Without even looking at the kid, this `star' scribbled most disinterestedly, and flung the cap and pen on to a drinks cart. It being a restricted area the kid could only watch from a distance and this writer had to help him retrieve his `precious' acquisition. As the kid made his way to his seat at the far end of the ground one was left wondering what impression would he carry of that senior Indian bowler. Such individuals can present a poor picture of the entire team and in the process also convey a wrong message, for not all in the Indian team put up such a sulking and unfriendly front.

Like one said there are some exceptions like Tendulkar, who spends a good time with kids, and Kumble, who is grace personified when it comes to public behaviour. But then the list of friendly cricketers may not be long.

The advent of commercial agents has contributed a lot towards creating a poor image of the cricketers. An agent to push your commercial earnings is understandable but then the same agent also becomes a wall between well-wishers and the respective cricketer.

Imagine a situation where a mediaperson has to deal with these mercenaries of cricket to spend just a few minutes with the players. Nothing hurts more than a cricketer telling a senior scribe ``talk to my agent.'' Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, great cricketers in any all-time list, never had agents to deal with the media.

It would be interesting to know where does a fan figure in the scheme of things of these cricketers. Does a cricketer realise the hardships a genuine fan experiences in trying to get just a glimpse of his heroes? Does a cricketer realise what an autograph of a hero means to the supporter? Does a cricketer respect the feelings of the paying public, of people who stand in the sun to procure a ticket for the match and then sit in the sun to cheer them.

Even as the Board has launched an academy to improve the state of cricket, one feels it is time for the administrators to introduce a code of behaviour. It will do a world of good for the game and the players.

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Section  : Sport
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