[amitoj]

Originally Posted by Proxima

I wonder if the IPL will adversely affect students studying for their exams. Especially because there are so many matches spread out over 2 months.

Wait till next year. There will be 2 more teams which means even more matches!

Originally Posted by prince_pervez

He is willing to disclose all the Franchise details. The others have their feathers ruffled now. Mandavli on 26 April .

I tell you, this whole behind the scenes activity is turning out to be more interesting than the actual matches! Who will blink first? Modi or everyone against him?

Just on a side note: I realised IPL has become more of a soap opera than cricket when i came to know that even housewives are following IPL
This is just a light hearted comment, which in no way is meant to belittle the fairer sex.

[CaliAtenza]

Originally Posted by e1t1bet

(1) No, betting can exist without fixing and in a lot of countries it does.
(2) Yes, betting and fixing can coexist. So can a democracy and corruption. Doesn't mean that corruption is a fundamental component of democracies.
(3) Before condescendingly telling people that "they are mistaken", please make sure your own statements don't show case your double digit IQ.

sports betting, like someone said earlier, is legal in a lot of countries. You ever been to Las Vegas and see the massive amount of sports betting that goes on in the Casinos? Its one reason why they dont have a professional sports team in any league.

[funda2max]

CSK are into the finals! They will win the cup as well.3rd place for Bangalore.

[1-Testosterone]

I would go with MI's as they are gonna make MM of CSK's.

[srishiva]

Sachin needs to win this. He hasn't won anything major as a captain or being part of the team.

[pb10gagan]

Originally Posted by srishiva

Sachin needs to win this. He hasn't won anything major as a captain or being part of the team.

If he wins this he will not be Sachin. To be Sachin you have to play great and win nothing important and still keep the orange cap. Lets hope Pollard Wins this for MI. Once the land of most feared team, the west indies, needs a revival.
I also hope Dhoni leads CSK to victory here. It will be a befitting tribute to one of the coolest captains we have ever had and would give him lots of confidence going into the T20 world cup.

[Ranjan Sharma]

Originally Posted by pb10gagan

I also hope Dhoni leads CSK to victory here. It will be a befitting tribute to one of the coolest captains we have ever had and would give him lots of confidence going into the T20 world cup.

Coolest captain indeed. I am sure CSK is gonna take the trophy this time. You can see the presence of captain matters in this team and ofcourse Dhoni is unbeatable..!

[CaliAtenza]

I still dont know why the government is involved in this IPL brouhaha. What other country in the world does government get involved in sports? Ok, if they defaulted on their taxes, then yes they should pay it back, but any and all other matters should be dealt with by the BCCI and the IPL themselves. None of this "Investigation in Parliment" bullcrap. Our "elected" representatives have MUCH better things to worry about, like how to provide electricity for everyone, food, water, health care, etc, etc.

[kiku007]

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

I still dont know why the government is involved in this IPL brouhaha.

The ruling Govt/Cong Party had to succumb to pressure and forced it's minister to resign. The Govt/Cong Party will not sleep until it gets some skeletons out from the opposition or even it's Ally the NCP or even BCCI/IPL for that matter so that all attention shifts there.

Not that's it's right or wrong, but it's politics for you!

[manolin]

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

I still dont know why the government is involved in this IPL brouhaha. What other country in the world does government get involved in sports? Ok, if they defaulted on their taxes, then yes they should pay it back, but any and all other matters should be dealt with by the BCCI and the IPL themselves. None of this "Investigation in Parliment" bullcrap. Our "elected" representatives have MUCH better things to worry about, like how to provide electricity for everyone, food, water, health care, etc, etc.

This would be fine if BCCI were not claiming to have the sole right to administer cricket in India- if you want such rights, and want to be the sole representative of India in the sport, then you have to be accountable (as in I mean function independently but be accountable). Such accountability can only be to the government of india (and consequently to the people via the judicial process). This structure is needed for all sporting bodies in India, be it hockey or the olympic association. Without such accountability, the principles of fairness, and natural justice (like one can't participate and administrative the same things) will not be present, and to me, the absence of such principles in the BCCI constitution and rules (and administration thereof) has led to all this brouahaha.

[CaliAtenza]

Originally Posted by manolin

This would be fine if BCCI were not claiming to have the sole right to administer cricket in India- if you want such rights, and want to be the sole representative of India in the sport, then you have to be accountable (as in I mean function independently but be accountable). Such accountability can only be to the government of india (and consequently to the people via the judicial process). This structure is needed for all sporting bodies in India, be it hockey or the olympic association. Without such accountability, the principles of fairness, and natural justice (like one can't participate and administrative the same things) will not be present, and to me, the absence of such principles in the BCCI constitution and rules (and administration thereof) has led to all this brouahaha.

As far as im concerned, government has absolutely and should have no role in sports other than maybe outside token support. If the BCCI has violated laws, then yes, they should be accountable for that (Tax laws, etc). Now as i understand it, the BCCI is a private body, but politicians/government officials are involved. That needs to change immediately. The government shouldnt be allowed to touch sports even with a 10 ft pole.

[SilentEngine]

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

As far as im concerned, government has absolutely and should have no role in sports other than maybe outside token support. If the BCCI has violated laws, then yes, they should be accountable for that (Tax laws, etc). Now as i understand it, the BCCI is a private body, but politicians/government officials are involved. That needs to change immediately. The government shouldnt be allowed to touch sports even with a 10 ft pole.

BCCI is the official body that represents India in world cricket. It may be a private body, but it does have monopoly in India cricket. That's one of the reasons why ICL didn't fly. You cannot have a situation where BCCI does whatever it wants and is not accountable to anybody.

If you read the current situation, it has got nothing to with cricket, the sport. All the issues are related to financial, administrative and other non cricketing aspects. So i don't see any reason why government shouldn't interfere and find out if there are any illegal transactions of any kind. If government doesn't do that who else is going to?

[CaliAtenza]

Originally Posted by SilentEngine

BCCI is the official body that represents India in world cricket. It may be a private body, but it does have monopoly in India cricket. That's one of the reasons why ICL didn't fly. You cannot have a situation where BCCI does whatever it wants and is not accountable to anybody.

If you read the current situation, it has got nothing to with cricket, the sport. All the issues are related to financial, administrative and other non cricketing aspects. So i don't see any reason why government shouldn't interfere and find out if there are any illegal transactions of any kind. If government doesn't do that who else is going to?

Ok, take the NFL or the NBA or the MLB. Do you ever hear about the US government getting involved? Very rarely, unless its something serious as refs taking bets on games (NBA) or the steroid scandal in the MLB some years back. In fact, most professional sports leagues in the US are exempt from Federal Anti-Trust regulations, which bassically means the government cant get involved unless its something very serious and usually it doesnt care.

I dont see the problem with the BCCI being the sole representative of cricket in India, thats fine. But it should be allowed to police itself, without government interference. If there was monetary impropreity that falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian legal code, then so be it, then only the government should get involved.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

Now as i understand it, the BCCI is a private body, but politicians/government officials are involved. That needs to change immediately. The government shouldnt be allowed to touch sports even with a 10 ft pole.

it probably never will. that's why

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

I still dont know why the government is involved in this IPL brouhaha. What other country in the world does government get involved in sports? Ok, if they defaulted on their taxes, then yes they should pay it back, but any and all other matters should be dealt with by the BCCI and the IPL themselves. None of this "Investigation in Parliment" bullcrap. Our "elected" representatives have MUCH better things to worry about, like how to provide electricity for everyone, food, water, health care, etc, etc.

in India, where there is money, there will be politicians, corruption, scandals and there will be a point when somebody would want to interfere.

BCCI or anything for that matter doesn't run the way NFL or MLB are run in USA.

in the end, I like the fact that these things are not "settled" between politicians and somebody is being brought to task. whatever may the motive be behind all that.

[SilentEngine]

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

Ok, take the NFL or the NBA or the MLB. Do you ever hear about the US government getting involved? Very rarely, unless its something serious as refs taking bets on games (NBA) or the steroid scandal in the MLB some years back. In fact, most professional sports leagues in the US are exempt from Federal Anti-Trust regulations, which bassically means the government cant get involved unless its something very serious and usually it doesnt care.

I don't follow NFL, NBA or MLB so don't want to comment on that. Also just because it works like that in the US doesn't mean India should follow that model. USA and India are different.

Originally Posted by CaliAtenza

I dont see the problem with the BCCI being the sole representative of cricket in India, thats fine. But it should be allowed to police itself, without government interference. If there was monetary impropreity that falls under the jurisdiction of the Indian legal code, then so be it, then only the government should get involved.

I don't think the government of India has at anytime interfered in BCCI operations before. BCCI is free to police itself. But this time, it looks like BCCI has failed to act. Whether IPL has breached any of Indian laws, we will find only after investigations, which will not happen by BCCI alone.