Moneyball - Reflections

 

Socialism and Private Leagues is a bunny for round table debate. From NBA in America to EPL in England the pouring of money transcends over players like Andrea Iniesta and Lionel Messi. Such pouring that Christiano Ronaldo is considered bigger than the game he plays. In reality Big Leagues around the globe were a reflection of the unregulated market. Today they are a manifest destiny of the crisis of that same market.

Practice in Economics has been seen from an ethical point of view after the Global Economic Crisis. But if one tries to look at the way big league around the globe has been characterizing themselves for past ten years, one would be able to gauge the deciding performance factor, The GAP of all gaps, the economic and financial divide. Chelsea was a mediocre team at the start of the Century. Ever since Roman Abromovich (Russian Businessman) happened it’s a big league phenomenon. The same is the case with Manchester City.

You go to East and Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are still the major cult in Baseball. The financial might of the clubs is such that sometimes good players are traded between two off games. The Revenue through advertisements and TV rights are only the labeling of issues when debating on Prime Time TV. The scenario is such that Poverty (Lack of Financial Resources) is attributed to the poor performance. No regard for potential and Talents.  Disdain it is for the Natural Ability and its positive consequences that Players are a big thing in the league and quite ambiguously mediocre while playing for their native countries.

This is the Context and Now Moneyball.

Moneyball is a film of a bigger thought. I mean you could discuss about the best matches of your life, the best players, and the best romantic’s game seems to provide you. But that is odd compared to the lopsidedness and the monologue between money and talent in Private League around the world.

Director, Bennett Miller never tries to make a fairy tale of a serious background. This could only happen when there is a twinge in heart after seeing the attitudes of neighbors, after seeing the possessions over possessions and the surplus over surplus. The Gullibility of being Global was a character of free and unregulated market. Moneyball suspects successful in private baseball league which prides itself on being a carrier of 102 year’s glory.

Here is a General Manager Billy Beans (played by Brad Pitt) of Oakland Athletics, Consigned to his team’s disabilities and pain, making sound players but much to his dismay bullied by Yankees and Red Sox and White Sox, tries a unique thing by following a player analysis formula created by a Beans Factory Guard. Supported and Surrounded by Peter Brand (Played by Jonah Hill) Billy makes a base on the values of potential of each player, thus, resulting in selections of players which are old, relegated and too luxurious to fit in any team. But they get on base.

If there is a physical problem, there is training, if there is lack of discipline, there is a trade off to a lower team. This is what Beans exemplifies through each of his statement when he conveys his message of being a team of champions.

Dividends are not to their seen in the first month of the season. The players are being put in wrong places. There are more than ten straight losses. Media is hoo..haa at the selections done by Manger Beans. They have there sympathy with the fans and the Coach, who has resigned to the fact that he is not been catered with good enough players.

The jobs of both Beans and Peter are in jeopardy. The images seem at peril. The Last throw of the dice is to throw few players who are hideous and arrogant to the passion that game tends to produce. They do it and hope a good on the basis of the base they created through that player analysis formula.

Suddenly there is a change in the fortunes of Oakland and they win, win and just win. Media is attributing everything to the efforts of Coach. Beans and Peter are nowhere to be seen in sensational news reports of TV. The same entity was critical of the player analysis formula, citing human emotions and potentialities ignored by Mathematics.

The Failure was theirs but success was never going to be theirs and they knew it. They knew up to the limit that their team is going to break an all time record of 20 straight wins set by Yankees seventy one years ago.

And After all those win the journey is curtailed by a Last match loss to Minnesota and so had been the story of Oakland, which always fatigued at the last moment. But now the big wigs are fascinated by Beans and his approach and Boston wants him to be their General Manager. So desperately that Billy Could easily became the highest paid general manager in all of the Baseball History. He ignores. Years ago on the lure of Money and Luxury a small town boy close the eyes to a Stanford Scholarship and go to league and fails miserably much to the surprise of his own potential. That boy was Billy Bean Himself. So there was no chance of paying attention to profession on the attraction of Money. He was bound to Ignore.

Brad Pitt firsts his performance of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. The subtle ness of his behavior, the redness of eyes and the strange property damage through his chamber reflects a man who is more disheartened by losing than his joy at the occasions of wins. He is a divorcee and has daughter living with her mother in far away town.

He vies for her longing and she is there once in every year to spend a holiday with her megalomaniac father. She sings on Guitar and sometimes produces a tear or two from her father’s eyes while he is driving in alley.

The formula of Beans and Peter is been followed by the Boston and it wins the Championship two years later.

The Daughter meant happiness for her father and she painfully cries ‘you are a loser, you are a loser dad’ A befitting end to a man who ignores lucrative money just because he does not have a love for Money. He is just passionate.

            

                              

All Encompassing Music

Let’s distinguish music from the profoundness of Communication Study. Let’s detach Music from Adorno and Cultural Hegemony. Let’s see the profoundness in art of writing songs and composing music & tunes. Does not Music give an impression of rising above Religion, Region, Language, Symbols, Beethovan and Mozart? Yes it does. The only thing it demands is our own set of Political Ideology. Through which we can be interpretative of Lyrics and Tunes. Through which we can identify our inner self and the ironical contradiction of our Minds.

Music is not just Tunes and Tones but a realization which can be felt when Roadside filth is full of Street dogs and Small Kids. Music can be an action beyond a bucketful of tears. Music in its essence is a dialectical contributor to History and its contradictions. It’s a soothing comfort to ears then many modern day therapies.

After witnessing the pettiness of Schools and their institutions, Music is a process of Di-Schooling oneself. Music is a Political Will too and a question to the question which life throws at us. Music is a contrast between Epistemologies of Human Knowledge and its reflections. Music is Music.

Here are Five Songs which in a fits or at least try to fit in the above Piece

5- Crystals – Then he kissed me

During the Civil Rights Movement championed by Martin Luther King, American Public was catered with a landmark movie called “Look Who’s Coming for Dinner”. Starring Legendary Black Actor Sydney Poitier, the Film went on to become a Cross Cultural Phenomena. During the same time there was a group of Black girl called ‘The Crystals’, which famously sang the song ‘then he kissed me’ in an African American tone. The tone itself was an opposition to White Chauvinists. Song was a hit that too before the period of 1965. Later on the song was listed as best song number 197 in the all time list of best by Rolling Stones. Crystals went on to score hits like ‘Doo doo Ron Ron’ and ‘he is a Rebel’. The instant success did not lead to a consistent bonding of the members. But their courage of scoring hits in a time of turbulence not only exemplifies the power of art but the overwhelming human spirit as well. ‘Then he kissed me’ sits at number five in my list.

4- Kenny Rogers- Coward of the County

Country and Kenny are synonyms. A humble patriot serves his Country and Kenny Rogers contributes to Country Music. In a vast list of songs like Lady, Lucille, Gambler and he stopped loving; Coward of the County is my choice. Written poignantly and sang eloquently Kenny Rogers boils a boy full with fury in his teenage to defy his father’s advice. Country Songs are very context specific, so in terms of socio economic ironies the genre reflects itself through tinsel town stories and history will always tell that there is no one better than Kenny Rogers. A tribute and Salute to Kenny with the Score “Coward of the County”, the number four of my list.

3-Another Brick in the Wall- Pink Floyd

From Societies to civilizations, this is the song which cuts across all the boundaries. Education and its pedagogical approach have mostly been used as a tool of Dominance. The belief in alternatives is tarnished by this approach. Since there can’t be alternatives, the songs rightfully contempt with the lines “All in all your just a another brick in the wall”. I am not a very big fan of Pink Floyd. But this song has immersed Pink Floyd as one of the most venerated cultural Phenomena. Listen carefully and the song seems to justify our pain and anger after watching the misery around us. At the same time it promptly inspires a positive action of looking Education and its institution with a Healthy skepticism.

2- The End by Doors

Francis Ford Coppola used the song ‘the end’ as an introduction to his Apocalypse Now. Apocalypse now is a strange film of the last century. No other movie dwells with Human Mind as this movie does. Based on the events of Vietnam War, the films demands a uniquely sound entry to Movie and Doors do it quite emphatically. The world then was in firm grip of Ideology and such was that grip that the repercussions seemed little in front of battles. Ideology not only resides in foreign policies but in individuals as well and our parents during their times behaved in an ideological manner. Not like today’s youth which is confused all the time. This song some times creeps as a regret of not being born in that era of attitudes and Ideological battles. The song is Number two.

1- Its a Hard Rain Gonna fall - Bob Dylan

Can there be a better and bigger Counter Culturalist than Bob Dylan. You track the counter argument to establishment and I am sure you are going to listen to the ‘Master of War’ Kind songs. Along with this there is Tumberriene Man, Blowi’n in the wind but there is nothing like It’s a Hard Rain gonna fall. This song is a song of unique prose. Dylan not only attracts our mind to the lyrics but make us question that why do you have to cry, when you have the power to action. The guitar playing is always a flawless charisma in Dylan Playing. This song is too unique and likeable to be describe as my limited reinterpretation. The thing that I can’t write too much about this song makes it my number one song.         

                               

Bluntness (An inspiration from Late Peter Roebuck)

Bluntness may not be crude, but it always sounds one. The theme that i particularly relate to bluntness is not about boldlessness or fearlessness. Neither do i associate something like innocence or arrogance with it. But bluntness is probbaly the epitome of rural, sufism and a will against the over reching urben wishes. It probbaly makes me feel to question the monoliths and establish orders. But so called Bluntness has find a new fashion and a trend which rather than fighting against the modernist and post modernist outcomes, dilutes itlself with the results.  Why does not a Janradan remains a Janradan in the movie 'Rockstar'. He becomes a 'Jordan'. Jordan does not has any thing to do with Jats of the Haryana and the brashness of a Hrayanvi Jatt. He resembles a conflict of the post modernist era. Where monoliths minds are aspiring for huge turn overs and profits. Where the wishes and wisdoms are a reflection of compromises. Compromises everywhere. Be it Art, Films and Media. Therefore a Rockstar never reminds us of a introspetion and retrospection. He instead make us desire to the elements of being a superstar. He reminds us to relate ourselves with the false conciousness of our past actions and outcomes. In ths whole context its hard to find people with some sort of sync with the real bluntness, which is true and which can make us think. I see few of the Marxist talking about in a manner that i see bluntness in the primitive man and the will to go back to villages as the correctness of wisdom. But in an era when mind resides in the consumerism and the heart resides in that mind, talkin of villages only garners something like a PPP(Public Private Partnership) Mode debate. Where water and land is questioned beacuse of their existence in a consumerist world. Where government are in sync with the market and they are shrinking.

In an era like this the concentration of so called wisdom is in the clutches of few whereas the so called insanity is spread over a large swath. But still here is the time to remain a Janardan, who doesn't look at a seemingly  white  girl. here is a time to be a man of few words and a boy of many words. lets become mad , mad over the questions that why do we have to be conditioned ? Why can't we challenge them, lets get an answer.

Lets terrorize the owner of Surpluses and lets tarnish their property and lets try to become Primitive.

For something like this i certainly get an inspiration from Late. Peter Roebucks pieces that use to come on Cricinfo website. He was a relentless critique of the 'Cricketing Monoliths' and the always 'sledging Australians'. he was the one who was the main reason behind the question over Ponting's captaincy after the 2008 sydney Fiasco. He was a man of  flow and rawness which put him beyond his contemporaries and today he is no more. i dig out my memories about Mr. Roebuck and this is what i came to my mind. Thanks friends.            

Democratic Debate with Urban Wishes and Mindsets in India.

Democratic Debate with Urban Wishes and Mindsets in India.

There are Polticians, who are Handsome, Youthful and Very Urban; they are projected as the voice of New India.

Though there are some pre requisites to be this voice of new India. Pre requisites like regular attendance at South Delhi Cocktail parties, Frequent rounds near North Block, Good English, Very Urban looking face and the tokenism of visiting the dusty rural land of the country, so that Media can project them as the Man of Masses.
But these pre requisites are not confined to the modern times, they were there right after the Independence. Indira Gandhi sent her children’s to London School of Economics. One of them became a pilot and yet chose to enter the politics. Every thing went as par the Voice of that Time. The odd visits to the rural areas were always meant to remind us about the great sacrifice done by the Politicians, especially the young politicians of that time. The trend goes even today and becomes trendier when an election is around the corner.
From where does this trend gets its strength ?
The answer to this question opens an eye to many periods.
There is an over reaching aspiration to be trendy, Glamorous, Urban and sophisticated. The more there are billionaires in a society the bigger the aspiration becomes, therefore when people are unable to earn like a Billionaire or a film Star they want to have other options to showcase themselves as very Urban and class full. These options comprise of Visting to big malls, being brand conscious and sounding like an Intellectual. The third part "Sounding like an intellectual" has a very big part in forming the policy decisions in today's time.
How ?
All of us know that a small chunk of population enjoys the benefits of National Growth and a large chunk remains marginalized. It is this small chunk who for once and twice visits a village and projects its points as the real concern of the Aam Hindustaani. These days this chunk very often discusses on English News Channel's prime time debates.
They enjoy benefits of being the small one and thus they get the opportunity to speak on news channels.

Now let’s come to the debates. What are the main points and views which these elite propose on the Prime Time?
The answer to this question is not very difficult. They attach everything to Humanity, Justice and Liberty. Such is there rhetoric about these three points that an Act like AFSPA (Armed Power Special Power Act) is not getting the right kind of debate. There may be draconian parts or to say inhuman elements in the act. But the act was there for last 21 years in Jammu and Kashmir. What is so sudden that the talk about justice and liberty has come to fore front. Nobody wants an act like AFSPA, but if you can have a trial for Ajmal Kasab then why not a real democratic debate on AFSPA. By viewing prime time TV these days one can easily get an impression that there was every thing bad in the law. Such has been the overdose of Liberty and Justice that Government has set up National Minority Commission especially when there is National Human Rights Commission. There might be many reflections and outcome of this Elite mindset.
There is a talk about the corporate funding to some of the leading NGO's of the contry. The NGO's which are at the front to oppose the AFSPA. In fact recently we have seen the talk about Justice, Democracy, Participation and Humanity is getting oriented by some of the leading NGO's of the country. The NGO's which are heavily funded by big corporate and which hope to seek the free run by proposed Jan lokpal by Team Anna.
If this is the case then there would be a situation in near future when the equilibrium of power might shift towards the corporate funded bodies and corporate. We have seen such examples through the de regulation of Petrol Prices.
But it is not just about the direct impact of such an ongoing shift; it’s about the sociological impact as well. From economies to politics this so called elitism is setting itself as the dead end of prosperity. Mind you every third of fourth week this end climbs to or three more steps, thus, resulting in a never ending end of aspirations.These aspirations have made people to like more and more cocktail parties, fast running SUV's, paid news on news television, the sophisticated and complicated talk about the poverty in country, growth implicated as market growth and at last cute handsome and urban looking politicians. The likeability and un likeability of politicians like Mayawati seriously gets hampered by such a mindset. She is very brash in her approach, not very city look a like and she does not speak English, therefore her Raaj In Uttar Pradesh is considered as Gunda raaj without even looking and evaluating her decisions.
Friends democratic debate can only be fruitful when the initiators of the debate seek to include every one. But sadly this is not the case in India. Today's initiators are a reflection of neo liberalisation and its consequences.

he never knew that he has a tendency of not staring at the girls. The best in his class always stared. Even the meritorious ones also stared, they considered staring as a part of "beauty of nature" and everybody had the right to stare at nature. They had their own ideas. But he was a average student, who never went beyond 60% marks. He used to sit in the middle of the row. Whenever teacher asked him he gave a half right half wrong answer.
The girls who were supposedly full of wisdom used to laugh at him. They were the ones who looked like heading the Women Empowerment department of the class. they were the ones who use to sing Humko man ki shakti dena' during morning assembly. A bunch of five girls and all of them competed with each other in terms of looks, marks and status. Such was there competitiveness that they never spared themselves a single penny in their pocket. Means during lunch time all the them spent good money

A dropless Sorrow

Long before sun set
I told u to break ur rest
But u seemed tempted with ur comfort
Abusing me and my effort
U shied
when i veiled and cried
u barked
and i Pretended to be mean
u laughed
and i thought i m in d scene

but nw u restored all ur sorrows
emotions r lost emptiness is borrowed .

ME FIR AUNGA

में फिर आऊंगा
मुद्दतों बाद
फिर मिलूँगा तुजे बिछड़े सफर में
तेरी उदासी दूर करने
कब दुःख हर घड़ी ताकता होगा
हर ख्वाब फाख्ता होगा
में आऊंगा
थोडा हँसाने थोडा रुलाने
गैर न समझना मुझे तब
में फिर से खास बनने आऊंगा
फिर से रास मन आऊंगा
फिर एक नए सफर का वादा करूँगा
तेरी खुशी का इरादा करूँगा
फिर सारी दुनिया को चमकाएगा
मेरा हँसता हुआ चाँद
हर खुशी के साथ वो मुझे देगा बाँध
में कुछ अरमानो की डाली पे झुलूँगा
तेरी हर मुस्कान पे फूलूँगा
तू गरीब होगी
और में बनने की कोशिश करूँगा
हमारी गरीबी
ही हमारी अमीरी होगी
जियेंगे करीब से सांस दर सांस
महसूस कर्नेगे जिंदगी को