A load of crap from an idle brain

Picked this book at the library just for the heck of it and it really turned out to be a racy read.  Andy Hayman, Asst Commisioner at the Scotland Yard was in overall command of the counter terrorism offensive at the time of the bombings in the bus and train tunnels in London.

He writes about the way the police along with the MI5, MI6, and various other investigative agencies put the pieces together in the biggest manhunt ever undertaken in the UK to catch the culprits involved in the mayhem.

Andy also goes about his frustration with the inefficient policing and investigative system; the self centered politician who wants his 2 minutes of fame; the ego clashes within the police department which are neatly exploited by the terrorists etc.

Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, CBE, QPM, was in overall command of the UK’s national counter-terrorism offensive, at the centre of every major terrorist investigation – overt and covert – of the past five years. He handled the Metropolitan Police’s response to 7/7 and dealt with the politically explosive murder of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko.

Based at New Scotland Yard, in charge of thousands of Special Branch and counter-terrorism officers in the UK and across the globe, deciding strategy, working directly with the Prime Minister with a budget of GBP500 million, Hayman is able to give unprecedented insight into key top-level crisis meetings he attended with intelligence chiefs and political leaders worldwide. In an inspirational and at times heart-breaking account, he describes how he led a dedicated team of men and women, committed to protecting the UK from dangerous enemies. Hayman lived through the pain and soul-searching when terrorists did succeed – and the pride when intelligence officers prevented attacks.

Andy Hayman leaves no holds barred in his analysis of the way law enforcers tackle terrorism. He outlines his radical blueprint for the future to protect the public, in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games and beyond. If you thought you knew the stories behind the news, you’ll realise you didn’t until you read this book.

The Terrorist Hunters
Authors – Andy Hayman & Margaret Gilmore
Pages – 352
Publisher – Bantam Press

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The Queen of England passing the baton to Indian President Pratibha Patil

Suresh Kalmadi & Abhinav Bindra

Shera, the mascot of 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

Kapil Dev, Randhawa and Sebastian Coe with the baton

Dancers performing in front of the Buckingham palace.

Milkha Singh, Malleshwari, Sushil Kumar & Dilip Tirkey

Commonwealth Games website

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We all know the number of times Sachin Tendulkar adjusts his guard between each delivery, but am sure hardly anyone knows about a woman from the remote North Eastern state of Manipur who is a 4 time World Boxing Champion.

Mangte Chungneijang Merykom also known as Mary Kom is the joint Rajiv Gandhi Kehl Ratna award winner for the year 2009 along with boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar. A mother of two who came back from a 2 year break from the sport to win her fourth successive World Amateur Boxing gold medal in 2008.

Sad that so less is known about her.  There is some detailed information about her at the Women Boxing Archive Network here. A true champion who is described by the International Boxing Association as “Magnificient Mary”.

Boxing is the only Olympic sport where women couldnt participate.  The sport at Olympics was restricted to men only.  From the 2012 London Olympics, this barrier is to go and women’s boxing will make a grand entry.

Of course, Mary Kom has her eyes fixated on the top prize at the Olympics.  Click on this link for a video on CNN-IBN about the boxer.

Above pictures source:  WBAN and Dailylife

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The Federer Express chugs on, merrily eclipsing all the records in his way and at the same time winning over friends and opponents with his ruthless display on the court.

Roger Federer finally broke the 14 Grand Slams record of Pete Sampras by winning the Wimbledon this weekend beating Andy Roddick of the US in a 5 set thriller.  The final set went on for an astonishing 95 minutes.

I was expecting to see another sobbing Federer at the end of the match, but it seems he managed to keep his emotions under perfect control.   An amazingly cool and composed player who very rarely loses his cool both on and off the pitch.  For a growing up kid, there is no better role model in Roger Federer.

He’s never been seen to yell either at the opponent / match officials, doesn’t spit on the ground, is modest about his achievements, but sometimes he does surprise us with his comments about the absolute confidence he has in his own game.

It would be easy to say that Federer won the last remaining Grand Slam, the French Open simply because Rafael Nadal was knocked out early in the tournament. And that Federer didnt have to meet his most decisive opponent in the finals.  But the fact is that it doesnt take away the sheen from his achievements.

Roger Federer’s Grand Slam victories

2003 – Wimbledon
2004 – Australian Open
2004 – Wimbledon
2004 – US Open
2005 – Wimbledon
2005 – US Open
2006 – Australian Open
2006 – Wimbledon
2006 – US Open
2007 – Australian Open
2007 – Wimbledon
2007 – US Open
2008 – US Open
2009 – French Open
2009 – Wimbledon

For a person who has achieved possibly everything that men’s singles tennis has to offer, it would be very tempting to either walk away from it all or to find motivation to save that one next set point or match point.   But knowing the champion that Federer is, am sure he will be back to entertain us, to show us the sheer joy of winning and most importantly that you dont need to be a brash, abusive, megalomaniac to be a champion.

All rise for the greatest tennis player ever.  Roger Federer.

Above pic source:  Din and Noise & IBNLive

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More here.  And now, it would be worth watching if the perennial losers in the semi finals of the Champions League will lift the coveted trophy.  More power to the blues to take on the reds

Ancelotti brings with him a huge legacy.  A Champions league trophy winner twice each as a player and as a manager, he will have huge expectations to live up to.

Picture source: Chelseafc

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