Amitabh Bachchan's Official Blog

DAY 1570

Jalsa , Mumbai Aug 5/6, 2012 Sun/Mon 1 : 17 AM

Waiting for the Bolt ! Usain of course in the 100 meters finale at London 2012 .. or Blake his compatriot countryman who will give equal competition to Bolt .. who will succeed ? No one knows and everyone waits .. Abhishek at the Stadium, sitting … just behind the start line of the 100 meters, if you please …!! And sending envy seeking messages to me !!

In the meantime some visuals from the Sunday well wishers .. the dress is not indicative of any team member participation … just loved the design and got it .. though I do know that it was under some criticism from certain pseudos and pretenders of fashion aficionados .. !!

And Usain has done it in the meanwhile ..!!! Olympic champion in the 100 meters, and the fastest man on the planet ! What a moment and what a race .. and I saw it live on television !!

Flash back to Boy’s High School, Allahabad and my own athletic achievements on the track. The victory stand and several ‘firsts’ on it, cups at the prize giving, my Mother taking pictures of me with the ‘box camera’ of those days, one we could never afford, but she somehow managed it for me and the occasion. The cups proudly displayed at our home in 17, Clive Road, on the ledge of the fire place in our bedroom. Never lit a fire there, it was desperately needed, but we just could not afford that luxury. And then coming up to Sherwood College, Nainital for finishing School, and realizing that your efforts and medals of excellence were not a patch on the excellence of the fresh class mates. Never did well in the track events but scraped a second in the high jump - the ‘scissors’ style of the jump ; no one knew about the Fosbury Flop then since it had not been performed. For those not in the know of all that we talk - the ‘scissors style’ was how we normally jump over fences say - legs go first in scissor fashion and you cross the bar. The Fosbury Flop was named after Mr Dick Fosbury, an American, who suddenly blew everyone’s mind out by inventing his own style for the high jump, where the feet and hand went over first, the rest of the body following later. It is now a recognized style and everyone does it to maximum benefit !!

Tomorrow is the program recording for the Greatest Indian for CNNIBN and Rajdeep Sardesai conducts it. Top 10 have been chosen and it remains to be announced who has the maximum votes ! Yours truly shall be a part of the anchors of the program. Should be out on the 14th or 15th of August ..

You know I have just realized that watching sporting events does give one great entertainment, but its pretty exhausting, almost as if you were involved in all those disciplines yourself.

Good night then and shall be with you tomorrow …

But in the meanwhile can we spare some moments for those affected by the shooting inside a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, USA .. a prayer and thoughts for those Indians that have suffered such inane brutality !!

Love

Amitabh Bachchan