The Prince's tale comes to an end!

"Once upon a time there lived a boy, who hailed from the crowded City of Joy -- Kolkata. Little did he know in his growing years, that he would be called the ‘Prince of Kolkata' one day. Nicknamed 'Maharaja' from his childhood days, his parents perhaps knew that a leader was born in their house..."

Sourav Chandidas Ganguly -- a name that every Indian fanatic will relate to, a name that will echo in the history books as India's most successful captain, bid adieu to international cricket on 7th October 2008, marking the end of a golden era. Just before Australia's tour to India commenced, Sourav, who is fondly known as 'Dada' announced his retirement, which is to be effective after the all-crucial series.

I was sitting contentedly on my couch, aimlessly flipping through television channels, when I came across the man himself say, "Before I leave, I have to make an announcement. This is going to be my last series. I have decided to quit. These four Tests are going to be my last. Thankyou all for your support." I woke up in a state of alarm. The remote slipped of my hands, my ears couldn't believe the words that it just heard and my mind was left with visuals of Dada's roller-coaster career.

Dada's departure came at a time, when the air was thick for the former Indian skipper and the sense of foreseeable glaring at each and everyone of us. Sourav's love-hate affair with controversies always occupied the average cricket fan's collective realization. So much so, that his sudden exit from the centre-stage left millions flabbergasted.

A mission that was initiated by Ganguly to give his best for Indian cricket was suddenly aborted. From the time he made a disappointing debut to a time he made an impressive comeback in international cricket five years later; through masterful elegant cover drives, through dancing down the pitch to attain maximum, through his 'golden arm' claiming wickets at crucial times and his willingness to face the music as a fiery skipper, Dada's has been a gripping story. However, his final few chapters left the nation divided over whether he should stay or mark a graceful exit.

But known for his stubborn, yet brave self impression, Sourav himself decided to settle the entire issue. Irrespective of the aftermath, in true Dada style, the man decided to brush all his critics once and for all. With elements of shock and surprise, that has been a part of his signature; Ganguly will be remembered for his on-field heroics both as a captain as well as a cricketing genius.

In what many deem a revolution in Indian cricket introduced by Dada, his roundabout rules and courageous moves motivated the youngsters to shed their inhibitions. He took Team India to a competitive plane, got them close to winning the 2003 World Cup and more so shocked the all-conquering Oz by embracing and beating them in the game which they have ruled for over a decade.

In such times, I can recollect Ganguly once saying, "Some people have called me arrogant or believe that is my reputation, which is far from what I really am like."

His killer instinct and pay-back attitude was contagious. The unforgettable image of waving his shirt bare-chested after a famous win at Lord's itself spoke a lot of his instinct for the game. A bunch of youngsters, with the likes of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan etc grew under his leadership, who till date contribute to India's growth on a higher plane as tough competitors.

Afterall, "The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it." -- Elaine Agather.

For me and for many, Dada was all about cricket, all about revolution, all about a born fighter. But for those who knew him personally Sourav was an anchor in Indian cricket, a leader to a new phase and a great friend.

"... the city loved him, the nation embraced him, the world treated him like a Prince. But his enemies were far from done. However, the 'Prince' continued to fight all odds and made a mark in this world. But the bloodbath got too messy for his royal highness to handle, as he decided to leave his rivals behind and walk a new path. His subjects will remember him forever and as for the Prince he hoped to live happy every after."

Truly an exceptional Games :)

"I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.
" -- Charlie Brown.

I have been pressed with time in the past couple of months and the razmatazz of the Beijing Olympics, yet another birthday and the shocking exit of our very own Dada just passed by without a notice in my favourite space. It is first the time to relive the spectacular of the Games, which attained laurel from different quarters of the world... thanks to some stunning organisation from Beijing.

“These were truly exceptional Games.” — Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee president, at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics

Beijing sparkled with all its magnificence to drop curtains on a bravura Olympic Games, raising the bar to a dizzy height that might prove thorny for subsequent hosts -- London -- to emulate. The 16-day razzmatazz got a befitting signing off and when London Mayor Boris Johnson was handed over the Olympic flag by his Beijing equivalent Guo Jinlong, the onus was passed on to the British capital to match in 2012, if bettering is unfeasible, the yardstick set.

From managerial point of view, Beijing dished out a simply unblemished Olympics to hush its malicious critics, who cribbed about effluence, water contamination, traffic, food and anything and everything. China's might also found an expression in the medal tally with the hosts leading the chart, miles ahead of its American and Russian counterparts in terms of gold medals. India too had reasons to treasure the event as their Beijing campaign yielded an unprecedented three individual medals.

At the end of 16 days of powerful, no-holds-barred contention among the best in the business for global bragging rights in 302 events, Beijing anointed two sports icons in American bionic aqua man Michael Phelps and Jamaican Flying Machine Usain Bolt. Phelps ruled the pool and sunk every obtainable record to swim into history books while the brash, cocky Bolt left the world behind to emerge as the fastest man on earth and still could afford the time to look back and mock at lesser mortals. "Come on…when you’re running, if you see you’re going to win, you’re going to celebrate. You’re going to be Olympic champion, you’re just happy.” — Bolt told.

And for those who doubted sport's ability to dissolve border and bury hostility, the sight of Georgian and Russian athletes forgetting the political turmoil back home and hugging each other was an eye opener. Those visuals fitted the slogan of the Games – “One World One Dream”.

If the August 8 opening observance was a guarantee made, the closing ceremony was accomplishment of the same promise as Beijing had a night to remember. The pre-ceremony was a fun-filled affair with Fuwa, the mascot, as the central theme. In a way, the entertaining segment signalled lowering of the guard and letting down of the hair at the end of fortnight long intense rivalry.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge made an appearance after scintillating pyrotechnics dazzled the Bird's Nest. Drum players then took the centrestage and it was surreal to see some 200 bouncing and flying men run and roll over the stadium.

Next entered the flag bearers of the 204 participating nations, with the Indian tri-colour in Vijender's able hands, the same fists which earned his country its first boxing medal in the greatest sporting extravaganza. Marathon victory ceremony intercepted the event, on the other side of which organising committee President Liu Qi and Rogge addressed the huge gathering before the Olympic flag was hoisted and Olympic hymns recited.

Mayors of Beijing and London entered the stage for the flag handover ceremony, which was followed by an eight-minute cultural performance heralding the start of the countdown to the London Games. This segment featured British icons, including soccer star David Beckham, singing sensation Leona Lewis and legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

After Lewis and Page left the stage, Beckham appeared along with a violinist, a cellist and a child who handed the ball to the former England captain, whose trademark cross vanished into the sea of athletes.

Finally, the flame was extinguished but fireworks painted numerous pictures on Beijing's night sky and six singers passionately lent their voice for "Beijing, Beijing, I love Beijing", followed by a spectacular circle dance before the razzmatazz came to a glorious end.