Foul!

Have a blessed day ahead

For the first time since Forbes began ranking the world’s most valuable soccer teams a decade ago, two Spanish teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, have grabbed the top two spots. During the 2012-13 season Real Madrid generated revenue of $675 million–the most of any team in history in any sport–and are now worth $3.44 billion, 4% more than a year ago. Barcelona posted the second-most revenue ($627 million) and are worth $3.2 billion, up 23% from last year. Neither Real Madrid or Barcelona have peaked due to their consistently great play on the pitch–both domestically and in the lucrative Champions League –and commercial success. Led on the pitch by Cristiano Ronaldo , Real Madrid is in this year’s Champions League final after trouncing last year’s winner, Bayern Munich, in the semi-finals by an aggregate of 5-0. As a result, Real Madrid’s Champions League bounty will surpass the $62 million they took home last year when they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Bo...

Haresh Says, as published in The Malay Mail today.   ON May 22, 1890, the ruler of a small state under Dutch control in Aceh, North Sumatra, wrote a brief letter in Malay. The addressee was a Chinese man named Baba Seng, who lived across the Straits of Melaka in the British colonial possessions on the Malay peninsula. The Acehnese chief informed the Chinese trader that he was in need of certain items: twenty breach-loading rifles, twenty Russian-made shoulder straps, percussion caps, and rifle oil, among other things. In return the Acehnese leader promised a cargo of pepper from his own agricultural supplies, which would have fetched Baba Seng a good deal of money on the open market of Melaka. The letter was sent via two couriers, both of whom were Acehnese women. There is no historical record of whether the transaction actually occurred, or whether this attempt to smuggle arms and ammunition into the Dutch East Indies — and pepper out of it — was f...

Haresh Says, as published in the Malay Mail today. IT is 2044. A family walks along a row of shops in Desa Petaling and stops by the roadside. The father points at three parking bays and tells his child: “This is where my kindergarten held its Sports Day 30 years ago.” I imagine that would be the conversation some of the 50-odd children will have when they grow up. Last weekend was supposed to be a memorable outing for parents and children of a particular kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur. Armed with cameras and plenty of enthusiasm, parents were eager to see their children in action, hoping to win a trophy or two during the kindy’s Sports Day. Instead, it turned out to be a rude shock. There were no tents, no field and no tracks — nothing to suggest it was a sports day. There were only several balloons as teachers sought refuge from the sun along the corridor of several shop lots. Shop lots? Yes, you read that right. The annual event was...

Having the pleasure of covering Thor Chuan Leong when he was a rookie in the scene, I am humbled to have recorded his achievement after he won the Asian Snooker Championship yesterday. Congratulations Thor!                                 As published in Mailsport today National cue artist Rory Thor Chuan Leong (pic) has now joined the likes of legendary snooker players Sam Chong and Ooi Chin Kay after potting the Asian Championship title in Fujairah, UAE yesterday.  Thor defeated Taiwan’s Hung Chung Ming 7-3 in the final to lift the title, ending Malaysia’s 20 year drought in the regional meet. Chong won the title in 1990 while Ooi was named champion in the 1994 edition.   The Penangite was elated with the win but stressed he was no where near the likes of Chong and Ooi.   “They are still better...