Everyone who is not in India would wonder why they call Sachin a "God". Many people has adopted cricket and succeeded because of Sachin, the greatest player of all time. He influence many people life. There are some stories and some of them we may not have heard. But the fact is people in India are playing because of him. They think it can be done, just because of him. If you look back he is mentor to many good Indian player from Rahul Dravid, Sehwag, Yuvraj to Virat Kohli; and may be many more who knows. Recently, Yuvraj, man of the world cup series 2011, declared that Sachin is the person why he is what he is.
When India won a world cup; a huge crowd of fans gathered outside the dressing room, waiting, for a brief glimpse of heroes. One man standing there, the self proclaimed mascot of India’s team, Sudhir Gautam, stood like the thousands of others – in his tri color paint – his body covered head to toe in Orange White Green! Sudhir goes to all the games, no matter where you see. And he is unquestionably the biggest fan of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Then the greatest cricket player who ever lived steps from the room to call for Sudhir. He invited him to the dressing room – a place most Indians could not even imagine treading. Sachin shook his hand, embraced him and all India as a brother. Not only that, he grab the Trophy and put on his head, just like he felt that way before the world cup.
Wow, now that is greatness. You see, the people of India would still love Tendulkar, their team, even if they stoically stayed inside the locker room. And this is the point. In that moment between “have to” and “not” – this is where true greatness resides. Tendulkar and his teammates do not owe anyone anything – they delivered. But Sachin Tendulkar chose to honor what is best in all of us. What an epic sportsman is this?
Other story, where some other individual was waiting in Taj Hotel, to get picture with the India team, while all the young cricketer refused to take picture with this man, but Sachin Tendulkar accepted the request. A great man but really humble and down to earth person..
I wish I could tell the Americans what an icon he is compared to the quarterbacks in American football.
