If the United States had an award for Cricketer of the Year, it should go to Jay Patel of Alabama. Nobody in the entire country wielded a cricket bat as effectively as Patel this year.
A 27-year-old man says his first run-in with crime won't keep him from working at his family's convenience store.
On Saturday night, Jay Patel picked up his cricket bat and chased a gunman from the Bee Gee's store in Pine Grove after realizing the gun was really a plastic toy.
Patel said Tuesday he was shaken up for a little while. He called it the most exciting thing that has happened since the store opened about six weeks ago. [Link]
It was also the most exciting thing to happen in the history of American cricket. Never before have the words "cricket bat" appeared in so many newspapers in America. Just imagine if every store owner decides to arm himself with a cricket bat. Soon, the thugs would also be walking around with cricket bats. And one of them might suddenly have a brainstorm: "Hey, why don't we hit a ball with this thing?" Next thing you know, cricket is the most popular sport in America -- and all because Jay Patel had a run with his cricket bat.
Cricketer of the Year? Perhaps he should be Sportsman of the Year.
(Hat tip to Vaidy Subbaraman)
Good one, Melvin.
BTW, I also read this blog, "Plus Ultra", http://chennaikaran.blogspot.com/. That blog recently included a post with a link to this "Coyote blog" entry, "A Brief Cricket Guide For American Baseball Fans":
http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2009/07/a-brief-cricket-guide-for-american-baseball-fans.html
Cricket is becoming popular in the US! lol
Vaidy
Posted by: Vaidy S | July 22, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Thanks, Vaidy. I liked that blog. I need to brush up on my cricket -- at least before the next World Cup.
Posted by: Melvin | July 22, 2009 at 12:19 PM
n ppl ask me why i play cricket...now dey know how handy a game it is! ;)
Posted by: blunt edges | July 23, 2009 at 09:25 AM