' The Legend ' to be felicitated by West Bengal government

Kolkata : The West Bengal sports department will felicitate milestone man Sachin Tendulkar in a befitting manner ahead of Mumbai Indian's IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 12.

State sports minister Madan Mitra told PTI on Tuesday that he had got in touch with Tendulkar who readily accepted the request and wrote in a mail that he was looking forward to the occasion.

"It will be a great occasion and we plan to felicitate in a befitting way for his 100th international centuries milestone," Mitra said.

"I'm looking forward to the occasion. I will be honoured to be felicitated at the iconic Eden Gardens by the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee)," Mitra quoted Sachin as stating in an e-mail.

Mitra on Tuesday met CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya to chalk out the nitty-gritties.

Mamata had earlier taken time off her busy schedule to be the chief guest in India's win over the West Indies in November last year and was seen sharing a great camaraderie with the batting maestro.

The state chief minister had earlier suggested Tendulkar's name for the highest civilian award -- Bharat Ratna -- after he notched the 100th century milestone against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.

' The Legend ' still has a schoolboy's passion for cricket : Kelkar

Mumbai : The batting legend's love-affair with the Wankhede Stadium started when Kelkar selected Tendulkar and his childhood chum Vinod Kambli for ball boy duties outside the boundary line. During the October 17, 1987 ODI between India and Zimbabwe, it was the first World Cup match that Sachin watched in a stadium.

It is often said that Tendulkar never forgets those who have made a contribution to his cricketing career. It was quite evident on Saturday as the batting maestro immediately recognised Kelkar, and stopped for a while to exchange pleasantries. Kelkar, on administrative duty at the Mumbai Cricket Association for the Indian Premier League, praised Tendulkar's down-to-earth nature in spite of all the fame and adulation. "This is his greatness (Tendulkar). I haven't done anything great (giving him an opportunity to be a ball boy), but he doesn't forget the smallest of the things," Kelkar told MiD DAY.

According to Kelkar, only under-16 boys 'qualified' for ball boy duties, but he was keen on recruiting Tendulkar and Kambli because of their exploits in inter-school matches. "I see the same thrill and expression on his face that I saw when he first entered this stadium. Cricket is his only life," Kelkar signed off.

Fans await to meet ' The Legend ' on his date with six cities worldwide

NEW DELHI : A select few fans will get to spend an evening with iconic Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar ' The Legend ' when he embarks on a worldwide, six-city tour over the next three years as part of Fidelis Worldwide Celebration Series.

"The first Evening with Sachin Tendulkar will take place in Dubai, the headquarters of the FidelisWorld Group," the company said in a release.'

The evening will have Tendulkar sharing personal perspectives on his career in an interactive session with the guests.

' The Legend ' will auction some personal memorabilia the proceeds of which will go to charity. He will also be presented with an Outstanding Achievement Award from Wisden India in recognition of his accomplishments as a serial centurion.

"The black-tie affair will offer a limited number of guests the opportunity for an intimate evening of dinner and entertainment with the maestro. The first installment of the Celebration Series will take place in Dubai on Saturday, June 9 at the InterContinental, Dubai Festival City," the release said.

"I am happy to be partnering with FidelisWorld and having an opportunity to meet my fans and supporters in the UAE through this event," Tendulkar said.

"I have many fond memories of playing in this country, and have always appreciated the success and support I have had here. I look forward to being in Dubai for the first stop of a six-city world tour," he added.

Navneet Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of FidelisWorld, said: "FidelisWorld is delighted to embark upon its Celebration Series with Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest batsman the world has seen. We congratulate this legend and are proud to be celebrating his iconic achievements."

I'm a sportsman, not a politician : ' The Legend '

New Delhi : In his first media interaction after being nominated for the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, Sachin Tendulkar '  The Legend ' said while he will like make a contribution as a Member of Parliament, he remains primarily a sportsman and not a politician.

"It's a bouncer, but I'm aware of my responsibilities. It's a great honour for me, [though] I'm not a politician but a sportsman. I will like to contribute in whatever way I can," Sachin said about his RS nomination, which has been made under the quota of eminent citizens of India.

 When asked about how he handles the amount of success he has achieved in cricket, Tendulkar credited it to his upbringing and education. "My upbringing taught me to have a balanced approach. Education helps in balanced thinking. Educations helps you in becoming a better person. Keeping mind blank is important. You should focus on the present. When people say I am insane, I am in the present."

"When the President nominates your name, you are nominated because of your contribution. I was nominated because I played for India for 22 years. Great persons like Lata [Mangeshkar] Didi have been nominated," Tendulkar said.

But Tendulkar was quick to make it clear that the nomination can't come in way of his playing cricket. "RS nomination is a great honour, but it's not going to stop my cricket. Cricket is my life. All my awards are only due to cricket."

' The Legend ' snubs Mumbai Corporation : Sena members

Mumbai : By now it has become common knowledge that the Shiv Sena isn't exactly jumping with joy at the prospect of cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar ' The Legend ' being part of the Upper House of Parliament, that too after being nominated by the Congress.

 The saffron party's lukewarm attitude to the new milestone may also have something to do with the fact that Tendulkar has decided to side with the Congress after ignoring repeated overtures made to him by the Sena.

 Tendulkar has repeatedly ignored requests from not one but three city mayors to spare some time and attend his own felicitation, planned on different occasions.

The latest snub came close on the heels of Tendulkar's 100th ton, when Mayor Sunil Prabhu sent him a letter, requesting that he give the civic body some time so they could felicitate him for his historic feat. This time too, Tendulkar chose to stay mum on the invite.

Nursing a hurt ego, the disgruntled civic body has decided not to extend such invites to the maestro any more.

  

"The mayor is the first citizen of the city, and in the last few years, the BMC has sent at least four such invitations to Tendulkar, asking for a small amount of his time so that it can fete him. But he has never accepted. He has all the time to meet people and even go to Delhi to do so. He also attends private functions hosted by businessmen, but can't give a confirmation to the BMC," said a Sena leader, on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, after the World Cup victory in 2011, former mayor Shraddha Jadhav had extended a similar invite to Tendulkar, who reportedly failed to respond.

Mayor Prabhu said, "Being the first citizen of the city, I have sent an invite to Sachin. Now it's up to him to revert with a time that is suitable for him."

Asked if he had considered sending the master blaster a reminder, he said, "We will wait for his reply, and when he does respond, we will arrange for the programme."

Shubha Raul, former mayor, opined that the civic body had had enough of the waiting game. "We approached him thrice, but if he has other commitments and hasn't reverted, we should stop here. If the desire to felicitate him persists, the mayor could write a congratulatory message to him, telling him that he has made us proud," she said. She also suggested that the BMC, instead of waiting on Tendulkar, could felicitate doctors or other achievers who have made meaningful contributions to society and are more willing to give the civic body some time.

'What role can a cricketer play in RS?'

Last afternoon, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray took a dig at Tendulkar's nomination. Addressing the media from his residence Matoshree, he said, "Sachin is very big today, and I am proud of it. There are many who have been in the Rajya Sabha - Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini - but they all keep quiet. I would never become a member of the Rajya Sabha, because one needs to ask what scope there is for a member. What role can a cricketer play in Rajya Sabha? People in the Rajya Sabha need to think on their own. This is the Congress' dirty picture, where Rajya Sabha seats are being forced on people."