IPL 2012 Season 5: Superstars Performance including Katy Perry, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Salman Khan etc

IPL 2012 Season 5: Superstars Performance including Katy Perry, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Salman Khan etc: Bollywood and cricket mixed seamlessly to make for a breathtaking opening function of the fifth version of the Indian Head Group (IPL) here (Chennai) Tuesday night with a unique appearance by Hollywood's India-significant other Katy Perry.


Many individuals at the YMCA ground cheered heartily as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Prabhu Deva, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra lived out their schedules in the midst of a throbbing several-hour colourful formality.

Katy Perry, whose brief marriage in India happened several years back, infused power into the swarm with her desi chic blingy choli, maang tikka and bindis and her top single "Adolescent Dream".

The opening function set the tone for the competition start Wednesday that items nine groups and some of the planet's ideal cricketers

Amitabh Bachchan, who constructed his first impressive-scale popular presence post his stomach surgeries, set the temperament for the show by rendering a sonnet penned by Prasoon Joshi. His expressions were expected to carry the spirit of cricket full of vibrancy, and Huge B's baritone just put more soul in it.

Amitabh Bachchan looked robust and healthy as he went ahead stage dressed in velvet cover and trousers, to present "Janam Yadhi Phir Se Mile". The 69-year-old was went with by dance lovers from the Shiamak Davar troupe, who portrayed the substance of the lyric through their display.

Taking after this, musical couple Frontier Cousins assemble an enthusiastic ensemble of sounds with DJ Ravi Drums and South African percussionist gather 1st Task.

Priyanka Chopra put up a hypnotizing appearance on her most cutting edge hits, and shocked the crowd with an ethereal enactment. She set the inclination for some moving as she moved around in the group of onlookers, urging cricketers to move.

Priyanka Chopra took the pressed crowd off guard she went open to question in the midst of her appearance, and got cricketer Harbhajan Singh to move a small dance with her.

Looking chic in a dark and white sequinned best, dark gasps and a red wrap-around skirt, the performer opened her gesture with her notorious melody "Aaj ki raat".

She did afar with her skirt for an energetic look as she was pulled not yet decided with a saddle for an ethereal follow the "Wear" tune. The 29-year-old mesmerised the group of onlookers with her expectancy, and arrived on the stage for a capacity-pressed move on the number "Dhantanaa" from the picture "Kaminey".

Later, Priyanka Chopra took to the stage again to cooperate with the cricketers of title holders Chennai Super Rulers, who are headed by India chief Mahendra Singh Dhoni. She pulled Dhoni's leg, and requested from the kids to unite her a move on hit Tamil melody "Nakka mukka".

Kareena Kapoor was an additional star entertainer. Be it "Chhammak chhallo" or "Dil mera muft ka", she stole the hearts of the crowd off with her ideal moves and energetic appearance. Not to miss her blingy outfits, which built her stand out.

The stuffed crowd cheered in unison for the 31-year-old as she went ahead stage dressed in a blingy dark jacket.

"Kaun hai jisne mujhe mudke nahin dekha" from her well known film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", played away from anyone's notice as Kareena showed up on stage. Then again going by her conspicuous outfit, the exchange suited the instant impeccably. All the more depending on if one needed, one wouldn't be able to miss her presence on stage.

Prabhudeva, reputed to be Indian Michael Jackson, excited the group of onlookers with his sparkling, easy and adaptable moves.

The crowd's willingness headed off up to the following level as the Tamil superstar performed his signature moves to melodies like "Essential aisa kyun hun" from Lakshya and "Tera hello jalwa" from Desired in his hometown.

It was Salman's "Dhinka chika" exhibition, which was sincerely desi. Dressed in red gasps, Salman produced a tragic entrance on a truck with dance specialists, and his particular set pattern highlighted with knobs. He moved on a few of his tracks such as "Teri meri kahaani", "Bodyguard", "Munni badnaam", "You wanna mate", et al.

Katy Perry likewise took in the colourful desi avatar for her first appearance in the nation, where she got married with now repelled spouse Russell Mark in 2010.

Indian cricket board president N.Srinivasan in his address pledged to help earlier cricketers with the returns from the four play-off stage matches.

He expressed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can be disseminating the returns right around 185 worldwide and domestic cricketers.

"The returns from the play-off matches can be disseminated right around previous cricketers, who have stood for India at the worldwide level and in addition near domestic players. The BCCI will give an one-time support to those cricketers and around 185 Indian cricketers will profit. It is a little motion from the BCCI to each one of those who have done yoeman's fix to Indian cricket," he expressed.

The Barclays Center--Basketball is Coming To Brooklyn!

I was excited to see the progress of the new Barclays Center basketball arena today, that is under construction in Brooklyn, New York. The arena is intended to serve as the new home for the National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets, currently based at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The team will be renamed the Brooklyn Nets starting with the arena's expected opening season of 2012–13.This move would mark the return of major league sports to Brooklyn, which has been absent since the departure of the beloved Dodgers baseball team that moved to Los Angeles in 1957.

Located at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, the Barclays Center is in close proximity to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Brooklyn Museum. It is within easy walking distance from several neighborhoods, such as Park Slope and Fort Greene

The Barclays Center is also located on top of one of the largest public transit hubs in New York, with many subway and bus lines and the Long Island Railroad in close proximity.

I am excited to know that I'll soon be able to see not only basketball games, so close to home, but I'll also have the

opportunity to see other world class entertainers such as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's upcoming December performance.   With approximately 18,000 seats for basketball and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, 100 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, three clubs, and a restaurant, the Barclays Center will certainly be a wonderful asset for Brooklyn entertainment!

The US Open Men's Semi Finals

My husband and I had an unexpected and very exciting treat this past Saturday.  We were invited to attend the U.S. Open men's singles semi final matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York. Arthur Ashe Stadium, a part of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, is located within Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and is the main tennis stadium of the US Open. It is the largest "tennis only" venue in the world!

This is the play board that shows the results of all the matches played before this date and the ranks of the players. Serbia's Novak Dojokovic played Switzerland's Roger Federer, and Spain's Rafael Nadal played Scotland's Andy Murray.

I took the photo above and below from the lodge section of Arthur Ashe stadium, where our seats were located, you can see a view of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and a portion of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park which was once the site of the 1939 New York World's Fair and 1964 World's Fair. The photo below is one of the 32 courts in the facility, where a wheelchair athletes match was being played.

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It was 11:30 AM as we entered the stadium and the stands were just beginning to fill up.

The sky became overcast and a half hour rain shower delayed the beginning of the matches. I enjoyed watching the suction/fan cars that came out to clear the court of water.

Very soon the sky was bright blue again, and the ubiquitous sports blimp was in the air over the stadium to broadcast a panorama view on TV.

At the beginning of the first match the stands were packed with a capacity crowd.

A special recognition to the anniversary of 9-11-01 was on the court.

Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bradley Cooper, Billie Jean King, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Andy Samberg, Paul Simon, Sandy Koufax , Stanley Tucci and Jeremy Piven are among the many stars watching the men's singles final and the camera placed their images on the scoreboards during set breaks.

Novak Dojokovic

Roger Federer

Roger was a five time former winner of the US Open.

The four hours quality of play was intense, but Roger Federer was defeated in five sets in his quest for another US Open title with a 7-6(9), 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 5-7 defeat against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final.

After a brief interlude the second set of men's singles took the court.

Rafael Nadal

Andy Murray

(Andy had changed his shorts from black to white towards the last set)

It was nice to see these two players grace and sportsmanship. Their matches were particularly exciting to watch.

Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a final with Novak Djokovic this past Monday.

I loved this scene above on the scoreboard as the blimp showed us the sun go down behind the buildings in Manhattan in a blaze of color.

We were still in the stadium well into the night and saw the harvest moon rise in the sky. The two semi final matches lasted many hours, and in my opinion it requires fortitude from the fans in the stands to sit such a long time. I had to take a few walks to stretch my legs during the matches. The excitement of play on this level is mesmerizing, however, and I marveled over the stamina of the players and their strength and skill to be able to volley a tennis ball with a velocity as much as 135 miles per hour for so many hours!

The outside tennis plaza was still abuzz with activity, as the women's semi final matches followed the men's semi fanls, and that crowd was waiting to enter Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Novak Djokovic was the ultimate winner of the 2011 Men's Single competition on Monday, September12, 2011. Djokovic battled back problems during the finals, but used his superior return game, defense and speed to play with confidence to defeat the 10-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1, to win his first career US Open crown.

It was very exciting to be part of the action and see history being made! I'm almost encouraged to take up tennis...that is if I had younger and better knees that could take all that stress. I think I am destined to limit my activity to power walking in the park everyday.  

Do you play a sport? What is your favorite way to keep physically fit?

I'm adding this post to the "Outdoor Wednesday" event on Susan's blog A Southern Daydreamer, and Watery Wednesday and Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday -- the letter is "V" and I'd say it was very exciting to see the men's semi final US Open match!

Derek Jeter Honored for his 3,000th Hit!

On Saturday I went to Yankee stadium to see a game between the New York Yankees baseball team and the Tampa Bay Rays.  Before the game a few special presentation ceremonies were held to celebrate the Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter's recent historic milestone of being the 28th major league baseball player and the first Yankee ballplayer to get 3,000 hits.  Jeter accomplished this feat on July 9th, 2011, in a home game against the same Tampa Bay Rays.

First, Jeter donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame representatives the helmet and batting gloves that he wore when he homered for his 3,000th hit. Then the Yankees’ president, Randy Levine, and the team’s chief operating officer, Lonn Trost, gave Jeter a 14-inch inscribed Waterford crystal vase.

Jeter holding the commerative Waterford vase.

Next, Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner of the Yankees, and his wife, Christina, presented Jeter and his father, Dr. Charles Jeter, with commemorative rings, while Jeter's mother and sister were presented with pendants of the same design.  The rings Jeter and his father received have 50 diamonds each, 14 making the No. 2, whcih is Jeter's uniform number.

Finally, the entire Yankee team presented Derek with a a 225-pound, mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture. It featured the No. 3,000, topped by a triple-layered bust of Jeter waving his helmet to the crowd. The inscription under the number 3000 reads: "To our captain, leader and friend. Congratulations on a great achievement, from your teammates."

The Yankees went on to win the baseball game by a score 9-2, including two more base hits by Derek Jeter and a grand slam by Jorge Posada!

I wasn't lucky enough to be in Yankee ballpark attendance when Jeter got his 3,000 hit, but I was excited to be present for the special pregame ceremonies honoring him, as he is one of my favorite players and definitely a baseball legand in his own time in the manor of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio and many other Yankee and baseball greats.  Congratulations to Derek Jeter!

I'm linking to "Mosaic Monday" with Mary of The Little Red House blog, Sally's "Blue Monday" on her blog Smiling Sally, and the My World Tuesday crew. Please visit their blogs and enjoy their special blog events!

2010 New York City Marathon

The 2010 New York City ING Marathon was held on Sunday, November 7.  The mosaic above was made with photos I took last year as I stood on 4th Avenue and 26th Street in Brooklyn, New York.  It was so chilly at race time this year that my feet got cold and I didn't take my gloves off to take photos, I just cheered on as many runners as I could before giving up and going back home. Sometimes it takes a lot of endurance just to be a marathon observer!

There were over 45,000 runners in the competition this year, and I had hoped to see the Chilean miner Edison Pena, but unfortunately he didn't pass by while I was watching.  Pena was among 33 miners in Chili who were rescued last month after a cave-in trapped them nearly a half-mile underground for 69 days.  He spent hours running in the mine to keep his spirits up and to inspire the other miners to stay strong. 

photo source

Pena crossed the Central Park finish line at 3:24 p.m., with a time of 5 hours, 40 minutes, 51 seconds. He had knee pain, and had to walk much of the course, but he ultimately finished and met his goal of completing the 26.219 mile marathon course through the city's five boroughs in six hours.

This year's winners in all the different marathon divisions can be seen at this link.
Last year over $25 million was raised by the NYC Marathon for charity and that number is expected to be broken in the final tally after this year's race.

I'm adding this post to Mary of The Little Red House Mosaic Monday event. Thanks Mary!

A-Rod's # 600 Home Run!

My husband and I were able to attend the Yankee game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on August 4th, and we were hoping to see Alex Rodriguez become the youngest ever player to hit the much-coveted 600th home run.  The Yankees were playing the Toronto Blue Jays and Shaun Marcum was the starting pitcher for the Jays, Phil Hughes for the Yankees.

We had just finished having lunch in one of the special lounges, which was located on the third base side of the field.  It is located right under the mustard ad in the photo above. When Rodriquez's name was announced in the first inning we decided to wait in the lounge and watch him at bat instead of heading back to our seats, which were located between home and first base, at field level. It's a good thing we did! I took the following photos from that location.

Alex Rodriguez waiting for the 2-0 pitch.  Derek Jeter was on first base and two were out.

He hit the ball hard and watched it sail into center field, over the wall into Monument Park in Yankee Stadium.

 Rodriquez about to touch home plate after hitting his monumental # 600 home run!

He was first congratulated by Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter who scored ahead of him.

A-Rod being hugged by the Yankee Captain, Derek Jeter.

Alex Rodriquez being congratulated by the entire Yankee team.

He joined an elite home run club that includes Barry Bonds (762), Henry Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609).

Rodriguez had gone 12 consecutive games -- 46 at-bats between home runs 599 and 600, and was in a 0-for-17 slump, so happily the suspense was finally over for him and Yankee fans!  The Yankees ended up winning the game, 5-1.

Congratulations A-Rod!

On our way back to our seats we saw Yankee vendors selling this special T shirt commemorating A-Rod's 600 home run, so we bought one for our son who is a avid Yankee fan. We heard they sold out in two innings!

Because it is Thursday, and I am participating in Jenny Matlock's of the blog "Off On My Tangent" color of the rainbow meme, I'm adding this photo of a group of young fans all wearing orange t shirst in the upper tier of Yankee Stadium for this week's color, orange!  It's a color that stands out in a crowd, and there were many splashes of it throughout the stadium.  Please visit Jenny's blog today to find many creative blog links with outstanding orange posts and join in all the fun!