MILLION DOLLAR ARM !!!

‘What do you know about Pittsburgh Pirates?’ ‘Baseball should not be all about business, it should have fun.’ ‘What is he doing now?’ ‘He is having fun’.’That sounded good.’ ‘Ok! Do you know what we call that?’ ‘We call it JUICE.’ Let us go back to the year of 2008. For getting a better job in a better company with a good salary package, you have job agents or consultants for the jobseekers. Similarly, for getting selected in a reputed sports club with a decent pay package, you have sports agents or consultants for the sportspersons. The deal with Popo failed. The Sports Agency Firm was looking for some fresh talented players to invest on them to make a contract with some sports team. J.B.Bernstein, a sports agent opened up a firm with a joint partnership with two businessmen; one was Ash Vasudevan and another one was Will Chang. Theresa was the Secretary of that firm. In 2008, which nation was still the untapped market to get some new sportspersons? ‘Cricket is a great game. A billion people play this game.’ Brenda was the neighbour of J.B. Bernstein. ‘Backyard hottie! Stay away from that because she is not a model and she is smart. That’s terrible.’ Ash was also feeling frustrated as in their 3 years of partnerships, they did not find any new big client to invest upon. On that night, J.B. Bernstein was switching from one TV Channel to the other with the help of a remote control device. The program of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the ‘Natwest Trophy’ series between India and England Cricket Team helped J.B. Bernstein to have a new idea of investment.

‘They don’t play baseball in India.’ ‘You do it in 1 year.’ Chang accepted the proposal. The talent hunt began. Tom House, the baseball coach was of the opinion that it is impossible to get some talented baseball players in India because majority of Indians play cricket only and the styles of throwing and pitching the ball in baseball and cricket are entirely different. Brenda’s washing machine malfunctioned. So, J.B. Bernstein gave the keys to Brenda to use his washing machine. Welcome to India, J.B. Sir! The talent hunt began. ‘Boom, shaka laka boom.’ Welcome to Mumbai. Vivek, the tour operator and the event manager of the talent hunt program told J.B.Bernstein about bypassing the system. The age old tradition of bribes still exists within the system of customs. ‘Indians love honking and bypassing the system.’ Amit Rohan, a youngster who taught baseball in Navi Mumbai also joined in the talent hunt program as a free secretary of J.B.Bernstein. Advertisements were done. Two persons will be selected out of all the participants on the basis of speed and accuracy of the baseball throwing. The prize money is One Million Dollar and the winners will get a free trip to USA. ‘Don’t worry, J.B., Indians are very good in spreading the words.’ Ray Poitevint, a famous baseball player became the judge of this talent hunt. The talent hunt team conducted the baseball throwing auditions at Nasik, Jaipur, Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Bangalore and Goa. The final selection will be done in the audition at Mumbai.

Brenda kept in touch with J.B.Bernstein through Skype. The minimum benchmark was to throw the baseball at the target at a speed of 83 miles per hour. Brenda was having a date with some other guy! Anyway, J.B. Bernstein was busy in his work. ‘Aah! This is Lucknow. It has a very fine reputation.’ Welcome to the Lucknow Sports Academy. The boys of Lucknow Sports Academy impressed everyone by throwing the baseball at an average speed of at least 77 miles/hour. Out of all the participants from Lucknow, Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh got selected for the final round. Amit got the job of a translator and he is also going to USA alongwith the 2 winners. The final round began in Mumbai. Dinesh Patel impressed everyone with his throws and was at the top of the chart. Now it was time for Rinku Singh to throw the baseball. ‘It is the lefty.’ ‘We call him the Flamingo.’ Rinku Singh topped the chart by surpassing Dinesh Patel. Rinku Singh came first to win the 1 Million Dollar prize money and Dinesh Patel became the Runners-up. Vivek requested J.B. Bernstein to take special care and responsibility of these two boys in USA as these two village boys never ever went out of their village. ‘Yes! Of course! We will have a great time out there. That’s fun.’  Welcome to United States of America. Point to be noted that Rinku Singh loved to play javelin and Dinesh Patel loved to play field hockey. Amit Rohan loved baseball. So, the conclusion is that the majority of Indians love to play Cricket but not all the Indians love to play Cricket. 

‘Aah! I told you that they can’t stay on their own.’ The Hotel Manager was fed up of those boys. J.B. Bernstein allowed those boys to stay in his own house. ‘J.B. Sir! Where is your family?’ ‘No family, man, just me.’ Amit, the translator also got a new role as a video photographer. The baseball training of Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel started at USC under Tom House, the baseball coach. Tom understood that these two Indian kids must have some fun to keep themselves refreshed and energized for the game of baseball. Did J.B. Bernstein commit a blunder by taking them to a party? Brenda broke up with Mark. Brenda told J.B. Bernstein that those kids are far away from their home and they are missing their Indian culture here. So, to motivate them, they must also feel and enjoy the sweetness of a mini Indian culture here in USA. ‘They just need to see that you care.’ Slowly and steadily, Brenda and J.B. Bernstein were falling in love with each other. ‘Did you kiss Miss Brenda?’ ‘No! She kissed me!’ Chang wanted to hold the baseball trial in front of the sports journalists of various Sports Channels and owners of the Baseball Clubs after 2 weeks. Tom House, the baseball coach became furious on J.B. Bernstein as J.B. Bernstein was trying to take those kids out of their comfort zone to participate in a media circus.

Why Rinku had some minor stitching on his finger? Some heated arguments took place between Brenda and J.B. Bernstein. Those two Indians failed to deliver in the trial. Chang decided that he is not going to invest any more money on these two kids. J.B. Bernstein decided to go for another trial. Chang approved it but on the condition that if these kids fail to deliver again in the trial then he may go out of this loss making partnership business. J.B. Bernstein met the officials of so many baseball clubs but no one responded to attend the next trial. Ray Poitevint came to rescue J.B. Bernstein! ‘You don’t know Walter! You don’t know Walter Shapiro, the Head Scout for the Pirates, who was not there for your exhibition. Now, you know him but he doesn’t know you. Thank you for lunch.’ ‘Thank you, Ray!’ Those Indian boys celebrated the festival of Diwali in USA. ‘Welcome to India, J.B. Sir.’ ‘Please have a seat for your date.’ Brenda was looking more gorgeous in a traditional Indian dress. Those Indian boys cooked Indian foods. During the prayer time of Diwali festival, J.B. Bernstein got a call at his mobile number from Walter Shapiro. Walter asked about the exact date of the next trial after 2 weeks. Will Chang was also present there at USC to see their 2^nd trial. After all, Chang also wanted those kids to succeed though a businessman should not be too emotional. J.B. Bernstein gave the responsibility to Amit to act as a coach and give those kids the desired vocal inspiration. ‘1,2,3...India. Hey brothers! I am seeing my dream in both of you. Your victory! My victory!’ Did Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel succeed in that trial to prove that both of them possess a “MILLION DOLLAR ARM”?