Gautam Ganguly
(gautamganguly2012@gmail.com)
The history of human civilisation is the story of the inevitable fall of the celebrated kings and leaders from the lofty pedestal after being at the acme of success and achievements. The rise and fall of Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, the Mughal empire and the Ahom kingdom are far too well known to even a casual student of history.
The recent news of Boris Becker, one of the greatest tennis players ever, who won six 'Grand Slam ' titles, being declared a 'bankrupt' by a court in London has stunned the connoisseurs of sports the world over. The mind-blowing story of an unseeded, unfancied, teenager annihilating all famed opponents including Kevin Curran in the final in 1985 to become the youngest ever to win the Wimbledon tennis championship remains permanently etched in the memory of tennis lovers. That was the glorious beginning of Boris Becker on his way to entering the 'Tennis hall of fame.
In reply to the court's query about earning of
vast amount, winning about ' $50 million (£38m) in prize money and sponsorship deals', alone, besides earning as a coach, Becker replied that his personal life was in turmoil that had impacted adversely on his earnings. He was involved in an expensive divorce with his wife 'Barbara'. In addition, he had to pay high maintenance payments to his two sons and support his daughter. Becker admitted that his expensive lifestyle resulted further in draining out his exchequer forcing him to leave Monte Carlo and come to London. Becker's disastrous personal calamity, his fall from celebrity to ignominy showcases the uncertain, helpless human predicament in the scheme of things.
The cricket lovers of the Northeast still remember Chris Cairns for his magnificent batting scoring 80 runs at Nehru Stadium, Guwahati when New Zealand came and played an 'ODI' in 1999 against India. Cairns holds the enviable batting average of 29.06 in ODIs and has taken 215 ODI wickets besides scoring five test centuries in tests in his illustrious career spanning over seven years and remains one of the best-ever all-rounders. Long after hanging his boots, Cairns was accused of 'match-fixing'. While the investigation was carried out by Scotland Yard police, Chris Cairns had to work as a truck driver to earn a livelihood for their family. What a fall from grace!!! The allegation against Cairns, however, proved a hoax.
Bjorn Borg does not require any introduction to the connoisseurs of tennis. A winner of 11 Grand Slams, Borg is considered one of the all-time best tennis players. After his exit from tennis, Bjorn Borg had landed a series of personal setbacks, landing him in bankruptcy. In the year 2006, a shocking announcement that Borg's coveted 'Grand Slam' winning trophies and two of his precious rackets will be auctioned in 'Bonham's Auction House, London shocked the sporting fraternity. Needless to say, the news was a surprise to some of his equally great opponents like John McEnroe. McEnroe, reportedly, called up Borg to desist from undertaking such activity.
Ultimately, it was the noble effort of McEnroe that saved Borg from catastrophe. The sordid happening serves to highlight the unpleasant truth that the fate of a human being, irrespective of stature, hangs on a very slender, fragile thread.
Tiger Woods is described as the greatest golfer ever in the world. He earned celebrity status at a young age with the associated fame, glory and wealth. "His conjugal life was perfect with former Swedish model Elin Nordegren." A tabloid story in 2009 of Tiger having an extramarital affair with a nightclub manager had shattered his image thoroughly. Finally, the floodgates opened when over a dozen women were revealed crouching with Tiger. Despite taking 20 weeks away from golf, Tiger and his wife split up and his game never fully recovered."
Hauntingly melodious, foot-tapping songs composed by OP Nayyar, popularly described as 'rhythm king', continue to have an undying appeal to the connoisseurs of Bollywood music despite the passage of time. Such was the magic of his soulful, majestic composition on the admirers that he could dispense with Lata Mangeskar, the Indian Nightingale, from his world of compositions all through his illustrious career. During the 60s and 70s, he became the highest-paid music director charging Rupees one lakh per movie and used to move in a Cadillac car. In a classic instance of transformation from prince to pauper, OP Nayyar had to spend the last twenty years of life as a paying guest at Thane in the house of one of his admirers being divested of wealth and splendour.
Such unsavoury real-life incidents and unfortunate stories of the ups and downs of celebrities remind us of the famous lines of William Shakespeare in 'King Lear.' To quote the immortal dramatist, "As flies to wanton boys, they kill us for sport…"