Legal tangles notwithstanding, Sidhuism flows unabated

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) The legal tangle over the murder case apparently had no impact whatsoever on ''Sidhuism'' with cricketer-turned-politician-cum-commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu tickling the funny bone as ever.

The former opener, fighting a three-year imprisonment on manslaughter charges, was here to launch world's first full-feauture online multi-player cricket gaming, a Reliance ADA Group venture where Sidhuism flowed unabated as the former opener had the audience in splits.

Before introducing former teammate Kapil Dev on dais, Sidhu recalled a hilarious incident in 1983 when the World Cup winning captain had taken nine-wickets and was scheduled to address a media conference teeming with foreign press.

''I warned Kapil Paaji that barrage of bouncers would meet him the moment he lands there. I said 'Paaji, why don't we go for a Hindi movie today? and 'Hero' was just released. But Paaji was adamant to go to the press conference,'' he reminsced.

''And as usual, he was floored with questions from all quarters and everybody wanting to know why India, a country of such a huge populace, could not produce another kapil Dev.

''And after a lull, Paaji stood up and humbly said, 'My mother is 62 and my father passed away. It's simply not possible to produce another Kapil Dev.'' Quite excited with the online gaming, Sidhu, however, assured that he was not here to dole out management mantras and it was simply about cricket.

''I'm not here to teach you management fundas, for I'm as clueless about management as a child in a topless bar,'' he quipped.

He advised company officials to make best use of the advertising medium to popularise the concept which is yet to be a rage.

''You can't do away with advertising. A new product without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark -- you know what you are doing but the act is not getting noticed by your target,'' he explained.

UNI AY SAM HT1607