Early in high school I weighed about 105 lbs soaking wet. I know, laugh if you want to. I am descended from two bean poles so I was at a genetic disadvantage. This was, after all, long before my collegiate boxing, my climbing adventures, and before I started appearing shirtless in “Boys of Blogging” calenders (ahem…cough cough). So just how does a 105 lb boy make his way in the brutal world that is high school? By laying low, very low. Most people don’t notice a scrawny little kid in high school (as many of our readers might sympathize with). I was also very very very shy.
I hung out with the nerd/geek crowd at the first of the two high schools I attended. It wasn’t much fun as nothing exciting ever happens in the nerd/geek crowd. One day however, my friends and I hatched a plan. The only way that we could raise our station in life was to be on a high school sports team. Even JV would do. This would be our ticket out. But what could I play? Basketball was definitely out. I was a fierce defender but way too short. Baseball? I could play infield but could barely hit the ball out of the infield. Football? Ha Ha Ha. I was pretty good at indoor hockey on the gym floor and rough enough that one kid even tried to fight me for high-sticking his friend until the PE teacher broke it up. However, there is no gym floor hockey team in high school. And then, like a ray of light the answer was revealed. My high school would be holding try-outs for the…Badminton Team.
I was pretty good at badminton and my odds were good because none of the cool kids (who were also the more athletic kids) would EVER be seen anywhere near a shuttlecock. My svelte body would dart back and forth pounding that birdie mercilessly. The fact that it looked like a tiny upside down Apollo capsule re-entering through Earth’s atmosphere was just a bonus (although I could’t say that out loud or even the geeks would make fun of me). The problem was that the competition was cut-throat. All the other geeks were gunning for the same few spots. Many of them were also Asian or South Asian since, for some strange reason, Asians have a fascination with racket sports. Every day I practiced and practiced, honing my skills while huffing like a young Boris Becker of Badminton. Then, the day before the try-outs I came down with a cold and was battling flu like symptoms all day. After watching television while slumped in a couch I got up too quickly, got a massive head rush, passed out, cut my head open on my metal bed frame as I fell, bled all over the place, and had to get stitches in the ER. The doctor ordered me to miss tryouts the next day. I didn’t make the team. This was the single most scarring failure of my life. And that brings me to the point of this thus far depressing post: American Olympian Raju Rai. Geek has been replaced with chic.
Sport: Olympic Badminton
Nation: United States of America
DOB: Feb. 3, 1983
Residence: Anaheim, Calif.
Events: Men’s Singles
Career Highlights: 2006 – U.S. National Champion, men’s singles; 2005 – U.S. National Champions, men’s singles; 2004 – U.S. National Champion, men’s singles, mixed doubles; 2003 – U.S. National Champion, mixed doubles.
Personal Notes: Participated in a Badminton World Federation training program in Germany. … [Link]
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p>That’s right! We have two Rajs in Red China right now and this one is teaching Beijing some shuttlecock diplomacy. Rai seems to be a new breed of Badminton player, much different than I was in the early 90s. Back then I assumed I should maintain a thin figure to retain my speed. Conversely check out Raju’s huge quads:
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p>According to this video (set to the music of R. Kelly) this guy is as close to a sex symbol that there is in the world of Badminton:
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My years of pain and disappointment end today. My dreams live on in Rai. Good luck and kick ass in Beijing!!
Here is the bracket y’all. Our boy is up on August 11th at 11:55a.m. I expect someone to be on the satellite feed and report results back to us here at SM.
P.S. It would just be a bonus if it was an all brown final.
Abhinav Bindra has opened the Gold Door at the Olympics, making it slighly easier for those who come after him to negotiate it. A Gold Medallist and a pioneer.
51 · Candadai Tirumalai said
Congrats to Abhinav but I don’t think a win in a non-athletic event helps Indians get over the psychological hump. Some uncles I know who can be the “before picture” in protein supplement drink ads placed highly internationally in air rifle during their NCC adventures. India’s enemies would be terrified of them if first immobilized by some force field created by IISc and turned into hemophiliacs with brittle bone disease by AIIMS wizardry. Good placement by Bhavsar, although he is American, will be far more encouraging to kids in the desh. It says “we’ve got the raw materials to work with”
This is the first time ever an Indian has won a Gold at the Olympics in an individual event, non-athletic though it is. One has only to glance at today’s articles in Indian newspapers to appreciate what it means for the nation. Rathore paved the way with his Silver in 2004, in a different but not unrelated event.
53 · Candadai Tirumalai said
Realize that means all desitos will be requesting air guns for diwali/xmas/ramadan. They’ll put their eyes out
I hope we know how to honor a singular achievement without putting in all manner of caveats and qualifications.
Have the BJP and the Indian Media already announced to the masses that India is now officially an Olympic Superpower?
52 · louiecypher said
ummm, we’re not lacking in self-esteem, regardless of the medals tally. but thanks for keeping us in your thoughts anyway, louiecypher.
Indeed. …That this victory came in what is arguably the most difficult shooting sport i.e. the10m Air Rifle event makes it that much sweeter. (Link)
As for badminton not being athletic enough — Jet Li plays it to keep his reflexes sharp.
Raju Rai is #96 on google trends.
Since this is China’s coming out party, I’ve been secretly following some of the Olympics hoopla (I don’t watch sports, have never watched an Olympics and in any case I’m boycotting China). So when I saw that India had won a gold I nearly fell off my chair. Wow! So India is now ranked 19th in the medal counts instead of 190!
Have the BJP and the Indian Media already announced to the masses that India is now officially an Olympic Superpower?
Just like the name Sultan does not confer the status of a ruler, winning gold medals does not confer superpower status.
If eating ladoos were an olympic sport…
Indian would have lots of medals.
Raju Rai is quite good looking.. he is probably Rajwinder or something..
57 · still at pomona said
Si Se Puede ! Si Se Puede !
Ur post was moving since it brought back my valiant efforts at being in the services after having seen Rekha play an Inspector and the dismal failure at being told chasmush (bespectacled) people dont get into any forces.
However ur post header was what was the best about the whole thing.
ummm, we’re not lacking in self-esteem, regardless of the medals tally. but thanks for keeping us in your thoughts anyway, louiecypher.
I am!