With teary eyes, Sachin Tendulkar says goodbye!
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Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar: All my friends, (pause) settle down, let me talk. I would like to thank people who have played an important role in my life. For the first time, I'm carrying a list so that i don't forget them. The most important person in my life, I miss him, since 1999, my father. Without his guidance, I don't think I would be standing in front of you. He told me, "chase your dreams and don't find shortcuts." He told me to to be a very good human being. Whenever I've done something special, when I raised my bat, it was for my father.
· Tendulkar continues: My mother, I don't know
how she managed such a naughty child like me. She took care of me. She started
praying for me before I started playing cricket. Her prayers are blessings and
a big thank you for all her sacrifices.
· "I can't forget my uncle and aunt who I
stayed with during my school day. My aunt fed me when I was tired after playing
so that I could be stronger and play harder the next day. My elder brother
Nitin always encouraged me. My sister Savita was the one who gifted me my first
cricket bat, it was a Kashmir Willow."
· "Ajit, my brother, what can I say about
him. He sacrificed his career for me to pursue my cricket. He took me to my
coach Ramakant Achrekar and that changed my career. Even last night, he called
me and we spoke about my dismissal. We still discuss technique. We have argued
over it and had it not been for all that, I would have been a lesser
cricketer."
· "The most beautiful thing happened to me
in 1990, when I met my wife. When we decided to start a family, Anjali told me
to continue my career with cricket and said that she would take up the
responsibility of the family. Thanks for bearing with me, my frustration which
I have thrown. You are the best partnership I've had in my life."
· "Then, the two precious diamonds of my
life, Sarah and Arjun. They've already grown up. I wanted to spend so much time
with them on special occasions like birthdays, annual days, going on holidays,
I've missed out on all of them. Thanks for understanding me, you are so special
to me, you cannot imagine. These 14 and 16 years, I couldn't spend enough time
with you, but the next many years are all for you."
· "My inlaws, the most important think
they did was to allow me to marry their daughter. All my friends, during my
childhood have helped me a lot, whenever I asked them to bowl to me, they would
leave their work. My friends have woken up at 3 O'clock in the morning to drive
with me during times of injury when I thought my career was over."
· "The turning point of my career was when
my brother took me to my coach, Achrekar Sir. I was extremely happy to see him
in the stands, normally he watches on TV. Sir would take me all over Mumbai on
his scooter to play two matches and get match practice. He has never told me
'well played' and maybe now he can say that as there is no more cricket in my
life."
· "My cricket started at the Wankhede for
Mumbai. Thank you very much for taking care of me. BCCI was fantastic, right
from my debut, believing in my ability, selecting me at the age of 16, the
faith they put in me, thank you. You were with me when I was injured and took
good care of me so that I could come back and play."
· "Thanks so much to all the cricketers
I've watched on TV although I couldn't play with them. Dravid, Sourav, Laxman
and all of them here, you are like my family away from home. I know when MS
Dhoni presented my 200th Test cap on day 1, in the morning, I had a special
message for the team. We are special and should be proud to be part of this
Indian team. I believe, we are the lucky ones chosen by the almighty to serve
the sport. I have full faith in you that you will continue to serve the nation
and brings all the laurels to our country."
· "I'd be failing if I don't thank all the
doctors and the physios without whose special efforts on this body. They have
come from Chennai and far to tend to me and have kept me in good shape."
· "My good friend, Mark Mascarenhas, my
first manager. He loved cricket, loved Indian cricket and gave me all the space
and took care of all the promotions and sponsors. Thank you, Mark, I miss
you."
· "Someone who has worked more than 14
years with me, my manager Vinod Naidu. A big thank you to your family as well
for giving so much time to me. Thank you so much to all the media for
supporting me and my performances. Thank you so much to all the photographers
who have captured all the moments. I know my speech is getting too long but
this is the last thing I want to say..."
· "Thank you to all of you who have flown
in from all around the world. You mean a lot. I've met so many guys who have
fasted for me, done so many things for me. Time has flown by rather quickly but
the memories that you have left will always be with me, specially 'sachin...
sachin...' will reverberate in my head. If I have missed out on anything or anyone,
I'm sorry and I hope you understand. Goodbye!"
Lastly, Harsha Bhogle on air says that there isn't a dry eye in the commentary
box. It was an overwhelming speech form the Little Master. He will always
be remembered and revered in our minds for all those fascinating shots, the
humble personality and the euphoria that he caused on grounds he set foot on.
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