Livin' the life...

I really didn't want to post on anything Cricket World Cup related but after yesterday, I somehow feel obliged to. Today the headlines read, "Hosts West Indies were eliminated Tuesday from the semi-finals leaving four hopefuls.", "South Africa wins by 67 runs - WI now spectators" and "Lara: We are sorry".

This does not bother me so much that they lost, because everyone can't always be on top and also, I think the bitter taste of defeat at times, shocks people back to "the world of success". So.. I believe I heard WI have a test series coming up, so hopefully they perform well in that. My main issue with regards to this entire cricket "thing" is how much $$ (esp. foreign exchange) was pumped into it throughout the region (just Barbados alone, I'm seeing a figure of US $67.5 million quoted here).

Sometimes I listen to the "Brass Tax" (a popular call-in radio program), and we hear about the millions spend on refurbishing the Oval (or even the amount spent at U.W.I. Cave Hill with the 3Ws ground) and making it[the oval] "world-class" as I believe I heard a popular MC refer to it.. but, who will fill this "world-class" Oval now? As we all know, the faithful, cricket fanatics of India and Pakistan no longer have a strong reason to come to the finals (as their teams didn't get into the Super Eights), now the WI are out, so even though it's in our own countries, no real need to "go to the Oval/Grounds to support the boys"- as the "boys" will not be playing (and you can probably catch the match free on TV, and we all know: TV has good replays! )!

Now, if the little I know about tourism is correct, people from England make up quite a bit of visitors to Bim.. Hmm.. but England don't seem to be making it pass the Super Eights either! Not only this but in general, there has been buzz that "normal tourist" are avoiding the Caribbean to avoid any possible confusion caused by Cricket World Cup (CWC). So.. that's even less people right?

Cricket approximation figures seem to be constantly jumping around and here I'm seeing 25,000 being the current estimation for visitors to Bim. Even though... a good set of a these seem to be lodging on Cruise liners (which I thought were all-inclusive shops i.e. no need to buy anything here).

Anyway, it's time for me to leave this cricket thing and expenditure thing to the "experts". I feel sorry for those people who (under advisement) borrowed money to build additions to their homes to help "accommodate" the then-expected 75,000 visitors.. Hey wait! I just remembered that there's a bright side!! Arawak Cement plant hit a record in local sales due to the various construction projects related to CWC! (Ref) ... *shakes head*