He fits the definition of an ambassador completely. He is friendly, has a positive feel about him and is extremely approachable. Brett Lee was in India once again to endorse the Timex brand of watches that claims to have reached the billion mark. So every sixth person in the world, in effect sports a Timex, and thereby endorses the brand that the speedster Lee so efficiently is the face of.
This visit marked the 150 years of the Timex name. Another opportunity to interact with the charismatic Lee. Delhi sporting scribes waited for the man of the moment to arrive, and what a landing it was. Outlandish? Well he emerged out of a space ship so no pun intended.
Sporting a radiant smile and a watch around his neck he said all the politically right things about the brand that brings him to India. Ironically he has never played in India, but has been on a number of promotional tours. Come October and cricket fans will possibly get to see the Lee Magic unfurl itself against the Indians.
As part of a tete-a-tete with the media present, Brett admitted that he was happiest when he crossed the 160km/h mark on the world cup stage, and quickly added for good measure that he knows Timex will reach that figure in ten years.
Sitting on a quasi bar stool, the confident young man, or as was pointed out, the suave Scorpio dealt with all the questions hurled at him. When asked to comment on his feelings as a fellow bowler on Sri Lankan master spinner Murali's action, he confessed that when he was hauled up for his action, he knew he was fine, but was relieved when he was given the all clear certificate. Lee expressed that Murali should be allowed to bowl and play his cricket, and even Shoaib Akhtar, the speed thriller from Pakistan, should be left alone. 'Both lovely blokes'
His plea to the media was to throw light on the positives in cricket and not to dwell on the negatives. For then automatically the entire perspective is brighter. Point taken journalists?
As a build up to the Australian tour to India later this year, Lee was asked if the Ashes were still the series for the Australians. He explained that when one grows up as a kid playing cricket, the ashes is the ultimate series. Where the two countries share a love- hate relationship. Quite simply Australia loves to beat England and hates losing to them. He quickly added that in the present scenario, the India series was fast becoming a do or die affair. India will always draw crowds, be it in Australia, where the locals love to see Laxman, Dravid and Tendulkar shine, or in India where cricket means life.
Speed Thrills alright, but it also kills - goes one social message and Lee agreed that with the amount of cricket played and the competitiveness, the pacers are prone to get injured. Presently fighting a personal injury, he mentioned how the hyperextension of the arm - and the great pace that is generated time and again is bound to wear the body out. But as professionals, one has to have a strong base and that is the constant battle.
Minutes passed by and the Lee smile never disappeared. Charming as always, he obliged the TV channels for one to one interviews and the Print media too. If only all celebrities were this easy to speak with! One left the room, with a smile, for there was a man single-handedly, winning hearts by the dozen, for himself, for cricket and time and again for the watch he has grown to love!
- TRISHNA BOSE