Sports QuoteBook: What They Said, Really Meant and Definitely Did Not

Maria Sharapova, Abhinav Bindra, PT Usha, Rashid Latif and Saurav Ganguly headline this edition of "What They Said, Really Meant and Definitely Did Not."

Sharapova has no time for daiquiris on the beach as she embarks for Istanbul.

PT Usha has her heart set on other matters than Formula 1.

Rashid Latif, ever the controversy monger, sets Danish Kaneria among the PCB pigeons.

Ganguly Bells the English Team.

And Abhinav Bindra does not like being rechristened—by anyone.

PT Usha Is Not Sporting About Formula 1

What she said:

"I feel very bad because such hi-fi business has nothing to do with 99 percent of Indians. It is a criminal waste (of money). First, Twenty20 cricket spoiled the spirit of Indian sports, and now here comes another avatar, which will mostly attract corporate money, who (corporate) rarely spend for sports promotion. Only God can save the Indian sports," Usha told Times of India.

Former track and field superstar PT Usha is not enamoured with the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix to be held on the October 30, 2011, at the Buddh International Circuit, NOIDA.

Usha narrowly missed bronze in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and runs an athletic school in her home state, Kerala.

Usha said:

"Till this date I have never and I don’t want to follow any motor business, which I do not want to call as sport.”

What she really meant:

“Neither does the Olympics consider F1 a sport (in cricket’s case—not yet).”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Formula 1 epitomises ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius.’”

No Beach Picnic for Maria Sharapova This Year

What she said:

"The last couple of years at this time I was sipping a margarita on the beach and now I have another tournament," Sharapova told reporters (via BBC Sport).

Maria Sharapova contrasts her experiences over the past two years with 2011.

Though the Russian has yet to win a Slam since 2008, she climbed the rankings to be No. 2 this year.

What she really meant:

“More work, more tennis, less play, less Margaritas.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’d rather be picnicking on the beach.”

Rashid Latif Bats Economically for Danish Kaneria

What he said:

"I would say it’s an economical murder of a player who has served the country very well and is still eager to continue," Rashid Latif, former Pakistani skipper, told The Express Tribune.

Latif continues Pakistani cricketers’ saga of recriminations against their administrators.

Latif accused the PCB of a lackadaisical attitude to one of the premier spinning talents in the country—Danish Kaneria.

Kaneria was arrested for spot-fixing together with fellow Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield in 2010 but was released without charge.

A hearing of an integrity committee of the PCB failed to clear him. Kaneria has filed a petition in a bid to force the PCB to allow him to represent the country.

Latif claimed:

"

All around the cricketing world they preserve their players, however, in Pakistan the ideology is just the opposite as the PCB is destroying Kaneria’s career.

He is the most successful spinner of the country, hence should be treated with respect.

"

What he really meant:

“It’s not a reference to Kaneria’s bowling figures.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Who’s Adam Smith? And what’s he doing on a cricket field?”

Saurav Ganguly Is Practical About One-Day Cricket

What he said:

“The problem with England is they have too much theory in one-day cricket," Saurav Ganguly told ESPN CricInfo Magazine.

Ganguly analyses the reasons for England’s 4-0 washout against India in the five match ODI series in India.

The former Indian skipper was commenting on England’s unwillingness to have Ian Bell open the innings in the 50 over format.

Bell is rated the best batsman in the world by leading experts.

What he really meant:

“I’m all for anti-theory—especially when it comes to opposing sides.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Wasn’t this the same side that beat us in the ODI series at home?”

Abhinav Bindra’s Name Certainly Isn’t ‘Avinash’

What he said:

“Yeah, he called me Avinash!” Abhinav Bindra told The Times of India.

Bindra, India’s only individual gold medallist at the Olympics, reveals his bitterness with the state of sports administration in the country.

Bindra recently released his autobiography,‘A Shot At History,’ co-written with Rohit Brijnath.

An excerpt from his interview in The Times Of India:

"

You’ve titled a chapter ‘Mr Indian Official: 
Thanks For Nothing.’ Why such bitterness?

It’s just a very honest account of my experiences of Indian sport in the last 16 years. See, a sports administrator needs to have a fine understanding of the dynamics and uncertainties of sports, the planning and precision that goes into winning. Our sports administrators lack knowledge and attention to detail. They’re all nice people, but without an understanding of sports, which becomes a barrier. Running sport is bloody hard work! It’s serious business. The whole idea of doing it as an honorary, halfhearted thing is just not good enough. The efficiency of sports officials has to match that of athletes. And their record is telling.

"

On winning his gold medal, Bindra says that then-IOA head Suresh Kalmadi was unable to recall his first name, calling him ‘Avinash’ instead.

What he really meant:

“I wonder if that was the name of one of his close relatives.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“What’s in a name?”