CARIBBEAN TODAY VIEu P o n T LW-S^^ caribbeantoday Carlbcnmt 'MAQ' targets Caribbean love for cricket in the U.S. MAOQ S I'" l 7f there is one sport that brings Catribbeanii people together, whether in the region or overseas in countries like the United States, it's crick- et. Yet, despite thousands of players involved with hundreds of teams the game has strug- gled for widespread acceptance in the US. MahammadA. Qureshi is hoping to change that with "MAQ T20", which highlights the shorter 20 overs version of the game. The first tournament is slated for Memorial weekend in Lauderhill, Florida. Qureshi recently discussed his plans with Caribbean Today's Managing Editor Gordon Williams. The following is an edited version of that interview: GORDON WILLIAMS: This is a big investment for you, in terms of this tournament and everything involved in 20/20. What was the chief motivation behind getting involved with such a big project? MAHAMMAD A. QURESHI: I've been trying to promote the cricket in the U.S. The U.S. has never been pro- moting the cricket. As you look at it, organizations come and go. A lot of independent tournaments are only for one time. (No) organization has a two-year plan how we're going to promote the cricket in the U.S. We have 750 teams and they've never been promoted. So, here, with this thing we have the chance to bring the fast version of the cricket, which is called 20/20. "MAQ T20"...We have a huge pro- gram, which will involve sum- mer camps. We also have inde- pendent tournaments. That's all these programs going for three years ahead of us. And (we're) trying to pro- mote this cricket because the game is the world's second largest game after soccer and never got promoted. The year I stepped in, I did 1999, first tournament, short version for Americans. Cricket, like baseball, two and a half hours, 20/20, in the city of Dania Beach (Florida). And you don't have the proper sta- dium (there), but we did the tournament very well. I've been waiting since then. G.W.: How much is your investment worth? M.A.Q.: Sincel992 we've been trying to promote the cricket, I've spent a million or so dol- lars on my own to promote the cricket. G.W.: How much is this (MAQ T20) tournament going to cost you? M.A.Q.: This thing is costing over a million dollars to just put it together for a three-day tournament. Just for three days, Memorial Day weekend. It's costing over a million dol- lars to promote all these games coming up.. .because we have a concert after that... G.W.: What would you use as a measuring stick to decide the success or non-success of this particular event coming up on Memorial Day? M.A.Q.: Major thing, basically, this is the first (cricket) stadi- um in Broward County. First (cricket) stadium in the United States. There is no exposure worldwide. Everybody is look- ing at it. U.S., they think, did- n't play cricket. So this (tour- nament) is the biggest expo- sure you're gonna get on this event. There's telecasting on T.V, radio and news media. So this is a big event, we have covered, for the future of cricket, coming up for us. G.W.: You're old enough to have known cricket when Test cricket was the biggest game in town. Is it bittersweet for you, that the promotion of cricket in this country (U.S.) is not resting with your first love, which is the traditional type of cricket, but more with a faster game now, 20/20 cricket? M.A.Q.: If you look at it like, you want to promote the crick- et, you want to bring the best teams and fast in America, where Tests have never been promoted, we bring the short version. We had to bring the youngsters. If you look at the youngsters, they are ready to go.. .Here, nobody played cricket. Only baseball, soccer and all of that. I have the dream and goal to promote the cricket. When I became a suc- cessful businessman after fin- ishing college in 1989, I opened (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12) Seeking Adonis In Greek mythology Adonis was a handsome young shepherd loved by Aphrodite. His name has become synonymous with perfection in men, as in: "He was handsome like a Greek god, so near per- fection, an Adonis." That, it seems, is what women want. Apparently it appears that many women still want the knight in a suit of armor on a white horse, noble, honest, mannerly, although that came from the slightly older ladies. But in spite of what the books may say, sex still ranks high on the list of priorities of many women as some have told me. "He must be well endowed, at least an impres- sive six inches flaccid," one wrote. Oh my, and there you were buying into the notion that size doesn't matter. By now we all know that's bull, the same way they say that being poor is no crime, and that the meek shall inherit the Earth and all those nice sounding phrases. Maybe that would apply one time in the world's history, but certainly not now. Size does matter, and, in spite of what you hear, it mat- ters to women. If it didn't mat- ter they wouldn't sing about, "We don't want no short short men, no little teeny eenie weenie short short men." Based on my research and findings, almost all the ladies expressed that whereas they didn't necessarily want a man to be hung like a horse, he should be amply endowed. "No cigarettes between the fingers for me," one lady said. WORRY No wonder men spend so much time fretting about their size and spend time and money on those penile size enhancers, some of which may cause serious harm. Women have been known to laugh at men who come up short. They also said that Mr. Adonis must also be skillful in that depart- ment. "It's no use if he has TONY the tool but ROBINSON can't use it," a lady emphatically said. Not only that but he must be able to perform for at least an hour without falling asleep right after. No wonder men have high blood pressure and nervous breakdowns. But this 'falling asleep right after syn- drome', seems to be a serious issue. It seems that when a man is finished all he wants to do is sleep, or maybe he has to, in order to recoup. But the woman still wants to talk, cud- dle, touch, interact, kiss, needs affection. "I feel so used, as he's finished, him just roll over and start to snore." Adonis would not only perform above and beyond the call of duty, but stay awake too and give post game commentary afterwards. Adonis must not only look good, but be functional, according to this lady, for she says that the man must be able to cook dinner or break- fast, or, if he can't, should be willing to say, "Let's go get something to eat." He should also wash the dishes without the woman having to ask, leave the toilet seat down and dry, give gifts for no apparent reason, and do little chores all the time...cheerfully. OPTIONS This other lady also expressed to me her version of Adonis, and curiously, sex was way down on the list for her. Her number one was respect. The man should give her the same respect that he desires from her. Sensitivity came sec- ond: "He must be sensitive to my feelings and if he does something to hurt me, he should apologize and try not to hurt me the same way again." The trouble is most men don't even know when they're hurting a woman anyway. The fact is, sensitivity doesn't fall high on most men's list of pri- orities. The reality is, most men are afraid to show their sensitive side for fear of being deemed weak or soft. There's a popular song on the charts that says, "I showed you my sensitive side and you took me for a ride, I should treated you like them other guys did. If I had followed my original plan, you would've been noth- ing but a one night stand." That sentiment is echoed by many men and recently a young man e-mailed me, say- ing how he followed his par- ents advice and treated this girl with respect, was a gentle- man, was honest and moral and she dished him dirt. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10) PAUL W. MOO YOUNG, D.D.S. FAMILY DENTISTRY EMERGENCY WALK-IN SERVICE I Cosmetic Oral Surgery Restorative Oral Cancer Screening Preventive Root Canal Treatment Orthodontics Member American Dentol Association Most insurance Acccpted d305) 666 4334 6701 Sunset Drive, Suite 114 SSouth Miami, FL 33143 April 2008