TALWAS: The tale, set in the forests of northwestern India, had all the ingredients of a perfect Bollywood love story: emotion, celebration, star-crossed lovers and a nail-biting climax.

The only difference was that the lovers were monkeys, taking part in India’s first simian wedding – with the whole unfolding drama a classic clash between age-old village belief and the demands of modern life skeptical of that way of thought.

Hindu belief includes worship of animals as avatars of the gods. Monkeys have an especially significant role in Hindu mythology where they are worshipped as avatars of Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Rama in his fight against evil.

So when plans for the wedding of “Raju” and “Chinki” were laid in the small village of Talwas, deep in the forests of Rajasthan, villagers responded with excitement.

Raju, the “groom,” was famous in Banetha village, about 55 km from Talwas, attracting crowds whenever he went outside. He was known for eating, sleeping and smoking cigarettes with his owner, Ramesh Saini, who treated him like a son.

“I want to enjoy the feelings of a son’s marriage through Raju’s wedding,” said Rajesh, a 38-year-old married but childless auto rickshaw driver who nursed Raju back to health after finding him unconscious three years ago.

So he was overjoyed two months ago when he met Chinki’s caretaker, a priest in a nearby village, who proposed that the two monkeys be married.

“We will welcome the bride in our house in Banetha after the wedding with all rituals,” said an excited Ramesh while offering tea to Raju at a roadside tea shop.

Hundreds of invitation cards were sent out to nearby villages for the wedding, planned according to traditional Hindu customs that include seven rounds of the sacred fire as the wedding vows are recited by a priest. A huge pre-wedding feast was planned, along with a procession with Raju on a horse.

But no good love story is complete without a little hiccup.

As news of the marriage spread, the state forest department officials stepped into action. Since monkeys are protected in India as government property, no one can pet them, train them or – as in this case – marry them, even to a fellow monkey.

“It’s illegal to marry a monkey. Anyone found doing that or attending the marriage ceremony will be arrested,” said forest range officer Bhavar Singh Kaviya.

Tensions rose in both villages after officials issued their final warning. The monkeys and their owners went into hiding.

On the day of the planned wedding, more than 200 guards poured into Talwas, where they confronted hundreds of people from nearby villages who had arrived to see the rare spectacle.

“I have come all the way just to watch god’s marriage and now the police are telling me to go back and stay away from the temple,” said Prem Jain, an angry 72-year-old villager, after arguing with a policeman.

“They told me the monkeys have been captured. They can’t capture god!”

But then came the news – the monkey couple had been secretly married off in a ceremony somewhere deep in the forest. The villagers erupted in joy and began celebrating.

The officials couldn’t resist congratulating Chinki and posed for pictures with her.

Both monkeys were captured and officials said they hoped to release them soon in nearby forests, but Ramesh was confident of their eventual return. “I know my son Raju, with his wife Chinki, will come back home,” said an emotional Ramesh. “I will hold a big reception for them!”


The photo is worth the read.

Unfortunately the shadow of the traitor will cast a shadow for some time and it will linger all-together until they win a title. Childress is a real nice player to have in your rotation but the Cavs are loaded with guys like that. There's a reason Jefferson is being shopped by one of the worst franchises in pro sports. With the roster Cleveland has, they'll be competeting for the final playoff spot out East and are far behind Milwaukee and Chicago within their own division. A year or two (or three) down the road the Cavs will have the chance to have a new, mature, competitor as the face of their franchise. Until then dread regins at the Q.

Watching some of the Cleveland series vs. Boston I think it is funny how some people come on here and talk about him quitting just to bump their gums about something and create stories where there are none.

But first things first, after Gilbert made those statements he made about LeBron and his championship promise you know he has to do something or look like he is doing something in the eyes of the fans because that roster, as it is now is likely a fringe 8th seed roster at best.  That is on paper of course but I would think most non-homers would agree that that roster is no where near being able to compete with the new elite in the East, that being, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Orlando and even Atlanta.

So, like I always love to do on here, let's have some fun with stats because if I guy is putting up numbers, how can he possibly be a quitter right?  I mean this guy is a top 2 player in the league (Kobe/LeBron or LeBron/Kobe in either order) but even he cannot put up numbers without trying right?

Let's look at the Boston series:

Found this online so I will just cut and paste it here, oh, here is the source since the same people calling him a quitter my think I am making up number or something:  

Game 5, he was horrible but in Game 7 of the Finals Kobe was worse so does that mean he quit?  No, he just didn't have it that night and he team carried him to the title but when LeBron doesn't have it, which like Bean, is rare, there is no one that can consistently carry him home.  Wait, it just hit me, Boston held him down a little and at times held Bean down too, maybe, just maybe, there is something about Boston, oh, I dunno, they play D perhaps.

Game By Game StatsDateOpponentResultMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-

AOFFDEFREBASTSTLBLKTOPFPTSPlayoffsC

onference Semi-FinalsMay 13@ 468 - 212 - 49 - 123161910319227May 11vs. 423 - 140 - 49 - 121567103315May 09@ 437 - 180 - 58 - 111898217422May 07@ 3914 - 222 - 38 - 92687121138May 03vs. 417 - 150 - 410 - 150774325124May 01vs. 4312 - 243 - 68 - 112577322135


Now, I am no LBJ homer or appologist for his Ego Tour 2010 but it is funny calling him a quitter as if that makes people proud of themselves because they are trying to rip a guy they would take on their team in a heart beat.  What's more hilarious is the d-bag writers on here calling him that and a coward as if anyone on here wouldn't want to go to a place they could win more (potentially of course).

Back to my point, Game 5, yeah he sucked but after that game they interviewed him about Game 6 and he said he felt they would win and when asked why he said, "We still got me."  Why make a comment like that and make oneself a target if he was a quitter and in Game 6 he was nearly the only one who seemed to be giving his all.  Come on, the shooting wasn't great but 19 boards, 10 assists, 3 steals, sounds like a quitter to me.  Those 9 turnovers must be your excuse right, oh, he turned it over on purpose right?  People on these boards and some stories written in absence of facts and statistical evidence amuse me as I am sure they do the educated fans.

Look, you know who you are, you do the same thing when every superstar who is not on your hometown team has an off night because even at 5'11 if I guarded LeBron or Kobe they would miss some shots but just call it what it is.  He may have looked a turd in Game 5 but don't make up stories and excuses, just admit that since he/they is/are not on your team that you try to find every flaw about the guy to make yourself feel justified for why most of the teams out there aren't as good as The LeBrons were or the Lakers are and your favorite player on your team is no LeBron or Bean.

That being said, what do we all think?  This Summer of 2010 was billed as a life-altering event for all 6 billion people across the globe, sarcastically speaking, so did it live up to it.  My guess is if LeBron is not on your team or you still think he is not elite then this summer has been a sad one for you since you sit there all the time coming up with these theories about how he will not be able to coexist with Wade and Bosh but for me this summer was interesting and the next 6 seasons should be interesting to watch to see how this trio will be remembered.

Funny story real quick, I was in a Safeway yesterday (In CA btw) and the bagger started yapping with a customer about the Heat, Lebron, their roster, etc.  The guy in line was like, yeah, but who is running the point and the bagger said, they have Rafer Alston, I had to chuckle a bit.

The moral is, there are people who are fans and know something about the game and league and there are people who just look for excuses then post those excuses.

Now, like I said, this season should be something and you know the hype is already out there for a Laker-Heat finals and what will happen after that with the CBA.

The thing I am wondering is will the people on here and the writers still make excuses and call these guys bums, quitters and my favorite, that they colluded as if that term is relevant here, if they win a couple titles in the next 6 years?  My guess is that "they" are hoping this thing fails so they can bump their chests about being right all this time kind of like a Red Sox homer does each time they win these days saying their team is a AAA squad and they are still in the thick of the race as if Pedroia, Buchholtz and Martinez had been out all year or something.  Because of course that Hermida injury, that Tazawa injury and heck even those early injuries to Bill Hall and Mike Cameron and DelCarmen are so clutch because those guys were cornerstones.  Oh, let's not forget Beckett and his 7+ era, they need him back.  Anyway, just a random Sunday rant about chest bumpers and their desire to make excuses and place blame unjustifiably. 

Have to love that versatility in my knowledge, ha!

Sorry for the long post ladies and gents, just had to point out some facts from an observer and fan of sports in general!