DAILY ROUNDUP
American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: Keen watchers of the IPL in India, will well know the value of new cricket grounds to bring the sport to a wider audience. In the US too, cricket is gaining as a sport, going by its continuing popularity in areas where there a large population of South Asians and others from cricket playing nations reside.
And there is no greater testimony to this fact that the inauguration of well, not one, not two, but a total of 10 new cricket fields in the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, in New York City, a venue which was a grassy area for parades in the past. It makes the park the largest site for playing cricket in the United States, beating other cricket loving states like California and Florida.
This past weekend, more than 100 cricket players – good for 10 teams – joined diplomats from countries including Jamaica and Britain for the inauguration, to break in 10 new cricket fields in Van Cortlandt Park that city officials say make up the largest site in the United States for the sport. The venue is part of a $13 million renovation of the park. The Bronx now boasts of a total of 18 cricket fields in its borough.
The question for cricket aficionados is: how many venues are being used in the IPL to play matches?
IVAN MENEZES TO LEAD DIAGEO: Ivan Menezes, who was the named the Chief Operating Officer in 2000 by Diageo, the world’s biggest distiller, with brands like Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff under its wing, and was leading the North American operations for eight years, has in a surprise move been named the Chief Executive Officer, replacing Paul Walsh, who has led the company successfully for the last 13 years.
Industry watchers say Walsh, one of the most highly respected CEOs in the corporate world, has had a long string of successes in making Diageo what it is today, including the acquisition of Mey Icki and the takeover of Seagrams.
Menezes too has made a name for himself by going after acquisitions like Brazilian cachaca brand Ypioca, and a Chinese maker of white spirits.
Cheers to Menezes!
CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE: Indian Americans Aparna Bhattacharyya from Atlanta and Pramila Jayapal from Washington State have been recognized by the White House as ‘Champions of Change.’ The duo are part of 15 Asian American and Pacific Islander women recognized for their significant contribution to the community.
Bhattacharyya is the Executive Director of ‘Raksha’, in Atlanta, Georgia, a women’s advocacy group that works to help immigrant survivors of family and sexual violence and ensuring they have access to safety, justice and healing.
Jayapal is the founder of ‘OneAmerica’, the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington State, that was founded after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. A passionate advocate for immigration reform, Jayapal has also served in leadership roles for the Fair Immigration Reform Movement and the Rights Working Group. She is also the Distinguished Taconic Fellow at Center for Community Change and a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Washington Law School.
A big salute to these two tireless champions for the community at large!
To contact the author, e-mail: editor@americanbazaaronline.com