"Cyclic Integral of Heat Over Temperature"

The human brain is an amazing learning machine. Nothing equals the human brain when it comes to learning from experience; although, some human brains seem to be gifted more in this department than others, but that is not what I want to rant about.

As a child, life is simple in many ways and hence happier in some ways. As one 'grows up' the complex concepts begin to dawn upon oneself and it opens a plethora of pleasures and disappointments.

I remember as a kid I never appreciated some vegetables and their taste and nutritious value. I hardly liked any bell peppers and absolutely abhorred the exotic ones like the ridge gourd (doDkaa); but as I grew up or grew older I should say, I started experimenting with them a little more and now I absolutely love these vegetables. Also, even though the nutritious value is not directly evident to me, I am able to empirically appreciate the way these veggies seem to energize each and every cell of my body. Now I exactly know why my parents urged me to eat my veggies. It is so proverbial to ask your children to "eat your vegetables"; but now I know it comes out of the parents' own appreciation of nutritious food. They are at an age where they have begun to truly understand the benefits and wonder why their children don't.

I attribute this change in attitude towards vegetables to both the evolution of my own brain and the other physiological changes in my body.

When I was a young adult of 20 years age, I was studying Mechanical Engineering at the College of Engineering Pune, India. I and a close friend of mine got interested in 'Thermodynamics'. Very early in the semester the subject of 'Thermodynamics' seemed very arid and desolate; mostly due to the attendance in the class; but we hung on and thanks to the brilliant teacher (Professor Domkundwar) we got fascinated with the topic and in all modesty really understood the various concepts in 'Heat Engines', 'Refrigeration' etc.

That was the year when Professor Domkundwar taught us the concept of 'Entropy'. It was a new concept and then very hard to understand. It seemed weird that the 'Entropy of the universe always increases'. We even solved some silly mathematical questions based on the concept of Entropy; but not because we really understood the concept, but because we memorized the mathematical formulas involved in calculating Entropy.

So our frustrated young souls one day caught up with the Professor after class and directly posed him the question...."Sir, What exactly is Entropy?". He looked at us with pity and said..."It is very difficult to explain Entropy. I can tell you that mathematically it is the cyclic integral of heat over Temperature, but that won't mean much to you. One day you guys will just get it." and he walked away leaving us in disbelief. We mulled over the answer for some days puffing away cigarette smoke, inadvertently increasing the Entropy of the universe. We didn't have a choice; No matter what we did the Entropy increased.

It has been 17 years since and I don't claim to completely understand what Entropy is, but I am pretty sure that I have a feel for it. I have a feel for why it always increases and doesn't decrease, ever. Now, I also understand what the Professor meant when he said ..."one day you guys will just get it."

I am excited by the prospect of 'getting' many more such concepts as I grow older.

I took up golf when I was 33 years old. It is a damn hard game as it is and starting late in life doesn't help. Initially I took a few lessons with Matt who is the Golf Pro at the Los Lagos golf course in San Jose, California. While working on my swing and watching me get frustrated trying to hit the sweet spot consistently -- even with the fitted clubs -- Matt one day said to me ..."Golf swing is a complex phenomenon. You keep practicing the good things and one day you will have an epiphany and just get it." I still remember that sunny Saturday afternoon at the Los Lagos golf course. Matt had reminded me of Professor Domkundwar and had boosted my optimism about my golf swing. One day I will just get it.

I don't know when I will get it really. Does anyone ever get it? May be Tiger Woods does.

So when someone on the tee, after hitting a bad slice to the right asks me "do you ever get this golf swing thing?" I am going to calmly reply..."Yes I do, I finally get it...It is simple really...It is the cyclic integral of heat over temperature!"

keep up, buddy!

This sunday Roger Federer won his 5th straight Wimbledon and his 11th major. What a feat! and what a match it was with Rafa.

Not so long ago, I remember watching Sampras win his 14th major, when he beat Andre Agassi to win the 2002 U.S. Open. Then John McEnroe had wondered if in our lifetimes we would see someone break Sampras' record of 14 majors; and here we are, almost sure that Roger Federer will do it and that too soon.

I got up early Sunday morning to watch the much awaited final between Nadal and Federer. After the match began, during the first commercial break, Nike unveiled their new commercial featuring Federer and Tiger woods. You can watch it here.

As the commercial began, I realized that the voice over was Tiger Woods' voice and remember wondering if Tiger had only agreed to give his voice over for his new 'buddy'. But the punch line comes at the end when after praising Roger as the most feared Tennis player and winning ten majors and counting Tiger goes "And my name is Tiger Woods and I have 12 majors and counting. So Keep up Buddy!".

I thought it was very cute.

It got me thinking though; Is it easier to win 12 golf majors or is it easier to win 12 tennis majors? Or 14 tennis majors like Sampras has or 18 golf majors like Mr. Nicklaus has won?

If I present this question to most of my folks in India (or generally to most of the people I know, anywhere), they would emphatically say "Tennis majors of course and that's that!". But having indulged myself in both the sports, I think the answer is not that easy. The vulgar opinion about golf, especially in the 'hood that I grew up in is very... well, vulgar. Golf is thought of as a sport for spoiled rich people -- which it no doubtedly is -- where you ride in a golf cart all day occasionally hitting at a ball; or a game where a caddy does all the work for you and you just walk around wasting valuable time, which you might as well have wisely devoted to philanthropy.

Golf, at a competitive level is hardly that. It is demanding, both physically and mentally, and is a true test of strength, focus and resilience. At 18 majors Mr. Nicklaus is still the man to beat and Tiger Woods has a good chance of equalling or breaking his record.

Folks argue about golf's stature as a sport that needs physical and mental strength. Some arguments include points like ... 'the ball is sitting right there and nobody is trying to hit it at you' or ... 'you dont have to run to the ball or sprint or jump or do any such physically demanding action to hit the ball' and the likes. Golf Swing is not considered as a physically demanding action at all. Golf and athleticism don't go together.

It is just too hard to compare the two sports. Tennis might arguably require more athleticism than golf due to the fact that you are playing against someone and tennis puts more apparent work load on your joints.

But golf needs strength and suppleness in equal amounts. Just try hitting a golf ball three hundred yards in any direction and we'll worry about hitting the fairways later. This June I had the opportunity to watch pro-golfers at the memorial tournament. I followed Tiger for a while and was amazed at how much club-head speed he can generate. Adam Scott hits a six iron over 200 yards and Tiger hit a fairway wood 320 yards. Doing this day-in and day-out at that level requires a sound mind, almost zen-like.

It is possible that Tiger wins at least one of the remaining two majors this year. Then it would be 13 and counting. Roger seems all set to win the U.S. Open in September, unless Rafa has different plans for him. That would be 12 and counting for Roger.

I wonder if Nike has a commercial ready when and if Roger overtakes Tiger and gets a chance to say "Now, who's falling behind, buddy?"

Clarence and Coach Knight

Tuesday November 28th 2006 was unusually warm for Ohio. I had taken two days off after the thanks giving weekend to complete some domestic stuff that I can do only on weekdays. The warm weather however prompted some Golf. Someone previously had recommended the 'Cumberland' golf course in Pataskala, Ohio. So I reached there around 10:45 in the a.m.

The club house attendent was very nice and I immediately felt welcome on the course. I paid my green fee and saddled up on the golf cart. I drove around looking for the practice putting green. I found it next to the first tee.

A threesome was already practising putts and they asked me what my tee-time was. I replied back, that I had just walked on and they should go ahead if they are ready. I was in no hurry.

So I practised a few putts, felt good about my putting and did some jumping jacks to get my blood flowing. Stiff bodies make no good swings, I reminded myself.

The road to the clubhouse ran between the clubhouse and the first tee. Suddenly from the parking lot across the road, I heard someone yell "Are you looking for someone to play with?". It took me a few seconds to realize that the question was directed at me. He was a silver haired gentleman dressed impeccably in golf attire. I yelled back, "Sure, Do you want to join me?". He took a few minutes to get his shoes and pay the green fees and joined me on the first tee. We introduced ourselves and I learned that his name was 'Claire'.

He said "I am going to play Senior's tees, if you don't mind. I am 74 years old and I cannot enjoy the game if I play from the long tees. I am not able to hit it long enough anymore." He added "My son told me........'Dad why don't you swallow your pride and play the senior's tees' and I agree with him."

I told Claire that it was my first time on this course and I would need some help from him to play it well. He took up upon him. When we drove to the tee box of every golf hole he gave me tips on where to hit the tee shot and whether there was danger right or left.

The greens were fast and my putting confidence was nearly destroyed by the time I finished the first hole. Claire warned me that in summer the putting greens were like a glass surface. They are very hard and fast. I couldn't imagine putting on those greens in summer.

Somehow the conversation turned to St. Andrews and he regaled me with his golf trip to Scotland. He had taken that trip with Bobby Knight and some other friends. He also told me he knew Coach Bobby Knight very well. Bobby Knight was fresh in my mind, since the November 13th controversy when the TV cameras caught him raising a player's chin up while he was talking to him. I also remembered the famous footage we see, when Coach Knight threw a chair across the court to protest a referee's call.

We moved along the course briskly and got to know each other. He talked about how proud he was of his son who worked for GM and how he himself worked in different positions in various schools ranging from an athletic director, to basketball coach, to a principal. "Life has been good to me" he mused.

I had started liking the guy since we met. He was very grandfatherly. He encouraged me whenever I got a par, which was not too often. He encouraged me, even when I didn't play well. He himself got one birdie and his eyes lit up. "You have been leaving those putts below all day" he told me on the 14th green. "Now get this one in, will you?" he almost ordered; but there was a certain kindness and camaraderie in that.

I opened up to him and told him about my journey so far. How I had moved to Ohio from California, what do I do for work? etc. "PhD in philosophy! That is great. That is good stuff" he exclaimed when I told him about my girl friend.

"So how's Coach Knight like, in person?" I asked him after my second par on the 12th. I almost knew the answer to this. "Oh! He's a great great guy."; and then Claire praised how the coach is approachable and doesn't smoke or drink and is just a regular guy, with the biggest heart.

As we finished up the 18th, he sincerely wished me good luck and he equally sincerely expressed that he hoped that I and my girl friend make Columbus our home. I wished him the best too.

As I drove off from the course, I saw him in my rear view mirror driving off in his cadillac in the other direction. I thought to myself, "He is a good golfer for 74 years young" and wished he doesn't break 100 when it comes to the game bigger than golf.