Arsenal is my favourite team: Atul Kasbekar

I’m a sports buff. It’s just sports when I sit in front of the television. Right from basketball to cricket to football to tennis, I watch everything. But I have graded them accordingly. When my favourite NBA side Lakers are playing, I will set aside everything else and watch them play. I have met quite a few of them, and the list also includes Magic Johnson.

I love to watch cricket when Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid are batting. I have a collection of bats signed by cricketing greats which includes those autographed by Steve Waugh, Sachin Tendulkar and many more.

Indian T-shirts add to my collection of cricketing gear. I do have some place for tennis as well. Especially when (the now-retired) Andre Agassi or Roger Federer are in action. They play the game at a different level altogether.

I have Carlos Moya’s racquet as a souvenir. As far as football goes, I am an Arsenal fan. This is one sport where I have not made any attempt to collect souvenirs. Lance Armstrong has dragged me to cycling. It’s always a great feeling watching him live.

These are some events of my liking. But when it comes to selection I’d prefer to watch everything. Yes, once in a while preference comes into play. If Arsenal are playing a match against a not-so-well known team, and in another channel there’s a match between Federer and Nadal, I will definitely prefer tennis. I’ve played cricket and basketball for my school but that’s it. Regular workouts, jogging has kept me fit.
-As told to Joe Williams