Sachin Tendulkar reminìsces the personage who made him a brand – Mark Mascarenhas
Sachin Tendulkar reminìsces the personage who made him a brand – Mark Mascarenhas
Sachin Tendulkar paid heartfelt homage to his close friend, and the man who redefined celebrity management, Mark Mascarenhas.
It was in 1995, an era long before sportsmen were a staple on every television screen, a 22-year old Sachin Tendulkar signed the dotted line on a contract that immortalised him as a brand. The Rs 45-crore record-breaking deal with World Tel was orchestrated by Tendulkar’s close friend, and the man who redefined celebrity management, Mark Mascarenhas. The five-year deal, the likes of which had never seen before, opened several doors not only for the Master Blaster but for every cricketer that followed.
In point of fact, the stakes only soared higher, as Sachin’s career grew along with his accolades, with him signing a deal more than twice that size just six years later; again, courtesy of the man who always stood beside him.
Probably God had other plans for Mark Mascarenhas. He breathes his last in a car accident in 2002.
But, an entire two decades following this, the living legend has always made it aptly clear that this wouldn’t have been possible had not Mascarenhas, as the Indian entrepreneur ensured that Sachin’s mind was strictly on the field, while his growing finances were managed efficiently by him.
In an interaction to a news channel, Sachin Tendulkar, continued to pay homage to his late friend, even calling him his family. Reminiscencing his first meeting with the man who ensured that Sachin was financially secure even after he hung up his boots, he said that Mascarenhas came with a plan to unburden the batting genius.
Mascarenhas made Sachin Little Master and then on to God of cricket, the innings that made Sachin Tendulkar immortal.
Sachin still recollects the time he acquainted Mascarenhas in
Sri Lanka. It was Ravi Shastri who introduced him to Mark, and then Ravi, Mark and me would sit together together.
That’s where Mark made him that offer, saying, why don’t you just stay focused only on the game. And his company will manage the commercial side
The sheer size of the historic deal drew the ire of many who accused Tendulkar of being money-minded. Sachin Tendulkar has always maintained that the deal actually did the exact opposite. It allowed him to focus on the game he loved.
Tendulkar went on to say that although he did have the help of family and lawyers before signing with World Tel, negotiations were emerging more complex with each milestone, putting the task above the ambit of an amateur. It was time to call in a professional. And that’s exactly what Mascarenhas was to Tendulkar. He ensured that Tendulkar’s growing marketing obligations wouldn’t come in the way of what really mattered the cricket.
‘Mark was a personage, who, came to his practice sessions, and his preparation. He never interfered at all. He always said, that he is not going to make me cancel my practice session so that he could shoot it at work. He never prioritized an advertisement over practice. .
For Tendulkar Mark was more like family to him.
Retirement is never easy for an athlete. Especially when that athlete is India’s most revered and worshipped batsman. However, Sachin says that he ensured that his was gradual.
“See my, my retirement was gradual. So it wasn’t that you know, I suddenly retired and from tomorrow morning, oh, what do I do? Where do I go?” he said.
It’s only fitting that after more than two decades of picture-perfect shots practised to flawlessness, The Little Master wanted to go out with one big moment. And that’s exactly what he got.
The legend called it quits after his 200th Test following a characteristically technique-driven 74 runs with the bat against West Indies in his home ground Mumbai. The 15-minute speech that followed at the Wankhede Stadium left everyone present in the stadium and those sitting in front of a television set, teary-eyed as chants of “Sachin, Sachin” rained down on him.
Sachin never wanted multiple retirements, just that one moment, and it came at the right time, he is playing a Test match for India on home ground. India won the game and that victory lap was was incredible moment.
A truly fitting end for this unforgettable legend, whose technique will certainly be studied by students of the sport for years to come.
News input KV Raman
