Hello Eugene:
Thanks for the expose on World billiards champ Michael Ferreira.
Incidentally, if community attributes really matter, Michael is/was an East
Indian attorney based in Bombay. He became King of the Billiard table in the
wake of Wilson Jones, an Anglo-Indian, who was India's first World Amateur
Billiard top dog. In fact, Wilson was India's first ever World Champion in
any sport.
When Wilson won his World crown, a legislator proposed in the Indian
Parliament that he be recognized suitably for the honour he brought his
country as World Billiards Champion. The extant Union Sports Minister's
bland response was: "What is Billiards?" I believe Wilson, Michael's
predecessor, was awarded a national honour eventually.
At the time, the Bombay Tiger was fortunate he was even offered the Padma
Shri. Of course he deserved much better. Please let us know what this 4 time
champion, Mr Ferreira is doing now. I know his career was in the practice of
law in Bombay. As an interesting titbit did you know Michael's mother, a
prominent Bandra socialite attended practically every match her son ever
played in his early career?
Well, Michael showed he had sports pride and self-respect of the highest
order in refusing to compromise on the proper award he was entitled to. Way
to go, champ!!!.
Cheers
Arnold
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:00:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Eugene Correia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Goanet] Anglo-Indians (Michael Ferreia)
To: [email protected]
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
To correct myself, Michael Ferreira won the world
billiards (not snooker) four times.
Here's what I picked from the net (partly).
"Born Bombay (Now Mumbai), 1 October 1938
Nicknamed ?Bombay Tiger?, Michael Ferreira, four times
world Billiards champion, was a rebel with a cause
during his playing days. In 1981, after winning the
world title for a second time, he was offered the
Padma Shri while Sunil Gavaskar was conferred with the
more prestigious Padma Bhushan. His reply to the
Government of India letter was, ?My achievements in
Billiards are in no way inferior to that of Sunil
Gavaskar?s in Cricket. If he deserves a Padma Bhushan,
I do too. The Government should treat all games
equally.? He refused to accept the award.
Eugene Correia
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