If I had not been a writer then I'd be a millionaire

At one level, this makes no sense.
That is also because the reader (psst...you) couldn't have guessed that I was talking about being a cricketer. Which I nearly did become, but then again I don't want to get all nostalgic and mushy and order a white chocolate latte.
The richest cricketer from India makes an estimated $20 million a year. This includes his earnings from his playing contract, his endorsements (Nike, Pepsi, Samsung and about 20 others including a cracker).
But of course, I did everything wrong in my younger days, and so I missed this golden boat.
See; in order to reach the top level, and then hope, by some miracle of a higher power, to break into the Indian cricket team, one must start early.
I have been told that kids as young as 5 are being pushed by their parents to get into cricket. And even if they can't afford enough for the dad to get a new shirt, they will never let their kid feel that their equipment is not good enough, or they aren't practicing with the best coaches available. This isn't cheap. Good quality equipment includes a cricket bat made of English willow and would cost around $100. Of course, one isn't enough. No less than 4 must be part of the holy 'kit'. Besides of course, gloves, pads, and other protective gear that costs a pretty penny.
This is of course, the more visible of the investments and sacrifices made. In the back end, there are books on technique, visits to matches / tournaments, special diets and so on.

Don't get me wrong.
Cricket is still loved by these kids. And pretty much everyone else. And their mamas.
Beyond reason or description.
But the larger picture that seems to have got woven into India's vast middle class landscape is the fact that cricket is the new 'engineering'.
For decades, millions of aspiring parents across India had just 2 surefire ways of ensuring their offspring's future prosperity.
Medicine and engineering.
Of these, the latter usually found more favor due to the fact that engineering colleges cost lesser, took less time to complete and the possibility of an international posting were much higher. (read US, UK, Australia)
Which is why cricket holds so much appeal for them. It addresses the same aspirations, while throwing in a dash of fame as well.
Alas, my parents were denied all such satisfactions due to their recalcitrant son taking up advertising.
And that son seems to be liking it.
In spite of the fact that he did play a lot of cricket, was really good at it but (sob!) not good enough.
So here I am, a writer, and not a cricketer and therefore not a millionaire.
A few clips follow below just to show what I may have been, or done, to be rolling in the green stuff.

cricket and why i love it -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRXmPe8I7QQ

sachin tendulkar - the $20 million guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CSNyaVPmuA