If you ask most Americans the first thing that comes to mind with the mention of the word cricket, chances are that the most popular response will probably be the animated Disney character, Jiminy Cricket. However, pose that question in other countries throughout the world, and you will be bombarded with a variety of responses from Tendulkar to Rhodes to Klusener.
Cricket is second only to soccer in worldwide popularity.
The Cricket World Cup '99, however, has just come to a close and yet many Americans were not even aware that it ever took place. Ask any American, even one who does not like sports, to name an athlete in any one of these four sports and most could probably think of an answer instantly. Names such as McGwire, Canseco, Jordan, Gretzkey, and Marino grace the covers of our US sports pages almost daily. Sports of all different varieties have quickly become institutions in this country. From a sense of pride derived from a favorite team winning the World Series to an escape from the pressures and stresses of daily life, people follow sports for numerous reasons.