Then:

• The Iceman Cometh!
• Captain Cool!
• Captain Fantastic!

Now:

• The Axeman cometh??
• Captain Evil!
• Captain ... you get the pic!

"As you reap, the harvest you shall not keep" ... seems to be what many from the conventional media as well as new-world media vigilantes, also sometimes referred to as bloggers are saying to Dhoni.

This is a classic case of unsolicited generosity with severe strings attached. The media wanted poster-boys to replace the dog-eared hoardings of the previous generation. They got these in Mahi, Viru, and Yuvi. Great builders can be worse destroyers.

Pens that paint superstars can also vandalize their posters. Dhoni's crimes were making hay when the spotlight shone, taking media speculation about his integrity to heart and ... oh yes, how can one forget that ONE defeat in the World T20 Super8 match!!!

How dare an Indian captain who was hailed for taking the team to historic, even improbably, feats take it down? But what does taking a team down entail? If the media is to be believed: an injured player sent back home in the middle of a tournament and his captain who's suddenly unwilling to speak freely to the media.

Choose your journeys carefully, but choose your journos even more carefully!