Where's the party?

A Date with an Angel

Angel Aquino will never strike you as an athletic person. If ever, she'll oft be associated as one of the country's prettiest faces and a showbiz personality. The fact that she endorses the three stripes is a wonder to her because when she was in school, she was asked to try out for both the women's basketball and volleyball teams. "But I don't have an athletic bone in my body," she cheerfully admits. "Once upon a time I rooted for the Ginebra San Miguel team of Sonny Jaworski. I followed and watched that team. Who didn't?"

Incredibly, she's a former Tulong Dunong scholar from Barangka, Marikina. Angel says that TD and meeting and learning under Fr. James O'Brien and Onofre Pagsanghan changed her life. "Education steered me clear the direction of my family's life. It gave me a sense of purpose. And learning from Jesuit-trained students fascinated me. Even hearing the students speak in English fascinated me. It was like 'English could be spoken well enough by Filipinos.'"

We chatted for an hour and a half and towards the end of it, one of the buntings in Kopi Roti -- a heart since it was Valentine's Day -- fell beside us. We both looked at it and laughed hard. Then I said, "I'm sorry. I'm taken." And we laughed even harder.

The moment we stepped out of Kopi Roti, a cab --without us flagging it down -- immediately pulled over. Iba na, I guess, ang magandang babae. Without any pretensions, she went back to Barangka (she resides in Cainta) where she and her sister operate a business. I went to Ateneo to watch football.

I'll work on the story when I get back from Thailand.

Sacrilege!

My favorite New York Yankee is none other than Paul O'Neill. I always thought that he was one of the better players in baseball when he was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to New York in November of 1992 so Ithought that was a steal. And I was ecstatic! Whenever I watch his game 5 send-off at Yankee Stadium I get goosebumps. I've never seen that kind of love and buzz for an athlete before. Maybe Michael Jordan's final game in Atlanta in 1998. That was freaking awesome too.

Since he retired following the 2001 season (a little over a month after 9-11), the #21 has not been seen on the backs of any Yankee player. Until now. I heard it's going to some newbie.

Hey, Hank Steinbrenner. Paulie was the heart and soul of those great Yankee teams of the 90's. The moment he stepped out into the diamond in pinstripes, he gave his everything to the team and helped New York to play-offs every year with four World Series titles to boot.

Do the right thing for this great right fielder. Put his number in Monument Park.

One Shining Moment

Ateneo Women’s Football in Season 70
by rick olivares

Almost from the start of the crucial second round match between Ateneo and La Salle, a supporter repeatedly yelled, “fight for the ball, Ateneo,” and “don’t wait for the ball.” Owing to the goals scored difference, the Ateneo Lady Booters needed to score two more goals than La Salle for the right to meet defending champion FEU in the women’s football finals. They drew with the green and white in the first round and they knew that this wouldn’t be an easy game.

Normally, the team doesn’t mind the crowd throwing words of support or instructions because as team captain Kae Guerrero says “We can’t see everything that goes on during the game.” But this time central back Belay Fernando momentarily averted her gaze from the action just a few meters away to plead her team’s cause, ”You’re not helping us when you say that. You’re pressuring us all the more. Can’t you see we’re trying?”

The word is, “trying.”

For the first time in more than a decade, we had a team good enough to try and compete for a title. The Lady Booters long the league’s doormats and whipping girls found their groove, their passing, and the heart to challenge the league’s perennial powers.

Ateneo women’s football. The rhetoric of failure in a sport that is a most passionate play. It is said that if someone asked if our teams (even those of yesteryear) were any good, the laconic answer was, “they sure were pretty.” But after awhile, the eye candy turned into eyesores as they became the football version of the NU Bulldogs.

But this Season 70, all things came together as they beat UP 1-0 on Opening Day. And to prove that it was no fluke they handed the defending champs a 3-1 beating for the first consecutive win by an Ateneo women’s football team since we began fielding a team. They drew with La Salle in their next assignment before falling to UST to round out the first round of play. Said goal keeper Kring Leyco who was also a player on the Lady Eagles’ first ever basketball champions, “In the pre-season we started to play better and pick up some wins. But topping the first round of play still surprised us.”

After last year, the team’s coach, former Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ star Buda Bautista, and her assistant Karen Cacho, who for two year’s donned the green and white of La Salle before finishing her studies in the United States, were not supposed to come back. But the Ateneo’s athletics officials prevailed upon them to stay for one more year. Bautista wanted to move on to something else but couldn’t resist the pull knowing there was still some unfinished business.

Added Guerrero, “When my batch and I (all whom are graduating this year) came in four years ago, coach just joined us. So we grew into this at the same time. As corny as it may sound it seemed natural for all of us to go out together.”

The year-long grind of training also wore down Bautista. “When I wake up in the morning I think of the team. Before I go to bed at night I still think of the team and how we could get better.”

And they did. In years past, the Lady Booters would play defense, clear the ball and go for the occasional attack. They tried heir best to harvest a win but they were happy to end up with a draw. This year with nine seniors in tow, they felt the time had come for them to move up to the next level. “The preparation for this campaign began two years ago,” revealed Guerrero. “We were basically the same team and we knew how to play coach’s system and what she wanted of us. We feel that we were better equipped mentally and physically to take on the challenges of the season.”

Driven with a renewed sense of purpose, there was a plan simple: don’t concede any goals and to attack for those goals and wins. They accomplished that it the first round but consecutive losses put them in the untenable position of watching the fortunes of other teams and scoring more goals to make up the difference.

“Even in those second round losses to UST and FEU, we knew we could have won but there was just a lot of pressure,” said midfielder Sarah Jesri.

In the biggest game of the season, they were up against La Salle in a match that would be a test of their resolve. It so happened it was against Hans Smit's girls. La Salle were not their dominant selves but they still had enough of their champion team to stand their ground. The task of winning by a margin of two goals wasn’t going to be easy and the girls were every bit nervous.

“All our preparation would amount to nothing if we don’t focus and not let the pressure get to us,” cautioned Bautista in the pre-game huddle.

And they came out hard and immediately put La Salle on their heels. Even when the green booters made their half time adjustment of putting up some of their defensive backs to clog the midfield, Ateneo was getting solid chances at the goal. But in the dying minutes of the game, a missed clearance and a powerful blast by La Salle rookie Samantha Nierras found a hole in the defense and in the Ateneo team’s heart.

It was hard to contain their emotions as the final whistle blew. The players let their tears flow freely and coach Bautista had to walk off the pitch to steel herself. Various school officials offered their thanks for a most unforgettable season despite its (un)forgettable ending. Bautista and Cacho along with the nine graduating seniors bade their teary-eyed goodbyes. They did have a good night as they had a good dinner and laughs. The following day, many were already in smiles. But before they went their own separate ways in the night, Bautista among many words had one final thing to say, “Think of what you all achieved for yourselves, the team and Ateneo sports”

And the word is “achieve.”

For Belay Fernando, Aimee Limketee. Kae Guerrero, Alice De La Pena, Monica Santos, Sam Santiago, Ge Dumayas, Gold Jacinto, Gel Chan, Erika Silva, Kring Leyco, Sarah Jesri, Cesca Gutierrez, Deb Sobrepena, Doreen Fermin, Maia Mallari, Kylie Misa, Shim Cabrera, Tata Garcia, and Megan Sy.

And for Buda Bautista, Karen Cacho, Jerwin Belina, and Brax Vallasote.

One Big Fight!

The Fan IV: Garden State Yankee & life in suburbia

(I woke up this morning feeling a little chilly. Sort of reminded me of those days of winter and early spring as the damned cold made me want to stay in bed and not get up for work. After Los Angeles, I moved to New York but split time working in the Garden State doing odds jobs before I found work in the Big Apple). I lived first in Ewing then moved to Princeton to be closer to work. As much as I love the Big City, Princeton and maybe Ewing is simply a beautiful place to live. I'd really want to settle down and move back there in the near future.).
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Ewing is located in Mercer County in northern New Jersey. It’s about a 15-20 minute drive to the Garden State’s capital of Trenton and an hour or so to Philadelphia.

Home is Glen Mawr Drive just a stone’s throw away from Parkway (I wait for a bus here that will take me to the NJ Transit to New York) and North Olden Avenues. It’s the suburbs so you know it’s peaceful and quiet. A very nice place to settle down. Not one house here has a gate. All the yards and lawns are open for all to see. The houses look similar -- a simple garden with squirrels running all over, a roof with a chimney atop, an American flag flying from the porch, a garage for a car or two, and a mini-basketball court. The houses are heavily insulated against cold and are meant to protect against the harsh winters. Hurricane Izzy blew in the other day and thank God it didn’t cause any damage to the area. But it was still a sight to see State Troopers and the National Guard on stand by. I got to chat with a few of them who were detailed around the intersection of Olden and Parkway. We had some Dunkin’ Donuts and it was nice to meet these men and women who put on the uniform. They tell me that some of them should be shipping out to the Middle East soon. God bless them.

When I get home from work, around 6pm, if I’m not tired, I play some half court hoops with my next door neighbors. Hahahaha. They think those dorky glasses I wear means I don’t have game. Hahaha. Stick it to ‘em and hustle them for money, I say.

On Friday nights we walk around the bend to watch a football game at Ewing High. Friday night lights indeed. My friends Vinnie and Elmer are the only Filipinos in this area and it sure is nice to speak with someone in the vernacular from time to time. And we’re all hoops crazy. Vinnie’s also into American football while Elmer’s my bud when it comes to baseball. You should see his monthly phone bill to his girlfriend back home in Manila. It goes up to like $1000! My other friends here are Aziz, an Egyptian who works at Chuck’s Barbecue and Lai, who is from Thailand. She works in Fu Wah Chinese Restaurant.

Once in awhile, Aziz and Elmer will join me in that two-hour trip to the Bronx to watch the Yankees. It just gets tougher in the evening because once we get of Trenton Station, there aren’t much busses any more so we have to settle for a $20 cab back. That’s a lot so we pool together our money. During the times they’d lose a game, the ride back took like forever.

The suburbs are cool except you miss living in the city after awhile.

When you take the PATH train from New York to New Jersey, you pass through what seems to be a graveyard of retired trains and rusting container vans. Add to that all their notions about sizeable portions of East Rutherford being a former marshland suddenly you’re reminded of why New Yorkers think of New Jersey as its poor cousin. But that’s a myth, I’ll tell you now. When you’re traveling via railway, you must realize that you aren’t going to see anything picturesque. After all, who builds anything scenic beside a railroad?

All you can see are car parks for those who leave their cars and take the train to New York or elsewhere in Jersey. Pavonia Newport is the exception as it will remind you of Ortigas Center except it has a nice view of the Hudson and a marina.

When you cross the river into Elizabeth, everything starts to look better. I’ve only been to Princeton, Lawrence, and Trenton and all of them are clean, spacious, simple yet elegant, and quiet. You’ll see the woods and wonder about the Blair Witch and the Jersey Devil. Bwahaha.

I’d oft walk to the Mercer County Library which is like an hour away just to while the time away. Sometimes I think I’m crazy as I walk down to the 7-11 which is 15 minutes away just to buy a 50 cent copy of the New York Post (it costs a quarter back in the Big Apple) so I can avail of the New York Yankee coupons to exchange for collectible medallions of selected members of its current team or poster inserts of any of its various World Series champion teams. Walking at 530am during winter has got to be real stupid. God, I hate the cold and the snow.

This here is Yankee Country. I just walk from Glen Mawr to where I work in Parkway Avenue. And baseball is a daily topic among my officemates whether at the water cooler or the pantry or stopping by one’s work station. But it sure makes for better bonding. One time we all made the trip to Cooperstown and that was a memorable experience. I’m even getting goose bumps writing this. The Baseball Hall of Fame was a thrill for me as a fan of the sport.

Hey now, you're an All-Star. Get your game on. Go play!

Isn't this cool? My very own customized NBA 2008 All-Star Game jersey! And it's not a replica but an authentic! I wanted an Eastern jersey but this is cool!

Thanks to Odette! And to sina Goody, Mich, Aris, Sir Joel, and Sir Joey!

Yeah, we know KG's not going to the All-Star Game but...

A chat with Mhel Garrido, the real Aga Muhlach

Rick: Congratulations on the STI Olympians winning their first NAASCU title. Looks like you guys did some prime recruiting for the campaign. Who did you snag from the NCAA teams?

Mhel: The STI College Olympians - our primary goal then is to create a buzz and be known, then if things go right create a system to make STI a team that can be competitive in years to come. We are really so surprised that we achieved our first goal in the first three years of the Olympians. Our team was formed 7/10/2004 barely three weeks before the 4th NAASCU opened. We placed 8th out of 9 that year and then made a turn around by placing 2nd for two years. Finally we got the monkey off our backs by winning it all this year. We are lucky we got a lot of help by acquiring players from schools that played in the UAAP & NCAA to beef up our line up, but it was the overall team game that led us to the championship. After two runner-up finishes we saw that the team lacked maturity and killer instinct that is why when the opportunity to get Raymond Tiongco from Mapua came along, we never looked back. Tiongco like the STI system and he brought along Darryl Mendoza from Perpetual and his good friend Mark Balneg who has one year left for Letran to join the team. Howard Flor from NU was a welcome bonus as he joined the team last June when the league age requirement of 25 yrs old was given another shot for one more year.

We envision the next three years as purely laying down the groundwork of a nationwide recruitment system that will take us to other parts of the country to scout players. Since hindi pa final ang other parts of the plan I will just inform you as time goes by.

Rick: How tough was it going against perennial title contender University of Manila?

Mhel: Honestly speaking, at the start of the season we were focused on beating archrival and defending champion AMA Computer University. Winning over 5 time NAASCU Champion UM was icing on the cake for we were the only school that beat them in a finals. Our preparations start every November by joining the Fr. Martin's Cup coz the best schools in the land play there and I want my boys to play against the best to be able to get used to playing at top level. That led us to beat FEU and UST in the Champions League.

Rick: I understand you put together a lot of the events for STI, do you still have time to watch the Ateneo games? If not how do you keep track of them?

Mhel: Besides being the team manager of the Olympians and the STI all star dance team, I also I run the national events of STI namely the STI Anniversary which attracts 15000 STI students in a one day event at Star City and the STI NAtional Youth COnvention which brings together 30000 STI Students from 8 sites in the philippines nationwide. I also handle a lot of STI merchandise. this year alone my department sold 50000 t shirts! Come first semester August is my busiest monthe while november to February is the busiest for me during the second semester. I get info about the Blue Eagles online.

Rick: You work for a company with several La Sallians in top management, how do you take the ribbing when we lost to the Greenies?

Mhel: There are 3 VPs in our company who come from DLSU, we talk about Ateneo and La Salle programs and people but do not kid around me regarding basketball or Ateneo-DLSU or even bash Ateneo because they get the wrath of God when I retaliate. For me, VP or not VP when you bash my alma mater, sorry na lang because you will suddenly realize that a lot more bashing will follow.

Rick: You were with the Blue Babble Battalion during those years when Ateneo finally asserted itself in the UAAP. Aside from the obvious short shorts, how different is it now? What was your most memorable moment with the BBB? Were you there when the mascot (I believe this was then Olongapo Mayor Dick Gordon's eagle) died after the halftime performance?

Mhel: We were just 17 cheerleaders then, I believe we laid down the foundation of what the Male Cheerleaders are right now. The difference now is that the BBB is bigger with the girls etc. Unfortunately we are not the trendsetters anymore but the ones that follow routine in the UAAP. Good thing though that the attendance has soared once more. My most memorable moment was being the back up to Senator Raul Manglapus when he cheered on court the Fabilioh during the halftime of the 1987 Ateneo vs. UE championship. Yes I watched the game when the eagle died but was not involved with the BBB then. Ikinuwento na lang sa akin.

Rick: What's the toughest thing about being an Ateneo Blue Eagle fan?

Mhel: At the end of the day, the toughest thing for an Ateneo fan is accepting defeat. As a fan you give your all and support in watching games. Next to the players us fans are the second most exhausted so losing brings your spirits down. But like what I mentioned in Halikinu Radio, the 90s or the Ateneo basketball dark ages really toughened me. In our loss to the Tigers last year I said okay lang yan, in the 90's I ate breakfast with those defeats!

Ateneo Men's Football Match #9 A history lesson, a late goal, and another finals appearance

Ateneo 1 vs. UP 1
by rick olivares

Match 9
February 10, 2008
Erenchun Field
Ateneo De Manila University

This is the game of their lives.

More than half the team was in high school when Ateneo won the last of its football crowns in 2006. Saddled with more rookies than veterans the following year, Arnulfo Merida had to do a lot of more coaching and haranguing from the sidelines as the team listed to port rather badly.

After eight matches in Season 71, the team was on top of the standings with 18 points with two more games to play. They were first facing dangerous UP then an even more dangerous FEU team that scored goals for breakfast, more goals for lunch, and one more for good measure for dinner. Earlier, the Tamaraws dusted off the defending champions UST with a 3-1 win that game them a total of 19 points. Ateneo had to win for an automatic first berth to the finals and the crucial twice-to-beat advantage or draw at the very least that would make Thursday match with the Tamaraws a crucial showdown.

It’s not enough that the holdovers from the 2006 champion team – Pat Ozaeta, Alvin Perez, Gerard Cancio, Doods Lansang, Jolo Peralta, Gino Tongson, and Fred Ozaeta – were in the line-up. Merida and Ateneo Football Center head Jong Castaneda sat the down and gave them a quick history of Ateneo’s past champions and the character and strength of their nature. It was easy for Merida then for he could just pluck off anyone off that bench and the engine would still be humming.

The 2007-08 Ateneo team remotely resembles the Three-peat champs or the team that went to four straight finals from 1996-99 (where they won two), but Merida theorized that they too could find their own selves and chart their own destiny. “Both teams are tactically sound so it’s going to come down to heart and ‘who wants it more.’”

They were in the fight of their lives.

Ateneo’s dreams of another finals berth seemed it would be just like that… a dream.

A mistake by Alvin Perez in clearing the ball led to an early UP goal that for the longest time seemed to be the only tally of the game. The Maroons had scouted Ateneo well and did much to disrupt the passing from the diamond formation. Merida directed his two midfielders Peralta and Gab Siojo to shuttle the pass to Gino Tongson instead of the wings. If Tongson had no shot, the ball would go back to either midfielder who would read the defense and slant a pass to the attacking wingbacks.

The start of the second half saw the Blue Booters ratchet up the offense as they totally took UP out of their game plan. Unfortunately, they couldn’t convert on their numerous chances. With time running out, the team was clearly getting frustrated with their inability to level the match. “Pag hindi nag-work ulitin natin yung play. Stick to the system,” reminded Merida.

In the 87^th minute, team captain Pat Ozaeta stole the ball from a UP player and he immediately passed it to Siojo. The second year midfielder laid a perfect pass through the UP defense that Gerard Cancio managed to snag. The Ateneo striker beat two Maroon defensive backs and bore down on the goal forcing UP keeper Jose Maria Mendezona to rush out. With an open goal in front of him, Cancio slotted in a slow roller to the right that skirted beyond the goalie’s fingertips. A Maroon defender gave chase but the ball found the back of the net for the tie.

And for Ateneo’s 19^th point that sent them to the school’s ninth UAAP football finals (versus Far Eastern University) since it joined the league in 1978.

“I missed being in the finals,” said an exhausted but elated Merida.

Did the boys benefit from the history lesson?

“Yes and an excellent halftime adjustment. Pero ngayon chance nila to write their own history.”

A Pasadena City hit

Former Ateneo Blue Batter Justin Zialcita is already drawing raves from his coach Evan O'Meara despite the Pasadena Lancers 0-3 start. Justin's had four hits in three games so far, the only Lancer to hit safely in all their games. He's had a triple and two stolen bases as well. "We looked jittery out there with some guys playing college baseball for the first time, and our pitchers ended up allowing 29 free passes in three games," said O'Meara. "Our bats really didn't show up either other than Zialcita."

Do us proud, bro!

Thanks to Mike Zialcita (Justin's dad) for the update.

Patriots and Amazons: the best seller that never was

As a coda to Super Bowl XLII stories here's one that merits a mention in dubious moments in sports history or publishing...

In the days leading up to American football's biggest game, a hatch was plotted (this is totally intended) by the Boston Globe to publish a book titled: "19-0: The Historic Championship Season of New England's Unbeatable Patriots." In fact it was being solicited on amazon.com for $14.95. But when the New York Giants won, it was quickly yanked off the net.

It's okay, I hear there's a new book being solicited: "A Giant Upset: New York's Super Bowl Triumph Over the Powerful New England Patriots."

The suggested retail price is $17.14.

Old Stuff in my files

Here's a television plug I conceptualized for the 2006 NBA Finals for Solar Sports. It was to go to different offices and ask people who were they rooting for -- the Miami Heat or the Dallas Mavericks. We did one plug for Summit Media that also aired. This was taken atthe old office of Solar Sports in Jupiter Street in Bel Air, Makati. Of course, I had to make a cameo appearance after all I thought of it! Hahaha. SO much for shameless self-promotion.


(Left) At a studio with my New Jersey Devils hockey jersey. (Below) With Karla B. Laterre for a shoot in Paranaque with Tuding Lozada (the lady in dark blue behind me), former RP swimming Olympian.

Ateneo Sports Round-up: baseball, track and field, and football

Bleachers' Brew #94 The wisdom of Vince Lombardi

(This appears in the Monday, February 11, 2008 edition of the Business Mirror.)

In the week prior to Super Bowl Sunday, all New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick could talk about was the New York Giants. Belichick served as an assistant to former Giants maestro Bill Parcells along with current Big Blue manager Tom Coughlin. It was there were Belichick and Coughlin cut their eyeteeth in team strategy as the team’s defensive coordinator and wide receiver coach respectively for the 1986 and 1990 championships.

As much as the coaching protagonists’ ties to New York made for interesting stories, the Big Dance was draped by the long shadow of former Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi who was born in Brooklyn and went to school in Fordham University in the Bronx.

Check out some of Lombardi’s famous quotes that describe the unlikely championship season of New York. And as you sift through the coincidences you’ll no doubt be reminded of those Forest Hills, Queens natives Simon & Garfunkel who once sang, “And the words of the prophet are written on the subways walls. And tenement halls.”

Now if that isn’t coincidence then it’s destiny and perfect symmetry. And the word “destiny” ends in “NY.”

“If you can accept losing, you can't win.”
In Week 16, the Giants risked everything to try and beat the Patriots in the last game of the regular season. As a result, they lost three starters to injury in a game that never would have affected the play-off standings. Yet their strong showing in a 38-35 defeat energized them for the post-season. “The play-offs,” said New York linebacker Antonio Pierce, “are all about who is hot. We knew we could beat them.” And that brings to mind another Lombardi quote, “We didn’t lose. We just ran out of time.”

“Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.”
In the days leading to the game, Giants’ wide receiver Plaxico Burress announced to the media that New York would win the Super Bowl by a score of 23-17. Tom Coughlin chafed at Burress’ giving the Patriots ammo for their fire, but the former Michigan State Spartan merely verbalized what the team privately felt.

After New York controlled the football for 19 minutes and 27 seconds of the first half and held the prolific Patriots team to 7 points, the Giants gained a lot more confidence. Knowing that it wasn’t going to be a shootout was more to their liking.

“Some people try to find things in this game that don't exist but football is only two things - blocking and tackling.”
The Giants’ Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora called out Patriots’ left tackle Matt Light for being “a dirty player.” Brady echoed Lombardi when he said, “Anytime your left tackle has a Pro Bowl season, you as a quarterback should owe him a lot. Football is a very tough game. It’s about hitting, blocking and tackling.”

Good defense for your teammate, Tom. Unfortunately for your team, you couldn’t handle Big Blue’s pass rush and you were sacked five times and hit by more than half of all your pass attempts for the game.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP was harassed all game long and looked very uncomfortable inside the pocket as wave after wave of Giants tried to intercept his pass and knock him flat. Said one reporter, "He (Brady) spent more time on the grass than the fertilizer.”

“Teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers were all about. They didn't do it for individual glory. They did it because they loved one another.”
During the halftime of the Giants’ September 16, 2007 home opener in the Meadowlands against get this – the Green Bay Packers that resulted in a 35-13 loss – the team and home crowd gave an emotional send off for George Martin, the captain of NY’s 1986 Super Bowl-winning team, who embarked on a 1,600 journey on foot across the continental United States to raise funds and call attention to the plight of rescue and emergency workers who were victims of 9-11.

He arrived the Thursday before Super Bowl Sunday and gave the team a massive inspirational lift.

“Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing -- the result.”
Bill Belichick -- unless Spygate and US Republican Senator Arlen Specter knocks him down several pegs – will be enshrined as a great football coach. He was clearly more than one up on Coughlin whose competence was severely questioned by players, fans, and the media alike in the past couple of seasons. But for some strange reason, Belichick made several crucial mistakes. One was when he didn’t allow Stephen Gostkowski to attempt a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter that would have given the Patriots a 10-3 lead. The game was decided by three-points. So the what-ifs abound. Second was when he opted to put the 5’9” cornerback Ellis Hobbs who bit on the 6’5” Burress’ slant fake.

And third, the Patriots used a lot of empty backfield formations that provided little help against the Giants’ defensive line.

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”
With the game entering its final stages, Brady’s six yard pass to Randy Moss put New England ahead 14-10 with 2:42 left in the game.

Said Indianapolis Colts’ QB Peyton Manning, the older brother of New York’s Eli who was watching from one of the sky boxes of the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, “There wasn’t any panic in his (Eli’s) eyes. His mindset was, ‘Hey, we’ve 2:45 left and we have some timeouts. We have the ball last and we’ll make it happen.’”

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
The Giants started out the football campaign by losing three of four pre-season games and their first two regular season matches. But they won a record 11 straight road games including the play-offs en route to their third Super Bowl title. The Patriots as everyone knows by now were 18-0 and needed only one more win to cap of perhaps the greatest season in NFL history. Instead the 1972 Miami Dolphins who went 16-0 that year heaved a sigh of relief and popped the bubbly.

“If winning isn’t everything why do they keep score.”
New York after seeing the Boston Red Sox win two titles in the new millennium to end the Curse now have a new chant to replace the old “1918.” Who cares if it’s football? It’s all about the rivalry.

“18-1.”

Motor City Sharks

The Detroit Pistons are in second place. And that’s just the way they like it.

by rick olivares

As of last Sunday, the Detroit Pistons glided into Palace of Auburn Hills with the second best record in the National Basketball Association at 36-13. Good for first place in the Central Division and eight games ahead of the rival Cleveland Cavaliers. All the hoopla thus far has been on the Boston Celtics with their Big Three 2K and of late, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns for their blockbuster trades for Pau Gasol and Shaquille O’Neal respectively.

But that’s fine with these Pistons. “Motor into the courts with a stealth drive and carry a big stick” they paraphrase an old saying.

Detroit is 19-4 at home, 17-9 on the road, 24-6 for the conference, and 6-3 for the division. Their 7+ point difference in scoring versus their opponents is second only to the Boston Celtics. Oh, they just won seven straight, the longest streak right now in the league. They’ve beaten Dallas, San Antonio, Boston, and Orlando. So far their only Achilles heel is woeful Chicago.

The Pistons, now in their third year with Flip Saunders, have an exciting (yet unspectacular in a San Antonio Spurs way) blend of veterans and young players. There are the holdovers from their 2004 title squad Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Lindsey Hunter. There are the savvy vets Antonio McDyess and Primoz Brezec and young guns Jason Maxiell, Rodney Stuckey, and Aaron Afflalo. Off the bench they have Argentine Walter Hermann and Amir Johnson. For the upcoming All-Star Game in New Orleans, Motown is going to be represented by Hamilton and Billups.

Despite losing in succession Larry Brown, Ben Wallace, and Chris Webber in the last several years, the Pistons have been a model of Detroit engineering. Saunders has successfully retooled a defensive-minded ball club into a more offensively-potent one and guided them to a 152-60 record in the regular season and a 20-14 play-off slate.

In the past, the coaches would essentially play the starting unit out which is arguably the best in the league for several years running now. But for all the gaudy regular season records, it doesn’t mean a thing without a ring. After winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy in ‘04, the team fell to the Miami Heat and the Cavs in the Eastern Finals in succession. What Saunders has done so far is save his starters’ legs for the second season as he has successfully integrated Maxiell, Afflalo, Stuckey, and Johnson into the rotation with occasional appearances by Hermann and Brezec.

General Manager Joe Dumars in the meantime has not been quick to pull the trigger for any quick fix trades. “What for,” asked the former NBA Finals MVP. “Even with our current line-up, we’re good enough to win it all. Unless there’s someone available out there who can really help out right away then we’re not doing anything.

Dumars also believes that he’s got a very good atmosphere that provides steady guidance for the team’s young players. “In Detroit, people expect us to win at least 50 games a year and make it deep into the play-offs. The good thing for Stuckey and Afflalo and all these young guys is that they’re in a winning, professional environment, and that’s going to carry those guys a long way and set the tone for their career because you know what? A guy like Tayshaun Prince, who has never been to less than the conference finals, he expects to go there now. He expects that now, and the same thing happens if you go to a losing culture. You start expecting to lose, like ‘Well, this is the way it is and I accept that.’ That’s the one good thing that’s going on with these young guys.”

And in Motor City, they’ve got a good thing going.

Poll: The one game I wish to see live...

UAAP Men's Basketball Finals Game 3 -- 22 votes
FIFA World Cup Finals - 20 votes
NBA Finals Game 7 -- 7 votes
The Super Bowl -- 4 votes
World Series Game 7 -- 2 votes
(others) -- 7 votes

Write your Congressman if it means much to you

adidas' retailers are placing orders for their July-August store needs right now and there's a ton of new merchandise on display in their head office. They've got all the new football kits but they're not going to appear in all the stores unless retailers think they'll sell.

So what do they have? Fot football stuff, they have all the Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, France, Beckham Galaxy, Argentina, Real Madrid, and other teams' home and away kits. You should go to your retailers and to order some for you.

Or even better, maybe you can send me what you want and I'll go straight to the powers that be. We can work out a scheme.

By the way, I'll be in Bangkok next week, if there's anything you guys want drop me a line. Football kits only no hookers! And we can talk about downpayments or what. I'm going to look for a replacement for my Zidane that the househelper messed up.

Just when you think they learned their lesson

The DLSU women's volleyball team will forfeit all their games AFTER JANUARY 15 where Jackie Alarca played. It was discovered that she FILED FOR a Leave of Absence status from that point onwards. So that's four games beginning with NU that have been overturned.

Honestly, you'd think that after their previous brouhaha they'd be more stringent and careful. And how can coach Ramil and the manager not know? How can Jackie's teammates not know? Bro. Bernie Oca says that it was a mere oversight but sayang kasi they have a good team and they're fun to watch.

Two years wasted. Damn.

So I guess Ateneo's in the final four since there will no longer be any play-off. If anyone's going to spin this into some gloating story then screw you. No one is happy about it. Spoke about this with some coaches and players from Ateneo and other UAAP schools and no one is thrilled. It's a damned tragedy that's what it is.

The Fan Part III Those were the days

Lazy summer days at Clinton Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. The kid beside me is Tyler, the son of my friend, Cruiser. I'm wearing a Latrell Sprewell jersey. Dig the K-Swiss kicks. Was on my way to watch the Knicks face up with the Nets.







The names on the jerseys behind me should give you an idea of how long ago this was. That's at the basement of the NBA Store in 5th Ave. Got to see Dwyane Wade make an in-store appearance in his rookie year here. I also saw a Michael Jordan exhibit where his last jersey of the '98 Finals was on display along with all six of his championship rings.

Take me out to Yankee Stadium

A granite and limestone exterior.
A conference area with video-conferencing.
51 luxury suites. 2 large outdoor suites. 8 party suites for 410 people.
A 58x103 foot centerfield television that is six times larger than the current one.
Restaurants and watering holes.
All for 53,000 fans to pack it in.
At the cost of $1.3 billion.

Now all we need is a championship.

(photo from ESPN)

Ateneo Men's Football Match 8 A monkey wrench, a first goal high, and a spectacular collapse

Ateneo 1 vs. UST 3
by rick olivares

Match 8
February 6, 2008
Erenchun Field
Ateneo De Manila University

Aris Mantos tried his best to mask the pain in his face but he’s a football player not an actor. Some 20 minutes before the start of the second round match between Ateneo and UST, Mantos accidentally dug his finger into the ground while fielding a ball during warm-ups. He would later go to Moro Lorenzo Sports Center for an x-ray that would show no fracture, but the bone was clearly dislocated and his start scratched from this game and perhaps the coming Sunday match versus UP.

The sea of calm on Ompong Merida’s face prior to any game was replaced by a dourness brought on by Mantos’ injury that just jeopardized the entire campaign. His back-up keepers Tyrone Caballes and Yu Murayama were nowhere near ready and against UST which loves to put pressure on opposing goalkeepers, the game had all the ingredients for a loss.

But Luigi Meer would have none of that early on. In the fifth minute, a swift Ateneo counter saw Meer break towards the left wings with a UST defender in tow. The Tigers’ goal keeper Jefferson Lee is not one given to fair play as he noisily taunted the Ateneo wing back. “Walang alam ‘yan. Walang alam ‘yan. Hindi yan marunong,” said Lee.

And just like that, Meer relayed a perfect cross right into James Arco who blasted the ball towards the goal before anyone could react. 1-0 Ateneo. “Akala ko ba hindi marunong,” harangued some Ateneo sports shooters towards the suddenly chastened goalie.

But that was the last feel good moment of the game for the Blue Booters. Five minutes later, UST would retaliate for the equalizer and take the lead before the half.

The Blue Booters were dejected and tired as they trudged back to the bench. It was uncanny how the team had failed to anticipate UST’s game plan. For the last six years, they have had a very simple directive: play the long ball and win the aerial battle for possession. UST has had always taller players and winning the ball in the air inside the box is crucial as everyone will tell you. And it was because of this that UST led 2-1 at the half.

The adjustments were made during the break and the long ball was prevented. But the problem this time was clearing the ball. For the better part of the past six years, the Tigers never beat Ateneo. The back four has always been solid and they’ve always had good keepers beginning with Starboy Carino, James Dalang, and Jerwin Belina. But Mantos who could be just as good as these championship-winning keepers was out any it was up to the d-backs to help repel the invaders from Espana.

Unfortunately, in the second half, the Ateneans were shooting themselves in the foot by their inability to properly clear the ball. In the last game versus UE, the team gave up 11 corners to the Red Warriors. In this game they would surrender 15 shots. And anyone will tell you that eventually the law of averages will catch up.

Ateneo had only four shots on goal in the second half and only one was had genuine chance of finding the back of the net. With time running down to 10 minutes left in the game, UST scored a third goal off a corner that defensive back Francis Mendoza failed to clear (Migs Tuason was suspended for the game on account of two yellow cards). 3-1 UST.

The victory was so huge that for the first time in ages, the UST hymn was heard on the Loyola pitch after the game. An angry and disappointed team made its way back. “Bawi tayo sa Sunday,” urged Gerard Cancio who hardly got himself into scoring position in the game. “We have to play harder. Laban tayo.”

Alvin Perez was angry. In all his five playing years, he’s never played in a game where the defense was that porous. He muttered aloud to no one in particular as he untied his spikes.

“Well, at least we’re still on top of the standings,” said Merida who’s mind was clearly racing ahead to prepare for the eventuality that Mantos would not be healthy for the Sunday game. “But delikado tayo ngayon. Another loss and UP, FEU, or UST could overtake us. Hindi na tayo siguardo na makakapasok tayo. We have to win on Sunday.”

He walked towards the team dugout in Blue Eagle Gym with a look of a disturbed man. He didn’t really care for UST managing to get a win against his team. That was fine. After all, it’s the title that counts.