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Thursday, June 26, 2003
Oyson: LA babies weeping; from hall of fame to hall of shame?
By Manuel N. Oyson Jr.
Counter Punch
Let me continue with more of the e-mail which hibernated in my Inbox after my computer developed a glitz. Today, my regular correspondent, Warlie Villasencio (warliev@yahoo.com), has this space all to himself.
He wrote me twice. I shall take up first his letter of May 17 which is more or less an analysis of the Lakers loss in Game 6. He also congratulates the San Antonio Spurs after winning the NBA Western Conference.
For the past three seasons, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were among the Lakers who jumped and jumped in ecstasy after their team won three straight championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The other night at the Staples Centers was a totally different scenario. Both Bryant and Fisher were uncontrollable and could not hide their feelings after the Lakers suffered a humiliating loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 110-82, in the Western Conference Finals.
WEPT. “I sympathize with Bryant and Fisher who wept publicly like babies before thousands of televiewers and fans at the Staples Center.”
Warlie said the two are not used to watching their team losing in the play-offs the last three years.
May 15 was the day the Lakers and their fans were mourning over their early playoff demise.
In contrast, in the years 2000-2002, the Lakers and their diehard fanatics were dancing joyously in the streets over their glorious titles. Now the glory days are over, he continued. He attributed the Lakers’ loss in Game 6 to the absence of a power forward who could contain Tim Duncan in the low post. Duncan was unstoppable down low.
“Shaq and Robert Horry are not great low-post defensive players. Horry is a poor defender.” Every time Horry defended Duncan under the basket, Duncan punished him in every kind of move down low.
BANNED. In 2000, Warlie recalls, LA had power forward A.C. Green who is also known for his defensive presence in the low post. The same was true in 2001 where the Lakers had battle-tested playoff power forward Horace Grant. Grant helped Shaq to rebound the ball and played solid defense in the low post area.
Another factor that chilled the Lakers was the presence of San Antonio point guard Tony Parker “who was quick and agile for Fisher.” The Lakers don’t have a playmaker point guard, except a guard who loves to score and concerned more about his personal statistics. That player is Kobe Bryant.
SHAME. His other letter, dated May 13, proposes that PBA players found positive of using illegal drugs should not only be suspended but banned from playing.
“If a player is only suspended, that player can still come back and play again. But if he is banned, his PBA career is practically over,” Warlie wrote.
Warlie says that if no authority, like the PBA itself, or the police will not make an effort to get rid of these dubious athletes from professional sports, there is danger the PBA may lose its credibility and integrity.
“This is a serious case, especially as it involves our professional athletes who are looked up to as role models of the youth.” He cited Asi Taulava of Talk ’N Text and Dorian Peña of San Miguel as among the few PBA stars whose character flaws have been questioned for alleged use of illegal. Instead of ending their career in the Hall of Fame, it will instead drag them into the Hall of Shame.
NEXT. To ice hockey enthusiasts Delwyn Go (dgo@msi-digiland.com.ph) and Anthony Ross (anthony.ross.nanas@teradyne.com), yours are next. Reymund Oyson (Smart investors911@msn.com): I got your three messages (for Michael and Jeremie and your Lola Tonyang) loud and clear. Senator Kotango Williams of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: find another lawyer. Other e-mailers are Guardo Sports, Rudy Project, Cerwin Eviota (3) and a pair of sex promoters in the Internet.
(e-mail: mno@sunstar.com.ph)
(June 26, 2003 issue)
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