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Thursday, January 27, 2005
Oyson: Hall of Fame induction deferred due to face-lifting
By Manuel N. Oyson, Jr.
Counter Punch
There will be no enshrinement to the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame next month.
The face-lifted and spanking space below the Cebu City Sports Center for all past awardees who have been elevated thereat in the last 15 years will instead be inaugurated on Feb. 23. New frames have been installed to replace the old ones which have been eaten by termites or rusted away. No less than PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez has been invited for the occasion.
The move was originally proposed by member Nimrod Quiñones at a meeting last Jan. 10. Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera had initially suggested that the performance of the members of the screening committee, which this columnist heads, be re-assessed. She reasoned out that the chairman of the screening committee, has been running all the activities with respect to the selection of the awardees, as well as the hosting of the program. She suggested limiting his function.
LACK OF TIME. During its regular weekly meeting last Jan. 25 at the office of City Councilor Procopio C. Fernandez, this columnist, who happens to BE the chairman of the screening committee, agreed with the proposal to do away with this year’s induction of new Hall of Famers for lack of time. I was invited as a resource person since I am not a member of the CCSC. That was my first time to attend a regular meeting of the CCSC.
The motion was approved. The membership of the screening committee of the Hall of Fame will be expanded to five regular members this year. They need not necessarily be sportswriters as are the present composition but sportsmen and women who are knowledgeable in sports. Since its inception in 1989, the only members of the screening committee were Orlando C. Sanchez and Wilfredo C. Veloso, both of this paper, who are already deceased. They were also assisted by various sports consultants.
INSTITUTIONALIZE. The move to defer this year’s enshrinement of new members of the CSHF was decided a week after I had stated here (SSC, 01/04/005) that I had already a short list of those to be elevated thereto and awaiting approval by the screening committee. I stand corrected. I am the only living member of the original three since the first term of City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña in 1988.
Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, chairman of the Committee on Games, Amusements and Sports of the City Council, said that he will take up our repeated suggestion to institutionalize the Sports Hall of Fame (not its present members), either by Council resolution or by executive order of the City Mayor. Besides, it is the first of its kind in the whole country.
INVITED. When re-inaugurated, they will symbolize the grit, determination and courage shown by Cebuano athletes in the international sports arenas through the years, including the Olympic Games, even starting with the First Far Eastern Games in Manila in 1913.
For that matter, all the more than 76 athletes and institutions, who have already earned their deserved place in the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame since it started, are invited to the re-launching on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. For those who are already deceased, their relatives or next of kin may come in their stead. The office of the CCSC is now preparing the list of those to be invited.
Sports Commissioner Rollie Diorico has been tasked to coordinate the preparation for the re-launching. For those who may not be reached on time, or whose addresses are unknown to the invitation committee and you read this column, just proceed to the CCSC. Spread the word. This will be the fist official appearance of Ramirez in Cebu since PGMA designated him as officer-in-charge of the PSC.
ALMANAC, ETC. I have just received the 1,000-page 2005 edition of Sports Illustrated Almanac from my son, Reymund, in Detroit, Michigan.
I will take up later the letter sent to me by lawyer Dionisio A. Cañete, chairman emeritus of World Eskrima Arnis Federation (Wekaf).
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in history to retire on top and stay retired.” – Retired heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, turning down a $39.3 million (roughly P210 million) purse for a return match with Vitali Klitschko in November
(mno@sunstar.com.ph)
(January 27, 2005 issue)
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