Saturday, January 20, 2007 Sayson: The tale behind this column’s name By Homer Sayson Secondovertime
CHICAGO - Today’s e-mail session begins with a query about this column’s title. Danilo Maglasang, a “bisdak” now based in New York asked: “What’s the reason behind ‘Second Overtime’? Why not, say, First Overtime or Third Overtime.”
My sportswriting career began at The Freeman in 1993. A year later, my “Overtime” column was born. I went on a hiatus beginning in June 1996, but when I resurfaced in May 2000, this time at Sun.Star Cebu, I wanted to honor my past, thus the title Second Overtime.
“You lucidly gauge the NBA,” writes Ryan Saromines. “Which team is your pick to win it all this season?”
I picked the Spurs when the season began, and though I now have doubts about their age and bench depth, I’m sticking with Tim Duncan and company. Yes, the Mavs and Suns are younger and faster, but the San Antonio is built for the playoffs, where the game slows and scoring dips.
“I agree with you that the Spurs are getting old,” wrote Dwight Oliver Villares, a Spurs fan from New Zealand. “But what about the Lakers, will they go deep in the playoffs? How about Miami?”
Although the Mavs slaughtered them last night, 114-95, the 26-14 Lakers are a surprisingly good team this year. They’re not among the elite yet, but Kobe and the gang are extremely capable of making a lot of playoffs noise.
As for the Heat, they’re the team to beat in the East, if Shaq is healthy. And that is a very, very big if.
“The Rockets are doing good without Yao. They don’t seem to miss him as much as the Heat misses Shaq,” observes Noel Peter Canete. “So what happens when Yao returns? What will you do if you’re the coach?”
If I were Jeff Van Gundy I’ll put Yao in the starting line-up upon his return. The Rockets are 9-4 without Yao, but that’s not necessarily because 40-year-old Dikembe Mutombo mans the middle better than the 26-year old Ming. Besides, there’s an unwritten rule in the NBA that says players don’t lose their starting jobs due to injuries.
BOXING E-MAILS. “It seems like In Jin Chi is Pacquiao’s next opponent,” Kristian Nice Iroy of Lapu-Lapu City noted. “Do you think this will be a blockbuster since they are big Asian boxers fighting in Macau?”
Considering RP’s proximity to Macau, Bob Arum won’t lose sleep selling arena tickets for this fight. But the same cannot be said of the pay-per-view sales.
This bout is a mismatch of gargantuan proportions. Pacquiao vs. Chi is pay-per-view appealing.
Lot Dela Cerna of DHL asked: “Do you have a breakdown on Pacquiao’s income on his latest fight with Erik Morales?”
All I know is that Manny reportedly cleared $700,000 from his $3-million purse. I don’t know how much his share was from the pay-per-view sales.
Jeremy Elape asked: “Is Shelly Finkel still Manny’s manager?”
Arum says not anymore, but Finkel insists he’s Manny’s man until the end of this month. Either way, losing a good guy like Finkel is unfortunate.
P.S. To Edmund Alfred Ang and Jim Christian Akiatan, sorry for the late reply, but as you both probaby know by now, Chris Webber signed with the Pistons.
My thanks to Benedict Ouano, Kenneth Estera, Ben Bornia of Canada and Dr. Roger Belina of New Zealand. I tremendously enjoyed your e-mails, guys. Keep it coming.
