Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Sayson: Dear Pacman: Easy on the hoops
By Homer SaysonSecond Overtime
CHICAGO - As an NBA-accredited writer, one with access to the stars and all the NBA arenas, I am often asked if I ever played basketball.
Oh yes, and did I ever.
Back when I was young, I dribbled and shot with my brothers at the basketball court in our house’s backyard. We’d play in the summer, all day, and sometimes, well into the night.
A handful of those brown, mid-sized basketballs. The brand was Oriental, and one by one, we would pound it until the poor thing got so worn out you can see the air through it.
I watched a lot of PBA games, too. I was an unrepentant Crispa fan, who loved everything that was Redmanizer green.
I adored Freddie Hubalde, the bearded acrobat. I loved Bogs Adornado, who owned two of the deadliest shooting arms ever known to basketball. And I often wished I was Atoy Co, who had the flailing hair, the MVP smile, and the killer jumpshot.
I cherished Abet Guidaben, too. He wore No. 5 and he manned the middle with great aplomb. I forgot his jersey number, but Philip Cesar was the original “Tapal King,” he played defense like his next meal depended on it.
And how can I forget Bernard Fabiosa, who orchestrated the fastbreak with seven gears. Bernie ran like he had ants in his
pants.
I love basketball. To death.
Unfortunately, it never loved me back. Every time I was a part of any team, my role usually involved towels and a bucket of water.
In other words, I was a power forward. I cheered my teammates with great vocal power, and I rushed quickly forward to give them water during time-outs.
Often, during my elementary days, I had as much playing time as our coach. And just so you know, my coach was a math teacher with a fat belly. And he didn’t play.
Obviously, I don’t have much formative basketball to speak for, but I did play a lot of sandlot hoops, “lima-lima” as we called it back then, five against five, and the first team to score 15 wins the game and the bets.
What I lacked in talent, I made up for effort. I dove for every loose ball, leapt for every rebound, and gambled for a steal here and there.
Like most basketball-loving cretin, I’ve had my share of injuries – a twisted ankle, a sprained wrist, a bruised tailbone from a nasty fall, etc.
Although basketball is a finesse sport, it can be violent at times. Anything bad can happen in the blink of an eye.
And that’s why I held my breath when I read about Manny Pacquiao spending his day-off last Sunday by playing basketball with my peers in the Cebu media.
It was a friendly game, I know. Against, ahem, overweight foes. But Manny played for 40 minutes, and he could have easily dislocated a shoulder, pulled a muscle, torn a hamstring, or twisted an ankle.
You see, Manny is inherently competitive. He plays 110 percent regardless of the opposition, regardless of the score. He isn’t a car that you can reel in by easing up on the gas pedal.
Manny is a thoroughbred which can’t be slowed by simply turning the ignition off. He will play, hard. Always.
I mean, why flirt with injury when a mega fight with a mega purse against Marco Antonio Barrera is only 40-plus days away?
I’m sure Manny is careful out there in the basketball court. But he has no control of the events that could transpire in a fast game. It’s like driving a car. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, if some idiot runs a red light, you’re going to get hit.
I may be making a big deal out of nothing. But, hey, I only mean well for PacMan.
He is our national hero. And when he climbs the ring against Barrera this Oct. 6, I’d like him to be 100 percent.
And after he beats the pulp out of Barrera, Manny can play all the hoops he wants, I’ll even try to hook him up with Kobe and the Lakers.
DOODS. Dominico “Doods” Amora is a Professional Electrical Engineer, one of very few in the Philippines. Engineering is his true passion, but boxing is a beloved mistress.
Doods e-mailed me yesterday a blog he wrote about the recent World Cup (“A Sunday in History,” which can be seen at www.ceseeps.blogspot.com). It’s a fun, pleasant read. Very easy on the eyes. Check it out.
Cheers to Ferdie Tabasa of Allied Thread and Bebot Macachor, both loyal readers of this column. Ferdie and Bebot happen to be dear pals of my LA-based friends Juvie Cabigon and Bebot Mercado.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 22, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
