Saturday, September 29, 2007 Sayson: Guess what? I’m a teacher’s pet By Homer Sayson Second Overtime
CHICAGO - I yield much of today’s space to one very special fan, whose loyalty dates back to the early 90s, when I was still a neophyte trying to find my way through the jungles of print and broadcast media.
His name is Mr. Bernard Pagusara of Cebu Normal University. And it’s quite an honor to know that when it comes to sports, I am apparently this teacher’s pet.
“I have followed your career like a stalker since your days with The Freeman, where you first weaved your magic. Back then, your verbs burst like Reggie Miller treys and your adjectives floated like a Michael Jordan drive to the hoop.
“I first heard your voice on the radio when you anchored Bombo Radyo’s coverage of the 1994 NBA Finals, which featured the two towers of Mordor and Isengard – Patrick Ewing and Hakeem ‘The Dream’ Olajuwon’.
“It was also the same year that you covered the Palarong Pambansa held here in Cebu, starring Stephen Padilla for Central Visayas and E.J. Fiehl for NCR.
“Imagine my grief, Homer, when you vanished from the pages of The Freeman. But I was also ecstatic when you resurfaced at SunStar Cebu.
“I admire your sports segment at station dyAB with Leo Lastimosa. I cry my heart out when you’re not on-air with Leo, and I consider wasted the days I can’t read your column.
“I tuned in to dyAB when you broadcast live the loss of Rodel Mayol to Ulises Solis last Aug.5, and a week later, I felt your every wince when you relayed the tragedy of seeing Juan Ponce De Leon pummeling bombs on the tender face of young BoomBoom Bautista.
“Of course you were at ringside, while I was lying in my cot listening to the radio as these events unfolded “Often, I’ve wondered why you dared to eat the newspaper or threaten to be electrocuted when your predictions fail. But you know what, I’m glad you did. I like analysts who stand with full conviction on their forecasts.
“Thank you, Homer, for all the sports memories.”
Thanks a lot Bernard, thank you for transporting me back to those memorable yesteryears at the Freeman and dyMF.
I consider my stint at dyMF as one of the most fun. As Bombo Radyo’s sports talent, I had the honor to broadcast the NBA Finals from 1991 to 1995. And I did so before an audience that was incredibly wide and unbelievably crazy for the NBA.
During that time, no other radio station in the Philippines had ever done a live, blow-by-blow broadcast of the NBA Finals.
It truly was a thrill of a lifetime.
To this day, I still thank the heavens for media giants Bobby Nalzaro and Manny Rabacal, former dyMF executives who willingly handed me the broadcast microphone, confident that I will flourish on the air.
Obviously, I’ve moved on now, writing for a different newspaper and reporting for a different radio station.
But the passion had stayed the same, Bernard. So here’s hoping that I can build more sports memories for you to cherish through the years.
HOTEL DUDES. Another fan is John Cabahug of Parklane International Hotel, who wrote: “My former officemates at Pag-Ibig Cebu and Mandaue read your column, and so do my neighbors. Heck, I think everybody reads your column.
But I must mention my colleagues. We are stationed at the Hotel, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC) counter at the domestic arrivals area. Man, we never miss your columns. Second Overtime rules!”
John, kindly tell your airport peers to stay put reading Sun.Star Cebu and sunstar.com.ph. And please, no departures.
From Reynante Hoyle: “Where is Pavlovic and Varejao now, and which team do they play?”
They both stayed with Cleveland. As I had previously written before, the Cavs tried to trade Sasha Pavlovic, but nobody was interested. Apparently because Pavlovis shrank in the Finals, shooting just 36.4 percent from the field and 41 percent beyond the arc.
And finally, greetings to Norberto Ayat, Jr., whose parents-in-law, Ven and Linda, are regular listeners to my NBA segment at dyAB.
