Sunday, October 07, 2007 Sayson: Mayor Tommy shares his sporty side By Homer Sayson Second Overtime
LAS VEGAS - Walking towards the vast lobby of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino last night, celIphone sticking on the left ear and a laptop bag on the right shoulder, I bumped into a very famous Cebuano.
He wore slacks and ink black shoes. And he slipped a nifty brown jacket over a cheerful Ralph Lauren shirt. He looked very familiar, a face I’ve seen a thousand times before.
It was Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
“Hi Mayor Tom,” I said, blindsiding the chief executive from his right side.
The mayor’s face lit when he saw me and we firmly shook hands.
Mayor Osmeña is here to join the Cebu City delegation which is currently promoting the upcoming Sinulog. For some down time, he will be at ringside for the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch today.
During our chance encounter, he was accompanied by his son Miguel and a Cebuano businessman. They drove in from Los Angeles, their massive white SUV chewing 300 plus miles in a tad over five hours.
I’ve heard stories about Mayor Tom disliking Sun.Star Cebu reporters.
Well, that turned out to be a myth, as far as I’m concerned.
While we were chatting at the lobby, the mayor’s cellphone rang. The call came from Manny Pacquiao’s representative, who invited the mayor for a special pre-fight mass at the boxer’s suite at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay.
“Can I take Homer Sayson with me?” Osmeña told the caller. Mayor Tom then looked at me, and I nodded feverishly. “Mass is at 10 in the morning, but we have to be there at nine,” he told me.
Of course.
As a courtesy, I went with the mayor as he and his three-man entourage hopped on an elevator. I was about to bade farewell when he offered: “Why don’t you come in and join us.”
You betcha.
I haven’t drank Chivas Regal since early in college. I didn’t realize that it tasted like heaven until last night. Must have been the company, I guess.
In the hour and a half that we were in his room, the mayor and I talked a lot about sports, and his eyes opened wide when the conversation drifted on his beloved Lakers.
We then went down to the Noodle Shop downstairs. We feasted on shrimp, baby back ribs, Peking Duck, fried rice, plus about 12 of the most succulent beans in the entire state of Nevada.
While dining, we talked more sports, a chatfest that leaned heavily on Formula One racing and competitive shooting.
Just as I was about to attack another slab of ribs, my third helping, my Nokia rang.
It was Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim, who later joined us and proved to be quite a sports enthusiast.
We parted ways shortly thereafter. But not for long. It was already 3 a.m. when we did and we have to be at Pacquiao’s suite at 9.
I thought about trying my luck in one of the slot machines, feed its yawning mouth with a fistful of dollars.
But I didn’t. After a night with Mayor Tom, I already felt that I was the luckiest man at Mandalay Bay.
P.S. Before I met up with Mayor Tom last night, I was able to interview one of the greatest athletes of his time --- Senator Robert Jaworski. What an interview it was, some 20 minutes of fun.
Jawo is so well-spoken and articulate. And he's humble, too, looking at me straight in the eyes each time he answered a volley of questions. More of this encounter in the future.
P.P.S. Stay tune at dyAB this morning. I will report live the
