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Thursday, June 10, 2004
Gulle: Picking the wrong fruit
By Inocentes A. Gulle
Play ball
The story says the fall of man was caused by a woman. Eve picked the wrong fruit, the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, which led to death, instead of the one that would lead to life, fed it to Adam, so the story goes. Thus, they were banished from Paradise and left to fend for themselves. From then on and through the ages, man has always been blundering about in search of his destiny. He'd almost always pick the wrong turn and when he'd realize that later, he'd do his damnedest to make it appear he'd done right. As the Apostle Paul would say, "I cannot do what I want to do, but my evil nature makes do what do not want to do."
That seems to be what is obtaining in our own life as a nation. At least, that is what I see. The deplorable condition of our economy, politics and governance, and our national life, in general, simply proves that we have never done right.
One of the most glaring examples of our inability to know what's good for us is revealed in sports. Our choice of basketball as the number one (or isn't it they only?) national pastime is a perfect affirmation. Why basketball when clearly, it is a game for behemoths and we are putot (pigmies)?
I used to be afraid that I was an aberration, for thinking so differently from the rest. But now, knowing that such a big name in sports journalism as Recah Trinidad, thinks along the same vein, I feel I'm not alone after all.
It is somewhat comforting to read Mr. Trinidad's account about a "freak" in Mr. Ricky Florencio, trying to put up a baseball development program and his distress in not finding wide enough acceptance of the sport.
It gives me a warm feeling affinity towards a kindred spirit (baseball freak).
I have tried kindling baseball acceptance here in our city, but it just could not get enough momentum. Twice I tried and twice it fizzled out. There's just not enough support, especially in terms of logistics. Maybe, a regular, continuous, season-by-season competition, sustained for some three to five years will do the trick. But who's got the money and the kind of devotion to the sport to keep it going that long?
Maybe, Mr. Florencio and I, and a few lovers of the sport nationwide, with the aid of Mr. Trinidad, can get together and plot some kind of gimmick. One way is to get as wide attention to it as possible. Find a Santa Claus to sponsor it and we as proponents, be ready to sweat and bleed to get it going.
Here's one suggestion: let's organize a "walk for a cause" thing, to cover the length of the Pan Philippine Highway, starting here in General Santos.
Maybe, with adequate media hype, and my paizano, Manny Pacquio, lending his prestige launching it, we can get to the psyche of the people. Then we shall ask every person we pass along the way to chip in one peso for the cause. I believe we will pass no less than 2 million people the whole length of the way. That would mean two million pesos gathered, enough to start a respectable league.
That's wistful thinking, of course. But if somebody would be crazy enough to provide logistics, I would do it too. I know I can, since I walk ten (10) kilometers a day anyway, just for the heck of it and no sweat. I've been doing it every day, 350 or some days a year, since 2000. Doing it for a cause would just be great. Anybody want to try me?
(June 10, 2004 issue)
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