BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sunday musings

It was nice to hear that the higher ups of FIFA go to Bleachers' Brew. I'm sorry you won't find everything to your liking here, Mr. Blatter. Thanks Cathy for the heads up on this.

I was surprised to find three uniformed policemen inside the premises of the PFF Congress at the Philsports Complex yesterday (November 27). Some football officials didn't like it because it seemed like the former president Mari Martinez was using scare tactics. I interviewed the cops on what they thought about the whole proceedings yesterday. I cannot post their answers but you can ask me when we meet up. But honestly, I didn't see the need for them. It's not it was a riot mob in there. Besides, I have an extremely low opinion on cops. Hate them. Never liked them. Never will.

What do I think of what happened yesterday?
I think the case will be elevated to the Asian Football Confederation where Mr. Martinez will try to get the backing of some of his friends. The facts of the case have already been forwarded to FIFA even before the Congress began. One local football official had a conversation with Mr. Sepp Blatter and from all indications, they are aware of what is going on. 

Mr. Martinez will take the matter to court where the PFF will be in for a fight but the proof and the unanimous decision to take out the former will bode well for them.

What do I think of the other Football Associations? I think the PFF seriously needs to review what the others are doing. I wonder if some of them are actually doing something.

Be back tonight (930pm) for the stories on what happened yesterday and my thoughts on everything.

2 comments:

  1. Rick , I am an avid football fan and is well aware of what's happening in our own local FA.I'm not really surprised w/ what happened to the PFF and the shenanigans of former prexy Martinez. In fact , such modus is an exact duplicate of what's happening or what's being done by local FA. It seems associations are abused as "cash " milking cows by local leaders due to what's apparently loose audit and financial mgt. of resources. A local Sec-Gen., for example, even had the thick face to have a local team fitted out for uniforms by a local supplier charged to the provincial FA but to be paid by sponsors.Until now, 5 years later, the uniforms already worn in a nat'l tourney , sponsors have released their payment for uniforms and yet , the suppliers haven't been paid ! So where did the money go? Your guess is as good as mine! I was also almost victimized by the same scam artist when he learned that I was working out a deal w/ one national co. to sponsor uniforms for a school team. Lo and behold , he offered me a receipt for a paid for set of uniforms earlier sponsored by another local organization in exchanged for the forthcoming cash and offered to just print the logo of the new sponsor on an old set of uniform.Of course , I never agreed w/ the sinister proposal since my name and honor was on the line ! Again , where will the cash go then? What a pity , it's those oldtimers of the game who give football a bad name through their "remedyo" that's why sponsors are shying away and the game is on a tailspin as a result of lack of confidence on local football leaders. So careful also w/ those local FA leaders, there are people amongst them who will take advantage of their position and popularity! There are so many of them lurking around waiting for money to come in like predators just waiting to pounce on their prey...thanks!

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  2. Rick , it is not surprising at all that shenanigans happen at the level of PFF even at the level of former prexy Martinez. As an avid football fan at the local level,Iam very much aware of the modus operandi of local leaders at the FA level!For example , a Sec-Gen. of one FA even managed to solicit from sponsors for a set of uniforms to be used by a provincial team at a national level tourney. After the uniforms have been paid for by sponsors and used by the team , the said supplier hasn't been paid to date since 6 years ago!This very same scam artist who was also coaching a school team almost victimized me when he learned that I was able to solicit for a set of uniforms from a national co. for a school team. He then offered me the receipt for a paid for set of uniforms already worn by the school team in exchange for the cash to be paid by the new sponsor and proposed that the the logo of my sponsor just be printed on a previously tailored set of uniforms paid for by another sponsor. See the scam , Rick? Of course , I never agreed and insisted on the fitting of a newly tailored uniforms! It's a pity that there are scam artists among the local football leaders; thus bringing a bad name to football and turninf away would-be supporters w/ genuine intention to support football in the country. That's why football has not really progress in our country. Those predators are just lurking somewhere waiting to pounce on their preys once they smell the money coming in! Truly despicable and low life! Sorry for football...

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