Good Vibrations with the new-fanged Coca Cola Tigers
by rick olivares
With 6:19 left in the fourth quarter, Chester Tolomia trooped to the 15-footline to for a couple of freebies. He canned both of them to break an 82-all tie, the tenth and last deadlock of the game between Coca Cola and the PBA’s hottest team, the Red Bull Barako. It wasn’t even that Tolomia made the shots. Strangely enough there weren’t any Tigers on the hash marks for a possible rebound off a miss. His four teammates – Asi Taulava, Alex Cabagnot, Ronjay Buenafe, and Mark Telan were already down to the court.
It was actually the second time Coca Cola had no defensive rebounders underneath when Tolomia was on the stripe so I asked Tigers coach Binky Favis after the match if he had supreme confidence in Tolomia’s charity touch. “Ah, that wasn’t the intention,” seemed the puzzled coach. “but my boys were tired and I wanted to make sure we were ready with our transition defense.”
Whatever, coach. The way his team was playing, you could swear that they were among the league leaders in wins. Tolomia (11 points and 6 rebounds) glowed about his new teammate, “Malaking bagay talaga si Asi kasi biglang open yung floor para sa amin. Sabi niya sa amin basta libre kami ibibigay niya yung bola sa amin.”
Taulava’s presence has clearly galvanized the woebegone Tigers. From the very first team practice with the 6’9” slotman, there was a noticeable change in the team’s morale and atmosphere. The Tigers found wanting in almost every statistical department as well as in wins found themselves a dominant center, a leader, a charismatic figure, and a practical joker. And if you were to believe one Red Bull fan who yelled when Asi hit the floor after a Mick Pennisi foul, “best actor.” And they’ve won their third game (a 98-92 victory) out of 11 matches in the ongoing 2007-08 PBA Smart Philippine Cup.
It’s Asi’s world in there. “We’re a band of brothers here,” beams the Tiger center basking in the afterglow of a second straight win and a third straight double-double performance. “Just like that television series by (Steven) Speilberg, we care for everyone on this team. We’re helping each other out. We’re talking to one another. We are a team. We’re all brothers. I didn’t get those 18 rebounds by myself. Those guys – the Marks (Telan and Isip) box out their man for me to get the boards. We got that win because our guys were knocking down their shots. Aris (Dimaunahan) makes a crucial stop. We all do what it takes.”
The good vibes are spread all over. Ronjay Buenafe (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) is on his way to have dinner with cousin Ryan, the much-sought after high school player from San Sebastian Recoletos. “Sorry na miss ko yung game (the younger Buenafe arrived with two minutes left in the match),” apologizes the NCAA Juniors MVP. “Eh, hindi mo nakita yung tres ko na paubos na ang oras,” jokingly boats Ronjay, the former Emilio Aguinaldo College star. They slap hands and head out of the southgate.
John Arigo has his baseball cap pulled down low but it cannot hide his obvious glee. “Not playing is killing me,” he said echoing a statement made by Cabagnot a week earlier. “I want in on the good vibes of the team, man. I want to contribute.” He, like a child being dangled a Christmas present, smiles and adds, “Asi promised me open looks.”
Kenneth Duremdes sits by his locker with a satisfied look in his face. He’s far from a 100% but he’s just glad to get back on the winning track and contribute (he finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal). “Napapdalas na yung mga injury so you have to change your game a bit,” he grins. “When we get back John (Arigo) and Ricky (Calimag), we’ll be tough to beat.”
Taulava is the last player out of a visibly happy locker room at the Araneta Coliseum. He’s like a Santa Claus in high tops with his bellowing voice and all. He has a kind word for everyone – the coliseum security, the photographers waiting outside, even the players from Red Bull who have begun to file out of their locker room. It’s dinner time and maybe even a game of cards with some of his teammates. That’s Asi’s Law. Outside the game there’ll be no talk about basketball. “We play pusoy dos, Texas Hold “Em, or Blackjack. Any card game. We’ll joke, laugh, and tease. But no basketball talk. But once we’re on the court, it’s all business.”
This was written after the game last Wednesday, December 5.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Asi Adds Life to Coke
Poll Results -- Who is the Blue Eagles' season MVP?
Chris Tiu 65 votes
Ford Arao 32 votes
Nonoy Baclao 22 votes
others 6 votes
Friday, December 7, 2007
Catching Up with Reema Chanco
I became good friends with Reema Chanco while working at Solar Sports. Even after that episode of my life, we still bump into each other and from time to time chat. The other day, I caught up with her to see what's up.
Rick: What's keeping you busy now? With Solar and other channels?
Rick: Aside from Ultimate, are there any other sports you engage in?
Rick: Back in college, was this -- what you're doing now -- what you really planned or had in mind?
Rick: What was your biggest thrill on TV? Who were your Best interviews ever? Best segments? Best stories?
Rick: How do you maintain such an active lifestyle?
Rick: So outside all these gigs and sports, how do you unwind? What's an off-day like for Reema Chanco?
Rick: Sounds like a good idea, Reema. I'll go get myself a tapsilog.
David Beckham in Australia
Last November 26, David Beckham in Australia for an exhibition game between the LA Galaxy and Sydney FC took a motor launch down Sydney Harbor to a pontoon set up in the shadows of the landmark Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge, where he kicked rugby balls, Australian Rules footballs and soccer balls in a sponsor's promotion with local football stars. Although he had trouble with a couple of kicks with the oval-shaped balls, Beckham showed no signs of the right knee and left ankle injuries that limited his first Major League Soccer season with the Galaxy to just five matches.
Thanks to Eric Chiu, adidas' Manager for Sport Performance Brand Public Relations Asia-Pacific Region for the pix!
Final Line-ups for Basketball National Teams to SEA Games
Here are the line-ups for the RP fives to the Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand SEA Games:
The men's team: Gabe Norwood, Jervy Cruz, Allan Salangsang, Richard Alonzo, Boyet Bautista, Beau Belga, Eric Rodriguez, Eugene Tan, Al Vergara, Jason Castro, Jonathan Fernandez and Jeff Chan.
The women's team: Vicky Brick, Emelia Vega, Aurora Adriano, Joan Grajales, Minerva Narcisa, Cassandra Tioseco, Fatima Tolentino, Sylvia Marie Valencia, Diana Jose, Matchiko Matsuno, Melissa Jacob and Amira Issa.
Damn. Sayang for Chris Tiu, Pipay Villanueva, and Tin Chua.
Good luck anyway to our teams.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Ateneo Men's Volleyball Match 2: Peaks and Volleys
Peaks and Volleys
Ateneo vs. UST 10-25, 22-25, 16-25
by rick olivares (photos by another good bud, Aly Yap)
Match #2
December 4, 2007
Blue Eagle Gym
When Ronald Dulay was coaching the varsity teams of De La Salle University, they didn’t respect the Ateneo spikers in any way. In fact, they would send in their second stringers and still pull off a win.
After leading the green and white to a multitude of titles, Dulay now finds himself at the opposite side of the spectrum. To lead the Ateneo Blue Spikers out of the cellar and into UAAP respectability.
But first, he has to convince his charges that they are no foils or automatic losses for their opponents. There was a prevailing notion that win or lose, “we’re still Ateneans anyway,” said Dulay while watching his team limber up.
There were high hopes for the men’s team. A couple of years ago, they won a couple of games and everyone thought that the team was finally on the right track. Last season they sunk even lower as they lost all their matches and were annihilated every time out.
In their opening match of Season 70, there were hopes of getting that morale-boosting first win against the University of the East which was said to be not that good this year. Instead the team already suffering from a crisis of confidence lapsed into a series of errors and fell in four sets.
It was a missed opportunity for in their second match they were up against title-favorite UST (who figure to get stiff competition from UP and FEU). Not even the drums and cheers of the Blue Babble Battalion deterred the visitors. Instead, the Tigers were the ones pumped up by the beats and proceeded to make short work of the Ateneans.
The first set 25-10 lasted nine minutes and twenty seconds with the home team relying on sideouts or unforced errors for points.
The second set looked to go the same way until the team caught a break and pulled ahead 17-15. Julborg Africa, a recruit out of Canossa in Batangas with a nifty block for a point before the inspired play of team captain Timmy Sto. Tomas and AJ Pareja swung the momentum in Ateneo’s way. UST coach Emiliano Lontoc sued for time and berated his team, “Wag niyong bibigyan ng buhay ang Ateneo. Atakihin niyo sa gitna.”
And the Tigers responded to Lontoc’s call by not trying to challenge Ateneo’s blockers Martin Limgenco, JR Intal, and Sto. Tomas who found a sudden spring in their hops, but by dumping the ball into the back row. Libero John Carlo Dulu was unable to dig the powerful spikes coming from UST’s Mark Dalet and Ray Dimaculangan and four costly errors by Mark Savador allowed UST to escape to take the pivotal second set 25-22. Even worse, they lost Eduardo Ortega to a knee injury.
The boys in blue quickly got down in the third set but they valiantly fought back before once more lapsing into a spate of errors that finally did them in at 25-16.
Ateneo lost its second straight game in a mere one hour and seven minutes. In the post-game huddle, coach Dulay called on his players to show some heart and some pride. It was clear in the second set that they had UST on their heels. And that despite their foes having highly-recruited players, the no-name team from Loyola could go toe-to-toe with them. “Heart” is such an overused term, but it’s the x-factor that allows so-called lesser teams to overcome.
The Blue Spikers have shown that all they need is to string up several straight points to boost their confidence and they can compete. They have the homecourt. They have the Blue Babble Battalion. There were perhaps more people in the stands than a Lady Eagles game. AJ Pareja day in and out gives the team a chance to win with all that power in his serves and spikes. They just have to dig deep inside and want it.
You Make the Call Question #2
Okay, here's the recap, sports fans. We'll be posting five questions, one a day for five straight days. Point is, you gotta make the call and email me. We'll pick out three winners and give them a goody bag of sports stuff. Hope the skinny is good enough. Drop me a line if ya have any questions.
#2 In October 9, 1996, during the fiercely fought American League Championship Series between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees, fan Jeffrey Maier reached out to grab Yankee short stop Derek Jeter’s blast that seemed a little short of a home run that. Oriole centerfielder Tony Tarasco was waiting for the ball to settle into his glove but instead Maier grabbed the ball. Was Maier called for fan interference and Derek Jeter ruled out? You make the call.
Bet You Didn't Know How Much Technology Went Into This Stuff
At the Final Draw for the UEFA EURO 2008™ in Lucerne last December 2,2007, adidas and UEFA unveiled the adidas “EUROPASS”: the Official Ball of the competition. The ball’s new surface structure allows players to control and direct it perfectly in all weather conditions. The revolutionary PSC- Texture™ consists of a sophisticated and extremely fine structure on the ball’s outer skin that guarantees optimum grip between ball and boot.
The name “EUROPASS” refers to the common “EURO” pass between the two host countries of Austria and Switzerland. It also represents every pass the players will make on the pitch during UEFA EURO 2008™. Last but not least, it signifies the co-operation among all the fans who will make their way to Austria and Switzerland for the final competition.
The adidas “EUROPASS” combines tradition with modernity. Its classic colouring - a white base color with black dots – calls to mind the balls of bygone decades, yet its bonding with round dynamic elements in silver and red results in an innovative and very modern design which perfectly suits the host countries. Both countries combine tradition with creativity and a strong record of innovation in developing new products. The national flags of both countries have also been integrated into the ball design, with eight circles in a subtle silver effect. The 12 black dots contain individual graphic elements developed by UEFA to accompany the EURO logo. These elements stand for passion, friendship, action, training, fans and the winning goal, which appear as watermarks in the black dots of the adidas “EUROPASS”.
Like +Teamgeist™, the official match ball of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, the adidas “EUROPASS” is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology. This combined with the new PSC-Texture™ surface structure gives the “EUROPASS” its perfect handling characteristics and allows the players exceptional ball control. The unique outer skin improves power transmission, creates greater swerve and increases accuracy on the pitch, in all conceivable weather conditions. And for the goalkeeper too, providing a much better grip between glove and ball substantially improves his catching of the ball.
So to my good goal-keeping friends Rely San Agustin and Jerwin Belina, man, you could have used this EUROPASS. Not to say you guys weren't good. But don't we all wish we played with all this modern tech?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
You Make the Call Question #1
As promised, we've got a contest going over here. I'll be putting up, one question a day (for five straight days) based on actual sports facts. You have to figure out what the call was or what transpired afterwards by sending me the answers via email to bleachersbrew@gmail.com. No posting of answers on the shoutbox!
You may choose to send your answers one at a time or send them in one blast. No cheating here! We will be picking out three (3) winners will receive a Goody Bag of various sports stuff.
You Make the Call #1
#1 In 1990, New York Knicks guard Trent Tucker received the ball with .1 one-tenths of second left in the game to hit a shot against the Chicago Bulls. Was the shot upheld by the referees? You make the call.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Inspiring a New Golden Generation
Will this win spur American interest in tennis? I sure hope so. I followed that 1992 team captained by McNasty and featured Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier. Watching those guys on the US Davis Cup team created a lasting impression in me. I'll always remember that match against Switzerland and the US was losing with their tepid play. John McEnroe slammed his team in the locker room and read them the riot act. When the team came out for their next matches, you would have thought you were watching an NBA game with all the hollering, chest-bumping, and trash talking. And that was from Pete and Andre against the Swiss no less!
Aside from the US' first Davis Cup title since 1995, it was nice to see James Blake get a meaningful win. here's hoping it lights a fire under him and Andy Roddick.
Do You Still Care About the Pro Game?
Do you still care about the pro game?
For me, the PBA is not what it once was. The last time I really followed the pro league was the second generation Ginebra San Miguel team of Marlou Aquino, Noli Locsin, Vince Hizon, and Bal David. That they could never seem to get over the hump that was Alaska made for such great theater and endeared them more to the masses. When that team was broken up, the league just didn’t cut it for me anymore. The influx of the Fil-Ams made the league interesting and as good as they were, they weren’t that easy to follow. They were petulant. They were hard to identify with. They took away slots that I would have rather gone to other homegrown talents. Yes, they elevated the game, but they lowered the self-esteem of many and once more reiterated that the imported was better than the local version.
But that’s not something new isn’t it?
So how come I never rooted for the Ginebra 2K version. The one with those players they call the Fast, the Furious, and the Fearless? Sorry but perhaps save for Ronald Tubid, I don’t think this is a true people’s team. How many Fil-Ams do they have? Did you ever see these guys play college ball?
Are there any teams that I just have to hate? None. There are no true rivalries in the current league. There are no larger than life personalities whose every movement was cheered and jeered. There aren’t imports anymore who could shoot the daylights out of the gym. There aren’t bench-clearing brawls that inflamed passions and heightened match-ups.
Does any team approximate that Ginebra of old? Maybe Yeng Guiao’s Red Bull Barako team. It wasn't simply that they had a lot of Ateneo boys in the fold. They were -- like the old Ginebra team -- a squad made up of discards, nobodies, retreads, and perceived thugs. And they had a feisty and crafty coach. When Rico Villanueva and Larry Fonacier transferred to Magnolia, it was hard to switch my allegiance to the SMC franchise. I did watch a few games, but I preferred to watch Red Bull that played with their trademark fire and spunk.
Last Sunday, I stayed glued to the TV watching Magnolia come back from 24 points down to beat Talk ‘N Text. When was the last time a PBA team came back from such a huge margin? Will it revitalize the fan in me? I’m not sure.
But I guess that says a lot about my interest.
Monday, December 3, 2007
A Red Card for Football
(this appears in my column in today's ish of Business Mirror)
by rick olivares
“I’m all for unification and transparency,” said Mari Martinez in the PSA Forum last week where he was formally introduced as the heir to Johnny Romualdez as President of the Philippine Football Federation.
Unification? Transparency? So how transparent were the recent PFF elections?
There were 30 heads of the PFF present (out of the 32) and during the voting, one abstained. The results as everyone knows by now turned out 15-14 in favor of Martinez, a former national player back in the 1970’s. His rival for the association’s top post was the PFF’s (and now former) Publicist Ed Formoso. There were other candidates as well, but they all dropped out of the race before the elections.
The PFF’s election is like any other voting process -- it’s a numbers game. Except that the federation’s by-laws state that for a candidate to be declared the winner, he or she must have a winning margin of at least two votes.
Romualdez said that faced with an impasse, he made a judgment call (and that was to pronounce Martinez as the winner) for two reasons. One: there is a phrase in the by-laws that says that refers to the members present in that particular congress. Since there were 29 members who voted, it’s not mathematically possibly to have the two vote margin.
Sorry, but that’s a lot like what passes for officiating nowadays… it sucks. Why was there haste to declare a winner? Was it done to prepare for the arrival of FIFA President Joseph Blatter? If that was the case then the elections should have been conducted earlier. After all we don’t have a football team going to Thailand for the SEA Games because the POC or whoever calls the shots deemed that the team had no chance of competing for a medal. So just how busy is everyone? Clearly our football scene leaves so much to be desired, but every one knows that already.
So why wasn’t a re-vote called for? Why weren’t the three other absent association heads asked to cast their vote more so since it was such an important matter? If others had left, then a re-vote could have been done with those present. The second reason according to Romualdez is by the time the results came out, some of the delegates had left and to call for re-elections would cost the federation another Php 300,000.
Ah these may not be the most proper of ways, but has anyone heard of email? How about tele-conferencing. Yahoo Messenger? Think of what monies will be saved even if Cebu Pacific has made air travel ridiculously affordable. If one still finds that expensive then maybe since this is football it should have gone down to penalty kicks. Now there’s no way that will end in controversy unless someone complains that the keeper straddled far from his line and did the spaghetti legs dance of Bruce Grobbelaar. And keep in mind that in the case of the voting for a new Pope, if it takes the world’s cardinals several days, weeks, or God-knows-how-long to arrive at a decision because the choice they make must be the proper one.
Prior to my conversation with Mr. Romualdez over the cellphone, I tried getting in touch with other persons connected to the PFF. One changed the topic, another said, “I don’t think that would be prudent. It’s gotten complicated as it is.” Another former member of the Romualdez administration said, “It’s all messed up.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Were Formoso’s ideas too radical? And that Ed looks like a member of the Grateful Dead? Last time we all checked the guys in the suits and the Salvatore Ferragamo shoes didn’t do jack. And no wonder, they’re wearing the wrong boots.
“I hope to discuss with Mr. Blatter ways that FIFA can help us regain the glory we used to enjoy in football a long time ago,” also said Martinez to the assembled media.
Why do we always have to ask for help? If it weren’t for FIFA’s funding there wouldn’t be a PFF or even a House of Football that is being put up along motel alley in Pasig. As I wrote back then, it sure is a delight for those with a foot fetish. Footsy on one side. Football on the other. Whoopee!
It has to start from within. Look into ourselves. Start with ourselves. We can’t even have a united football association. There is much mistrust among each other where everyone tries to protect his turf. During the opening of the UAAP’s football season in last January, I had to sit between Romualdez and the head of one association because the tension was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.
Politics. We should keep it our of sport yet it’s become our national sport.
There was a magnificent opportunity for a fresh start or even to extend some goodwill by doing the right thing. Instead, they – like many of our national officials – dropped the ball on this one.
Hey, has any one heard about the guy Mari Martinez (in one of his first acts as President) fired from the PFF?
0 0 0
Over at Anfield, there’s a case brewing over the public insubordination of head gaffer Rafael Benitez regarding his row with one of Liverpool FC’s American owners in Tom Hicks.
Benitez grumbled in the media that the owners are not releasing funds to sign a player (Javier Mascherano) their side will need for the long haul. He also opined rather loudly that management didn’t understand the importance of January 2008’s transfer window where they can pick up more players for their domestic and European campaigns.
Hicks in turn told him to clam up and make use of the players that he acquired and play football. Furthermore, he should wait for their meeting on December 16. Hicks’ statement also fueled speculation that Benitez could be axed anytime more so since the Liverpool was in a perilous situation regarding advancing farther into the next round of the Champions League and are two big wins behind the Premiership leaders Arsenal.
Everyone’s curious how the Americans will maneuver their way around this as most people whether rightly or wrongly are siding with the Spaniard. Despite the Americans’ initial help, they still aren’t wholly welcomed in England. I guess they’re taking it bad that their top clubs are owned and managed by foreigners. Even lots of their stars aren’t English. So England, what’s wrong with the picture here?
Benitez put his team together and if he thinks he doesn’t have the players then he should blame himself. And with regards to the Premiership and England, now you know why the Americans are under assault in the world basketball stage.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Who Needs the New Roman Empire When the World Will Be Conquered by Brasil
"The influx of Brazilian-born soccer players in domestic leagues around the world could endanger the geographic integrity of future international tournaments," said Joseph S. Blatter, the president of FIFA. More than 1,000 players who have left Brazil are playing this year for clubs in far-flung places like Moldova, An increasing number of those players, who might not be good enough to play for Brazil, are setting down roots in those countries and joining their adopted national teams.
“If we don’t take care about the invaders from Brazil, not only toward Europe but toward Asia and Africa, then the next World Cups in 2014 and 2018 out of the 32 teams — you will still have national teams — but we will have 16 full of Brazilian players,” Blatter said Sunday in South Africa before the preliminary draw for the World Cup. “It is a danger, a real, real danger.”
Brazil has more than 60 million registered players. Disparate national laws that govern naturalization have often been bent to enable expatriate Brazilians to play in their adopted lands through marriage or a naturalization process that can take as little as two years.
For example, Deco was born in Brazil but is a naturalized citizen of Portugal and a key player on its national team; Antonio Naelson, little-known at home, was granted Mexican citizenship and was on the team’s roster for the 2006 World Cup; Alessandro Santos plays internationally for Japan; José Clayton plays for Tunisia; and Eduardo da Silva, who moved to Croatia when he was 15, became a citizen in 2002.
Even their coaches are beginning to be exported. Like Luis Felipe Scolari who manages the Portuguese side and Zico who is the head gaffer for Japan. Other national teams with Brazilian coaches include Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia.
Reebok Premieres "Framed"
Created in partnership with Carat/MY Entertainment and Roadside Entertainment, “Framed” tells the unique stories of some of today’s top athletes from the perspective of some of Hollywood’s hottest stars. Celebrities featured in the original series include NBA All-Star Baron Davis “framed” by television and screen star Emmanuelle Chriqui and legendary basketball star Allen Iverson “framed” by music icon Nelly.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
adidas in the Beijing Olympics
I've always been a Swoosh guy and have worn it for the longest time. But in the last couple of years, I started wearing a old favorite... adidas. When people saw me in the UAAP games, I mostly wore my various football jerseys from Real Madrid to Chelsea to Argentina to France. I did wear a red Liverpool jersey that my old classmate Philip Sison frowned at. Sorry Philip. Hindi naman UE ang kalaban nun. Hahaha. Excuses for me. I wore the Mali which I truly love (Odette, that's a hint right there!). People would kid me that I wore mosty the three stripes yet my backpack was the Swoosh. Dudes, you have no idea. That backpack has some sentimental value. It was with me all through my stay in the US and my travels in 10 different States, Japan, Macau, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore. It was with me when cops in Boston stopped me and checked my papers (well that was because I was wearing a New York Yankees cap in Beantown; talk about having balls to do such a thing).
But this is not an ode to my backpack. Ahem. I loved the +10 campaign of adidas during the 2006 World Cup and wish I could collect every one of those commercials. Remember when Jose says, "Beckenbauer" and his friend laughs? simply hilarious. I am most especially predisposed to former New York Cosmos players. They were the original Los Galacticos of football.
Here I go again, straying from the topic. Ah, the +10 campaign. I love how adi tied it in neatly with the "It Takes Five" and "The Brotherhood" campaigns. Yes, it's all about "we" not "me."
And now they've unleashed on of the biggest advertising blitzes with the “Together in 2008, Impossible is Nothing”. This revolutionary new campaign is the largest campaign ever created by a single adidas market.
In the new TV commercials, famous Chinese Olympians, including key members of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team, diving sensation Hu Jia, basketball superstar Sui Feifei and football legend Zheng Zhi, achieve their goals with the support of hundreds of ordinary Chinese people.
“We want to go beyond just creating an Olympic campaign, selling an advertising message,” said Elvis Chau, Creative Director of TBWA\China, the advertising agency for adidas, “we want to create a space where people can participate and live the campaign. So we are building a new nation, which is named ‘Sports Nation’, in which all Chinese are invited to be a citizen so they can support the athletes and also embark on their own sports journey.”
Truly amazing. As soon as I get these cool TV ads, we'll have it up here in the Bleachers for everyone to oohh and ahhh.
But adi... they're the official sportswear of the NBA, the World Cup, and now the Olympics. Geez, the Sneakers Wars just heated up.
Did I say that I love the Mali?
Follow Japeth Aguilar's NCAA Basketball Adventure on BTV
Western Kentucky Men's Basketball
Western Kentucky vs. Kentucky Wesleyan 16-Dec 7:00PM
Western Kentucky vs. Northern Arizona 19-Dec 7:00PM
Western Kentucky vs. Nebraska 23-Dec 7:00PM
Western Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky 26-Dec 7:00PM
Western Kentucky vs. North Carolina Central 30-Dec 7:00PM
Thanks to my good friends at BTV for the info. Go, Japeth!
Poll Results: Should the inclusion of Fil-foreigners in our sports teams be regulated?
Yes. Because it will severely affect our grassroots program. 32 votes
No. It will make our athletes more competitive. 21 votes
Not sure coz I'm an apathetic bastard. 1 honest vote from an apathetic bastich!
