Derek Jeter and his effect on me.

Derek Jeter and his effect on me.

by rick olivares

Sometimes, reticence is mistaken for aloofness or timidity.

Growing up, I always felt like the awkward one. I was tall, reed-thin, near-sighted, and definitely not the best athlete on any team I played in. So I mostly kept quiet. However, what I had was this iron will and determination to show that I could play the game. I was the free kick specialist on the football team. I was the defensive specialist on the basketball team. I was the utility player who could play any infield position where the coach put me.

However, between awkwardness and lack of talent, there was my parents’ fervent desire for me to hit the schoolbooks more than the pitch. There were my teachers in school who even petitioned my coach to take me off the team so I could concentrate on my studies.

I had become a different person as I lashed out. I became the quintessential angry young man whose emotions were on full display on the field.  

I wish I was younger when I saw Derek Jeter play. He played the game of baseball for the New York Yankees the right way. He didn’t say much even during the most trying of times as he preferred to let his game do the talking as he played hard every single day through injuries and all. Furthermore, he was very respectful not just of the game of baseball but to all people.

Jeet was unflappable even as he played with a certain flair with a knack for the incredible. Through it all, he stayed calm and quiet. He never got embroiled in any controversy. He never quarreled with anyone. He never celebrated excessively to show up opponents. And in a city where gossip is news, he mostly stayed out of it except for the girls he dated.

I keenly followed Jeter’s career from a prodigious short stop in 1995 all the way to his being team captain and to last year where stopped by injuries, he played through the pain and did what he could for his team.

In 2003, I visited Modell’s along 42^nd Street and Broadway. I checked out all the Yankee jerseys that were on sale – Posada, Giambi, Williams, Mussina, Matsui, Clemens, Pettitte and a few others. But the one I ran my hand through the Majestic (the brand) jersey was Jeter’s number two. It cost a $120. I didn’t even think twice. I bought it (as well as the blue batting jersey although a few weeks later on) and immediately wore it.

I went to Yankee Stadium afterwards; first for the tour of the locker rooms and Monument Park. It was a fulfillment of a lifetime dream to not only visit Yankee Stadium but to also see the hallowed grounds. I felt my hair stand up not because of ghosts of Yankees past but because of the history of the place. I thought of my grandfather who inculcated the love of baseball in me.

After the tour, we were being ushered out as the players were coming in any moment now. While making my way out, my mind was still in cloud nine and my feet still were not touching the ground when I felt a hand on my back. “Thanks” was what I heard.

I whirled and it was Derek Jeter who was carrying his Yankees bag and headed for the locker room. I couldn’t say a word as I was surprised. I didn’t even think of fishing for my digicam to ask for a photo. He pointed to my jersey (that bore his number two as well as his name) and grinned. He disappeared in the labyrinth of hallways underneath before I could come to my senses (well, there were the others from the tour who were there).

In the years since, I’ve been to many a sporting event covering them or simply being a fan. During the recent FIBA Asia tournament, a colleague of mine from philstar.com, Aldo, tapped me on the shoulder and asked me how I could remain so calm in such an electric atmosphere. I explained, “I’m focused on the game as I have to write about it. And… Derek Jeter.” I am not quite sure if Aldo understood that.

Unflappable.

Like my grandfather and father before me who never grunted as they put their work boots on and went to work every single day. I have since tried to be the same. Going to work even when I am sick and all. In fact for quite some time, I had a sign atop my workstation or cubbyhole that said, “Today, I will do the best work of my life.”

Just like Derek Jeter will in his 20^th and last season with the New York Yankees.  

Naturalization and the way of the world

JaVale McGee

This appears on the ABS-CBN website.

Naturalization and the way of the world

by rick olivares

Even back during the ancient Olympic Games, there were issues on race and origin.

During the creation of the games, that were first a religious festival more than athletic, people who weren’t Greek could not compete. But Greek athletes from the colonies of Egypt, Italy, Libya, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine could compete.

During a lecture in the 22^nd session of the International Olympic Academy, University of Lille (France) professor, Bernard Jeu noted that even as far back as the ancient Olympic Games, there were athletes switching nationalities.

During the 99^th games (384 B.C.), the long race winner, Sodates, who was from Crete, had him proclaimed an Ephesian.   

Astylus of Croton, winner of the 73^rd and 74^th Olympic Games (488 and 484 B.C. respectively), declared himself to be competing for Syracuse and not Croton.

And they were all perfectly legal.

So naturalization isn’t something new.

Nationality is by virtue of being born into the state or they have blood ties to the state. Naturalization is the admission of individuals that is the prerogative of the state and is based on the fulfillment of certain conditions from residency, familiarity to the culture and language, moral standing, and financial capability. And that includes politicians, musicians and athletes. Sometimes, this is waived to admit people of merit.

Cases in point:

Madeleine Albright served under former American President Bill Clinton as Secretary of State. It should be stated that Albright was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

English musician John Lennon obtained his Resident Alien Registration (green card) in 1976. He would have been eligible for American citizenship in 1981 except that he was murdered in 1980.

Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon initially tried out for the US National Team but he wasn’t allowed to suit up because he wasn’t an American citizen. By 1996, he had finally become an American citizen and was allowed to play for what was dubbed Dream Team III during the Atlanta Olympics. In an article in the Baltimore Sun written by Jerry Bembry, Olajuwon was quoted as saying, "When I became a U.S. citizen, there were some people in Nigeria who criticized me. But I've been here over 10 years, my home is in Houston and a lot of family is in the United States.

"It was just natural. I'm still a Nigerian and I'm proud of it, but I'm a U.S. citizen."

It isn’t only in the United States. Singapore’s ageless football wonder Aleksandar Duric was born in Bosnia but first became Australian before settling down in Southeast Asia where he has lived for over 14 years now. He later had a choice to move but the fact that his children were born in Singapore says something of where his heart lies.

Andray Blatche

All over the world, countries – first world ones too -- naturalize people for a variety of reasons. And that brings me news about Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalizing NBA players JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche who if their papers are processed in time would allow them to suit up for the FIBA World Cup this August.

Let me throw my thoughts into this.

Albright, Lennon, and Olajuwon spent considerable time in the United States before trying to obtain citizenship. Ditto with Duric except that he was in Singapore. American Marcus Douthit spent quite some time here before being naturalized in 2011 and playing for the Philippines.

There are arguments about short cuts and how McGee and Blatche aren’t going through the normal route. That is something that national team head coach Chot Reyes disputes: “Their papers are going through the proper route – congress and the senate. So I don’t know what they are talking about.”

If that is so then there’s nothing wrong with the process. At least there is a process now and one that is being followed. During the ancient Olympics as I previously mentioned, some merely declared from which Greek state they felt they belonged too and that sometimes brought brutal reprisals. Well, we’ve come a long way from that.

I think the move to naturalize the NBA players rankles people more because pundits perceive them as mercenaries who are looking to play in the international stage because they cannot play for their own national team. There doesn’t seem to be any previous affinity to play for the country perhaps save for McGee who is a previous visitor to the country.

Let’s get something out of the way. Even our Fil-foreigner brothers carry foreign passports. Not every country accepts dual citizenship but we do. We do because we want to improve our gene pool. Remember that they carry foreign passports as well prompting others to cry foul. But the truth of the matter is some haven’t fixed their Philippine passport or aren’t able to suit up right away because they were not able to apply for dual citizenship and acquire a Philippine passport.

Let me throw you this bone -- if they had a chance to play for their mother country (their passport of origin) believe me they would at the drop of the hat. We just argued that any one with a scintilla of Filipino blood is Pinoy but hasn’t it occurred that they too are citizens of another country. We are just so hungry to improve our pool that we accept everyone.

So what is wrong with naturalization?

Nothing.

If you have Filipinos constantly seeking green cards or other citizenship what’s wrong with those wanting to seek Philippine citizenship? Don’t you think those seeking green cards and American citizenship want a better life too (remember they send money back home that counts a lot in our income)? That is why other nationalities want to come to the Philippines too. Unless “it’s more fun in the Philippines” is nothing but a copied BS advertising line.

We all have our own reasons. Deal with it. It’s the way of the world.

  

Chiang Kai Shek College defeats Hop Christian for Seaoil MMBL crown

Chiang Kai Shek College defeats Hop Christian for Seaoil MMBL crown

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales

“It’s not the Tiong Lian,” said Chiang Kai Shek College Blue Dragons head coach Goldwyn Monteverde. “But this is not so bad.”

The Blue Dragons defeated their Tiong Lian Basketball Association rival Hope Christian High School, 82-75, to claim the 2014 Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League Division One championship at a jampacked San Beda College gym last Sunday, February 2.

The Tiong Lian Basketball Association is in hiatus this year due to internal differences in recruiting. Hope Christian is the defending TLBA and Seaoil MMB champion.

CKSC wrested control of the game in the middle of the third period behind the play of point guard Memet Ascano and power forward Meds Salim.

Ascano drilled back-to-back triples for a 50-44 lead. Salim gave HCHS’s much-ballyhooed frontline of John Apacible and Tzaddy Rangel all they could handle with strong play inside. The 6’4” Salim, a graduating student, scored 24 huge points all inside the paint including 13 in the last 15 minutes.

HCHS was unable to draw strong performances from its usual cast of players from point guards Mark Nunez and Kurt Trangia and forward Kenneth Sumalacay and James Galoso. They did get back shooting guard Arjan de la Cruz who missed the semifinals win over NU due to illness. De la Cruz scored 13 points in the losing cause.

Down by five, 57-52, after three period of play, the defending champions stayed within striking distance of CKSC behind third year guard Jollo Go.

Go scored 12 points in the final period including a triple from the deep right corner to tie the match at 72-all with 3:33 left. But the Blue Dragons responded with a crippling 9-0 run behind Salim and Ascano with back up guard Van Pilanga drilling a killer of a triple at the tailend.

Go fired in one more triple to cut the lead to 81-75 before fouling out with 17.2 seconds left but star shooting guard JV Gallego, in the midst of a wretched scoring game, added one free throw to close out the scoring.

Backing up Salim in the scoring, Ascano scored 13 points including three triples while Gallego chipped in 10.

Jollo Go match Salim’s 24-point output while outgoing center Apacible added 17.

The 2014 Seaoil MMBL is second championship victory over HCHS in the last six months. Last August, the Blue Dragons defeated Hope Christian in the Filipino Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation. CKSC could win a grand slam of sorts should they win the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center championship this March 9.

“Masarap tong feeling na to lalo na manalo against Hope,” added Monteverde. “Talagang walang bigayan na basketball. Laban kung laban. The boys worked for this.”

In the other division championships, Colegio de San Benildo won its second straight Division Two championship at the expense of Trinity University of Asia, 78-63. CoSB Blazing Wolves shooting guard Dunray Geraldo opened the third period with three consecutive triples from which the Stallions never recovered.

Jubilee Christian Academy displayed uncanny marksmanship and team play in dispatching San Beda College-Alabang, 90-69, for the Division Four title. Jubilee opened the game with a 12-0 salvo and it was pretty much over from there as the Red Cubs didn’t have any answers. Jubilee hiked the lead up to 40 but San Beda whittled down the lead to 19 in the fourth. Paolo Lim topscored for Jubilee with 22 points many of them on scintillating drives where he sidestepped lead-footed defenders. Point guard Miko Cheng likewise carved up the opposing defense with his drives for 17 points. Eric Vijandre topbilled for San Beda with 17 points.

In the Girls’ Division, powerful Chiang Kai Shek College made it a double with a 109-72 win over La Salle College of Antipolo. Je Anne Carmelo scored 54 points including eight three-pointers.    

WNU is 2014 Seaoil NBTC Bacolod champion

WNU is 2014 Seaoil NBTC Bacolod champion

by rick olivares

Living Heritage Christian Academy must be so sick and tired of losing to West Negros University.

During the elimination round, LHCA defeated WNU by three points. They’ve also gone on to beat the Junior Mustangs in the elimination round of the DepEd Cup but when it comes to the title game? They are 0-4 in four championship games against WNU.

Last Saturday, February 1, the two high school powers met once more in the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center championship for Bacolod at the West Negros University gym. This was the third time in four years they were playing each other for the title and this year’s result was no different, an 89-79 victory over LHCA.

The Junior Mustangs opened the game with a press on LHCA and quickly posted a 12-1 lead forcing the latter’s head coach Joemarie Bayhon to call a timeout. Bayhon put in two points guards, Ranel Montero and Jade Ayupan at the same time to deal with the backcourt pressure and the strategy worked.

LHCA’s reed-thin 6’5” forward-center Kenneth Tulipas scored eight consecutive points in 10-0 run as LHCA asserted its might underneath to make a game of it 12-11 this time forcing WNU coach Jack Tumayan to call a timeout.

Unable to sustain its press, WNU resorted to another weapon – the three-point shot. WNU’s John Lemuel Bastias hit three triples in second period to help keep the smaller Juniors Mustangs in pace with LHCA that went into the half up by two, 42-40.

Upon the resumption of the game, WNU recommitted to the full court press that had gotten them their early lead in the first period.

Five steals and it was an eight-point lead after two minutes and 30 seconds for the Junior Mustangs, 50-42. WNU didn’t step off the gas pedal as they posted as much as a 16-point lead, the last with 40 seconds to play off a free throw by WNU’s scintillating point guard Boy Pido, 87-71.

“Hindi na maka-diskarte yung LHCA,” said Seaoil NBTC Bacolod Commissioner Jake Azucena. “That was the story of the rivalry so far – organized ball versus athleticism and height.”

WNU also rifled in 13 three-pointers—including nine in the second half -- to the five of LHCA.

“We know their weakness,” said Tumayan after the match. “We made sure that in the second half we did a better job of pressing them. If we played zone then they would kill us because of their height. Plus, our three-point shooting was on target today.”

Phil Pajanconi lead WNU with 24 points while Pido added 20 points to go with seven assists to take Most Valuable Player honors of the tournament. Center Raymund Umayao added 13 points.

“Nakabawi din kami,” said Pido of the championship match. “Fighter yung team na yan (LHCA).”

Ken Tulipas scored 18 points for the unlucky LHCA while teammate Sydric Seballos chipped in 13 markers.

Notes: The championship match was nearly postponed due to the announcement of Signal #3 due to tropical storm Basyang. By mid-morning, the signal was downgraded to one that allowed the match to be played.