Some thoughts as the French Open begins

Rafael Nadal and Aravane Rezai are the two players in the men's and women's division who are on a hot streak as the French Open. Success in tennis can be fleeting and one injury can change everything. Ana Ivanovic has yet to reach that form and if Maria Sharapova didn't win the Strasbourg International for her 22nd title, then she'd be on the list.

Nadal is injury free and in top form and three successive titles shows he is hungry and focused. And... he's playing on clay so he's a favorite to win it all (he's won his last 15 matches on this surface). I wonder how long can he maintain that pace and game that is similar to Boris Becker's where he throws himself all over the court. That must sure be hell on his knees. He's won the major clay tournaments heading into Roland Garros. That would be a huge feat for him to bag this one as well. But as hot as he is, the men's tour is loaded. Won't be easy. Robin Soderling awaits.

Rezai will be a focus more so since she beat Justin Henin, Jelena Jankovic, and Venus Williams en route to her victory in Madrid. Yet even as a favorite in the women's draw, she knows how difficult it is for French women in their home tourney as they have wilted under the weight of expectations. If she does win it, she'll be the first French-born woman in the Open era to win the tournament. One can make a case for Mary Pierce but she was born in North America and just represented France (she even spoke in a clear North Am accent).

Bleachers' Brew #210 The Commissioner

This appears in the Monday May 24, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

The Commissioner

by rick olivares

“The difficult part is being named the Commissioner. The easy part is running the league.”

Thus said the late Leo Prieto, the Philippine Basketball Association’s first commissioner who, despite his failing health, took the time to offer Renauld “Sonny” Barrios some advice.

After a five-year absence from the league as he joined former commissioner and childhood friend Emilio “Jun” Bernardino in retirement in 2002, Barrios was invited back to serve as Officer-in-Charge when his immediate predecessor, Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala stepped down. The interim status was soon upgraded to full-time position and Barrios was the league’s seventh commissioner.

The league’s founding fathers had laid down the groundwork for a support system that would keep the pro loop running like a finely tuned fastbreak. Even on bad days such as the controversy that surrounded his decision to upgrade the Flagrant Foul 1 call on Purefoods’ James Yap to a Flagrant Foul 2 (that carried with it a penalty of a one-game suspension) in a hotly contested finals series with Sta. Lucia in 2007.

The Commissioner’s office (along with a battery of lawyers, technical people, and senior league officials) goes through the rules with a comb and tries to come up with the best possible decisions. “There are many learnings,” intoned Barrios. “From that incident and others as well.”

At work, Barrios starts his day with a prayer with the entire PBA staff. “Let’s count our blessings not our misfortunes,” he would regularly remind his staff.

And though “misfortune” isn’t an appropriate word to describe this 35^th season of the PBA, it has been one of the most tumultuous in its history (aside from the year when the rival Metropolitan Basketball Association was formed and the Fil-Sham controversy threatened to undo the league).

The ceremonial jump ball of the first game of the season had yet to be tossed when the league’s number one overall draft pick refused to sign with his club. And when the games began, Wynne Arboleda was suspended for the rest of the year (since lifted last month) after he attacked a heckling fan during a heated game against the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team. Not soon after that, Gilas’ matches were rendered non-bearing after their candidate for naturalization was benched against its “sister team” an incident that was questioned by other squads more so since the nationals and Talk ‘N Text were considered as sister teams as they were ran by the same owner. That was followed by the walk out by Talk ‘N Text and the subsequent financial state of health of a couple of teams that forced them to trade their star players to the top squads.

“There is never a dull moment in the PBA,” joked Barrios. “But on a more serious note, we have to find a balance here because the rich teams get stronger while the less financially liquid teams get weaker. But the league has weathered so many storms. And having been around for 35 years now -- that says something about its strength and staying power.”

At the time when Barrios joined the league, the PBA was the only show in town. The way the streets are deserted when Manny Pacquiao fights today? It was like that back in the day during the Finals. With more distractions, more pursuits, more choices, the pro loop has lost some of its luster. There are always new challenges and changes with the times. “The PBA has to find ways to adapt to the expanded competition.” said Barrios using the term they use to refer to other sports events such as college basketball, the NBA, the V-League, malls, internet, and other similar pursuits.

And based on all of that, there is the ultimate advice: “Pare, gitna ka lang parati.” That came from Atty. Rudy Salud, another former commissioner who helped craft the PBA’s constitution. “That’s how you navigate between the superpowers of the PBA. Siguraduhin mo na meron ka na kinakapitan na rules or regulations. At dapat mayroon kang high sense of fairness at hindi baluktot yung desisyon mo.”

The past and present commissioners are like an old boys club. They stick together and offer help and advice while maintaining their space as to give the other room to grow and the space to be his own man.

In every decision, one team will be satisfied while another will feel aggrieved. “They may not agree with you,” warned Salud. “But if you back it up well, they will respect it.

The league that Barrios grew up in was different. In fact, it was being in the right place at the right time.

Alongside Bernardino who was his classmate since Grade 2 during their elementary days in Ateneo de Manila, they played the game during intramurals and after class. When they were old enough, they tried out for the team though it was Bernardino who made the cut. Even in college Barrios tried out for the team but he had difficulty with then Blue Eagles’ coach Al Dunbar’s drills.

“I thought that was the farthest I’d be in the game,” reminisced the commissioner.

Bernardino later landed a job as the Man-on-the-Ball for the PBA and he provided his friend with courtside tickets to the games. And when Bernardino was moved to the front office, he invited Barrios to come along.

“Dati libre ka lang manood. Ngayon babayaran ka para manood.”

Barrios and league officials do more than watch the games, they review them and find ways to improve the games including never-ending issues on officiating. Some of the new things they have introduced are English-speaking classes for the referees. With more Fil-Ams in the teams, the reason why some refs shy away from talking to coaches or players is that they cannot express themselves properly. An ophthalmologist was brought in and it was discovered that some referees had problems with their eyesight. And now all the referees have weekly on-court basketball drills to help with their muscle memory and on-court positioning. Aside from the television partner’s cameras, they have their own in order to better monitor what goes on inside the court.

Summed up Barrios about the job as league commissioner: “It’s not a perfect system but we are always finding ways to improve. As for myself, I have to do a good job in selling the acceptability of the decisions especially on controversial matters.”

Monday Morning Zingers

Peter Crouch -- a pitchman for Pringles? Man, that is so cool.

I told you Tim Donaghy is innocent! Shocking but true. The Dallas Mavericks sport a 1-16 record against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs when Danny Crawford officiates.

When Landon Donovan was asked about his Los Angeles Galaxy teammate David Beckham being in a cast, said Captain America: “It’s probably an Armani cast.”

Barack Obama stumping for LeBron James to play for the Bulls? Hope he does better than making a case for Chicago to be the site of an upcoming Olympic Games. But they have to get a really good coach. For so long they've been saddled with mediocre and unproven coaches. Like I've said, get someone who has won. Maybe not as a coach but as an NBA player. Lately, they've interviewed Elston Turner, a former Bull who played alongside Michael Jordan for two years 1986-88 and the Chicago Rockers in the CBA. He has been an assistant coach for Rick Adelman in the Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, and the Houston Rockets. His NBA bio says that as a coach, he is in charge of his teams' gameplans. I guess they're pretty good coz those teams he's been on have been winning (well, except for the big one).

So it's the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Philadelphia Flyers for the Stanley Cup? Yes, I know that Philly has a game to play. But it isn't over 'til it's over. The Boston Celtics know that even with a 3-0 lead. In the same TD Banknorth Garden, the Bruins blew a 3-0 lead to the Flyers.

Bawi na lang, Smart Gilas. They lost their opening game to Qatar in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. We will no longer be catching teams by surprise. In last year's competition and in Dubai, a lot of the competition got a long and hard look at the nationals. They are ready for us. Size-wise we're still at a disadvantage but here's hoping that heart, desire, and focus get us farther in the competition. Good luck, team!

Old stuff

Ad to the right: SMC's Kenny Travis vs Swift's Tony Harris

I was looking at my old advertising portfolio and got a kick to see some stuff I worked on. Back in 1993, I was working for my first ad agency and the Philippine Basketball Association was one of my accounts. I remember the bid for the account so well. Me being the basketball junkie, I was assigned to the account where I got to work with Vintage Productions where I had several classmates. I did several print ads, the first ever PBA Trivia Contest (I came up with the questions and as far as the mechanics go, I wrote them with Butch Maniego who I first met when he was writing for Jingle Magazine), radio commercials that I recorded with Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Norman Black to name a few.

The first ever actual print ad I did featured a match up between Swifts and Purefoods. We had Swifts import Ronnie Thompkins and Purefoods' Nelson Asaytono pose for the layout. The resulting picture and ad was awful. Nelson was being an ass during the shoot (he wanted to go home) and was so uncooperative. I couldn't do anything about it and was left with a rather crappy picture. I got a lot of flack for the final product and was put under close scrutiny then. It was rare that a huge account was given to a junior copywriter. I got a severe dressing down from the agency VP and the words he said changed the way I worked forever. I always made sure that after that I was with the production of my work every step of the way.

I later had another shoot with Tony Harris and that was just superb. Years after I left, I was trying to get copies of the stuff that I did from the first radio commercial I ever did as a voice talent (Macintosh computers with Lito Pagayon) and those PBA commercials. Even my stuff for Philippine Airlines. Anyone know someone with access to those materials?

Anyways here are a couple of those ads. The PBA Trivia Contest ad is to the left. The following year, they continued with the contest as it was a huge success. By then I moved to another account -- Philippine Airlines.

I think the son has taste

New York Yankees fan Benjamin Weinberg, left, 13, puts his arm around his father Matthew Weinberg, a New York Mets fan, both from Manhattan, as the pair walk down the stairs of the No. 7 train platform to attend the Subway Series interleague baseball game between the Mets and the Yankees at Citi Field in New York, Friday, May 21, 2010. When asked how his son became a Yankees fan, the father shrugged his shoulder replying, "He's an independent thinker." (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Walkout mars Fil Oil college tourney

I have some nice pics (doesn't that sound bad) of what happened. Won't use them here but will try and have them printed in Business Mirror. In the pic below, Louie Alas points an accussing finger at Ed Cordero who is to the right of Mike Advani so he is out of the picture. In the pics I shot, the next frames are very interesting as they show the altercation in all its ugliness. Thank God, the players and officials prevented it from getting out of hand.

Walkout mars Fil Oil college tourney

by rick olivares

The day should have rightly belonged to Reil Cervantes who knocked down the game winning three-pointer 62-61 for the Far Eastern University Tamaraws who were pushed to the limit by the feisty and tough National University Bulldogs in the Fil Oil Pre-season Invitational Cup.

But it has become an afterthought after a fracas between old rivals San Beda and Letran that nearly degenerated into a rumble. Except that it didn’t involve players or fans but coaches.

After the Letran Knights’ Kevin Alas hit a three-pointer to cut San Beda’s lead to seven 51-44, the Red Lions' Garvo Lanete drove to the basket. Alas met him there and was whistled for a block and an and-one situation as Lanete made the lay-up.

Letran head coach Louie Alas protested the call (it was also his son Kevin’s fifth and final foul). Rebuffed by the referees, the frustrated coach threw the ball high up that it nearly hit the ceiling of the San Juan Arena. When play was about to resume, San Beda’s assistant coach Ed Cordero stood up and asked the referee why Alas wasn’t assessed a technical foul.

That’s where the trouble began and the story diverged.

Alas said that he was talking to the referees when Cordero, from the San Beda bench, butt into the discussion. Alas alleged that Cordero mouthed an invective that prompted him to storm towards the San Beda side. “Yung physical nature ng game, normal na yun for a Letran-San Beda game. Hindi naman siya kasali sa usapan tapos sabat pa siya ng sabat. The Knights’ coach had to be restrained by his players.

Cordero denied that he used any insults and stated that he was merely asking for clarification on why Alas was not slapped with a technical foul. “Wala naman mali doon di ba? Tama yung tanong ko. Then bigla na lang siya naghahamon.”

According to Cordero, he lost his cool when Alas began to challenge him. “It was a mistake and I apologize that I got angry pero I just answered back after naghahamon siya. He (Alas) is a liar if he says that I used a bad word. It was only later that I began to answer back pagkatapos ng hamon niya.”

Alas disagreed. “I wouldn’t have reacted that way had he not said anything. We were not even looking at him them he stood up and starting talking and saying things. Our coaching staff could see and hear yung sinasabi niya.”

The altercation lasted close to fifteen minutes as the referees and tournament officials led by Commissioner Ato Badolato conferred on the sidelines. Both Alas and Cordero were thrown out and Letran walked out of the game with the Red Lions up 53-44 with 6:22 left to play in the 3^rd Quarter.

The match was awarded to San Beda via forfeiture when the Knights did not return to the floor upon resumption of play.

“As far as any sanctions are concerned, we leave that up to the tournament organizer,” clarified Badolato who was clearly upset with the incident.

Tournament official Joey Guillermo on the other hand said that Letran will be allowed to finish out the tournament as they have one more match to play. “We are an invitational tournament and not something like a bigger competition the UAAP or NCAA.”

Letran currently totes a 1-5 record and will close out their dismal summer showing when they play Emilio Aguinaldo College next Wednesday at 3pm at the San Juan Arena while San Beda at 3-1 has three more games to play. They also play next Wednesday after Letran as they go up against the dangerous Arellano University Chiefs at 5pm.

FC Barcelona

What a great ad! Thanks for a great season!

Nike Write the Future

On Brazil as they head to the World Cup in South Africa

Yes, I think that Kaka is one of the world's best footballers. But I disagree with Brazil coach Dunga's reasoning for leaving out players like Pato, Ronaldinho, and Paolo Henrique. If his reasoning is that they failed to impress then the same can be said about Kaka who didn't exactly have a great year with Real Madrid. If Dunga was watching, Ronaldinho had 15 goals with 3rd place AC Milan that for a while contended for the Serie A title before it became a two-way race between five-time champs Intermilan and AS Roma.

And Robinho is in?

But as the coach wishes, we should give this team a chance.

I like his choices -- though there are obvious selections -- of Maicon, Gilberto Silva, Julio Baptista, and Grafite. And as usual, the Selecao are the favorites to win the World Cup in spite of being bracketed with Portugal, Ivory Coast, and dangerous North Korea.

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (Roma), Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Luisao (Roma), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Michel Bastos (Lyon)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Josue (Wolfsburg), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Kleberson (Flamengo), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma)

Forwards: Robinho (Santos/Manchester City), Nilmar (Villarreal), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Grafite (Wolfsburg).

Friday at the Fil Oil Invitational

I was rushing out of the Media Room when I said, "Don't you want to watch the -Perpetual Help-La Salle game? This one is going to be a humdinger."

A few looked at me like, "What? Perpetual Help is in need of perpetual help."

By the half, I went up to the disbelievers and said, "Do you believe me now?" The Altas were up by 18 points 45-27. In case the others were bored out of their minds and have not been paying attention, UPHDS has been getting better. They've had a problem closing games out and i've been taking pictures of these guys. In the last few games, they've been focused. It's all business even in the locker room. They don't mind being overlooked at all.

The Green Archers were a bit jetlagged but that's hardly an excuse because prior to the game, some of them were talking about what they were going to be doing the following day. I guess they figured that The Altas poor record meant they'd walk all over them. But Boris Aldeguer's boys have been getting better with every game. Their win over CSLJ was no fluke.

And I'm not sure DLSU did their homework on UPHSD. They threw a three-two zone early on thinking they'd blank Chris Elorpe with Raffy Ynion on the bench. With the score close in the first quarter, I was surprised they gave up the zone and played man-to-man.

Unfortunately for them, they lost sight of Jefferson Vidal who scored 14 points in the second quarter with 12 of them coming from across the rainbow bridge of Asgard. He even nailed a fadeaway trey with a lunging Almond Vosotros upon him.

By then not only had Elorpe gotten into the act but so did Arnold Danganan. The ball was whipping around like crazy that I wonder what their assist total was for the game.The Altas didn't allow the flustered Green Archers in the game at all. Who played tough? Joel Tolentino. Yes, I know that Joshua Webb and Luigi de la Paz scored in double figures but they were sporadic at best. Tolentino, in his few minutes during the crucial third, was taking it to the Altas.

Despite the 71-56 loss, it doesn't say anything about the Green Archers since there are many factors to consider. On the other hand, it does say something about UPHSD. Last year, they went only as far as Ynion would take them. This year, the big man is not in shape and is losing minutes to Marlon Gomez and the other guys. Get in shape, man. Nevertheless, good job, Coach Boris.

La Salle's loss means that Ateneo takes the number one seed in Group A. The Archers play the Red Lions next weekend.

The game between the Adamson Falcons and San Sebastian was similar except that the Falcons didn't put up a fight. I thought that the officials should have thrown out Calvin Abueva for striking Jan Colina (in a wrestling like move when hitting the groin area). Abueva also took a shot at Jerick Cañada that was so obvious that it seemed so preposterous that he denied any wrong doing. But it worked as Adamson shied away from the physical game. When I left they were getting blown off the court by close to 20 points. End of story.

Pepsi World Cup 2010

Villa traspasado el Barca por 40 millones

David Villa un gran jugador en por cuarenta millones ha sido traspasado el FC Barcelona. Villa ha rayado un suma de 129 goles en todas las competiciones con el club de Valencia. Jeez. My Spanish sucks. Joan, help!

Homecoming

I can't begin to tell you how pleased I was to read that the Philadelphia 76ers were negotiating to sign Doug Collins to be their next head coach.

Collins first joined the Sixers in Philadelphia after representing the United States in Munich where they had their gold medals stolen away by the IOC and the Russians and after a sterling career at Illinois State. And later alongside chocolate Thunder, the Doctor, World B. Free, George McGinnis, and Caldwell Jones, these guys blew my mind away.

For a very young kid they turned me into a hoops fan (up to that point I was only into football with the New York Cosmos and baseball with the New York Yankees).

Collins can turn things around no doubt. But can he get them to the Eastern Finals? That has always been his problem. And he wears his players out as well. He has to understand that it's a different time and after stops in Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, he knows what mistakes he made. But nevertheless, it's a thrill and brings back a tingle to the spine since I still have a soft spot for the Sixers.

One of the first jerseys I ever bought was a retro Collins jersey (got it at the Big Man's store in Jersey City). The first, in case you're new to Bleachers' Brew, was Chris Mullin's #17 Golden State Warriors.

Wednesday's Fil Oil games

Tough guys. A friend asked me who was playing in yesterday's Fil Oil games and when I said it was CSB vs. Adamson, Perpetual Help vs. Letran, and NU vs. UE, he said, "Boring games."

Yan. Kasi alam mo lang puro Ateneo-La Salle. There is more to life than those games but if that's your choice then...

In case you haven't been watching the Soaring Falcons, they have been playing well with the ball whipping around like crazy to the open man. And who is the man this year? Alex Nuyles. Boy, did they cream the CSB Blazers yesterday 66-52 (the lead went as high as 28 points and went down only as CSB still had their starters in while Adamson was playing their third team in the finals minutes). Tough day at the office for Coach Richard del Rosario who was not pleased with his team's effort. I guess they forgot that there was the singing of the alma mater song of both squads after the game that they immediately went back to their locker room.

What went wrong? The Blazers' offense this year will be anchored on their guards. They were up against a much taller Adamson line-up that had four bigs and one small guy. How tough is that? And it sure is nice to see their long time Team B standout finally get a chance. This is William Stinnet who hit two treys and a layup for 8 points on top of grabbing 2 boards, dishing an assist and stealing once of the Blazers. The line seems pedestrian but that's not for someone off the bench more so since he plays tough tough defense.

But Alex Nuyles is the man. His teammates now go to him for the bailout or to take the shot. Nice slam by the way yesterday. That's what I get for babbling with CSLJ's Aloysius Taplah that I missed taking a picture of the dunk.

Speaking of Letran. The game against Perpetual Help. Think about it as two of the toughest guys on the block duking it out. If that "tough guy" tag used to be hung on the JRU Heavy Bombers, well, not anymore. Letran, under Louie Alas, has always been a tough team to play. While Perpetual Help now has the team (partially though) that Boris Aldeguer wants.

The game was a tough one to officiate (with the officials missing a lot of calls) from the start. The Knights' Raymond Almazan and UPHSD's Jefferson Vidal got into the action with some dagger looks and trash talking. I thought that Aldeguer's boys gave Letran a taste of their own medicine with their r/tough play that the Knights lost their composure. Jun Jun Alas nearly sent an opponent out of the court with a blocking foul after a perceived non-call. And the match-up between Jam Cortez and UPHSD's Marlon Gomez, who is cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned Knight, was something else. While both play the 4 and 5 spots 9 (but as under-sized centers), it is Gomez who is more powerful. And Cortez really couldn't get his game going as he was foiled several times inside (take a look at the picture I took that I posted above). The shot Cortez gave at the endgame was unwarranted (he threw a nasty elbow that grazed the head of an opponent). Had that connected a free for all would have broken out. Frank Dysam missed a layup at the end that would have sent the match into overtime. Aldeguer's team won 59-57.

On a different note, I also took a nice pic of Kevin Alas streaking towards the basket for a lay up -- he made the bucket -- to tie the game before UPHSD score two more on the opposite end for the wining points. I guess I'll be using it for Rebound.

Lastly, talking to NU's Kokoy Hermosisima yesterday, he said their 2-point win against Adamson was "chamba" lang. I said that the win was a manufactured one. And that the team was getting better all the time. And they showed it by beating the UE Red Warriors 57-53. A win in the final minute of play. The Bulldogs' main man stat line was 12 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds.

Nice chatting with Joshua Webb who came to watch the games along with buddy Hyram Bagatsing. We're doing a short shoot for him this Friday at the Arena before La Salle's match.

With teammates like this who needs enemies?

I wonder if the Mercedes GP team of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher will be similar to the Astana team of Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong. Of course Lance is now with Team Radioshack while Contador is still the main rider for Astana.

Said Contador, “Armstrong is a great and did a great Tour but on a personal level I have never admired him and never will.”

On the other hand, said Rosberg of Schumi, “My reaction to Michael being my teammate was positive… mostly.”

The return of both greats hasn’t exactly been very good (mostly Schumacher) in the standings but who would dare to count them out? I am so looking forward to the Tour de France and seeing how this pans out. I have a feeling that this year will be Lance's last whether he wins the tour or not.

Manny scores another win

Manny Pacquiao is declared by Commission on Elections as the duly elected Congressman of Saranggani province. Can you say, "Good show, Manny?" Last time he lost inside the ring -- that was to Erik Morales -- he came back and defeated him twice. The last time Manny lost when he ran for public office, he came back with a vengeance this time. Is there one last bout in him? Bring it on, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Sacre bleu! I know I'm rooting for these tennis belles come Roland Garros

Vive le France! I'm rooting for Alize Cornet and Aravane Rezai for the French Open!

El Barça, el campeón con más puntos de la historia de la Liga: 99

And once more the La Liga came down to the final playing day with one point separating FC Barcelona from Real Madrid FC 96-95. Los Blancos played first and disappointingly 1-1 with Malaga that narrowly avoided relegation. Their poor performance only netted them a point tying erstwhile idle Barcelona that had yet to play Valladolid that was on the brink of relegation as well. At the very least, Pep Guardiola's men needed only to tie the game to win the title. Even a loss would have still given them the title as they had a superior goal quotient. As it is, Barca smashed the home side 4-0 to win the Primera Liga in style -- a back-to-back title and 20th overall to a rain of confetti.

Bojan Krcic, Pedro, and Lionel Messi celebrate. They might have not duplicated last year's incredible treble and six titles (that overlapped from the 2009-10 season), but it was still special.

And to the Man -- Pep Guardiola. Ole!

Jeffrey Cariaso: Every good thing comes to an end

EVERY GOOD THING COMES TO AN END

By Jeffrey Cariaso

Calling it quits, hanging up a jersey or sneakers, or walking away from the game are common phrases you hear when an athlete reaches a point of inevitability (although during your prime, you tend to forget it). A player never wants to admit that one day, this beautiful thing you have going will end. One day all the media attention, playing on the big stage and the fame that comes with your profession will have to end. It's the circle of life for athletes anywhere in sports, and its something one can’t do anything about.

Even before the start of this season, I had already announced to Alaska, specifically to coach Tim Cone, that this will be my final year of playing. I've always said that I want to be the one to say when it's time. It's my career which I worked hard to achieve and establish myself in this league, so I feel it's only fitting that I walk away on my own terms. I have always said that I want to leave this game on a high note. I want to leave even if I think, and my peers think, I can still play for another two years. I want them to question why I am leaving when they feel I can still compete at a high level. I am proud to say that my announcement has fulfilled my two conditions.

When a player retires, people automatically think that he cannot perform anymore. Some retire because of injuries, some retire even before they reach their prime, and some cannot simply find a job and are forced to walk away. The PBA is a dream come true for many players and you are very lucky once you are a part of it. But you have to also realize that the PBA is a small industry. Jobs are scarce and you really have to take care of it. There are only 10 teams in the league. When I entered in 1995, there were only eight teams. So throughout my 15 and a half years, only two other teams were added to join. With all the talent we have in our country, and in the US, the challenge of keeping your job is sometimes tougher than the competition. So retiring after only 5 years has happened to many players. I'm very lucky to have lasted this long. My key points to surviving is establishing yourself early in your career, competing everyday at practice against the guys in your position(making practice your game), doing the extra work whether it's hitting the weight room, plyometrics, or running on the track, realizing what your weaknesses are and having a mindset on reversing that weakness into a strength, watch your games and study yourself and your opponents, and lastly I have a two nights before a game rule.

Most players try to sleep early or won't go out the night before the game. They know tomorrow they have a big game and they want to preserve their legs, bodies, and even relax their minds knowing they will be tested the next day. I do the same thing but will start this 2 nights before the game. It worked for me.

Having said this, I only hope to achieve that basketball fans all over the Philippines will understand a little of what players go through on their last leg of their careers. I just wanted to give you a different look and deeper perspective on the feelings and thoughts that we have. We may be catagorized as old in the PBA, but we have so much life ahead of us.

Cleveland Cavaliers and The Big Quit

On the display window of the Nike store in Gateway is a display of LeBron James driving towards the hoop. Imposed on the King are two words – “Beautiful devastation.”

It seems ironic now in the wake of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ monumental collapse however there is nothing beautiful about it. It’s devastating for sure. And darn ugly. One that wrenches, sunders, rends and you can pretty much add similar verbs to what it does to the heart and the soul of the folks in Cleveland and Cavs fans everywhere.

If Cleveland sports has been defined by Red Right 88, the Drive, the Shot, and the Shot II to name a few, then you can give a name for this one as well – The Big Quit (with no disrespect meant to Shaquille O'Neal). Yes, they quit. The weight of expectations and ghosts of past failures sapping their will and the fight out of them. I can't recall seeing an NBA team do that (elsewhere I have).

And now they face so much uncertainty as they head into the summer of LeBron.

Since David Stern became NBA Commissioner, there has only been one small market team to win an NBA title and that is San Antonio. They are an aberration simply because they were able to grab two number one overall picks in David Robinson and Tim Duncan and surround themselves with shrew choices that didn’t cost them much. Truth is, Greg Popovich is a more successful version of baseball’s the Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane. But now the well has dried up for the Spurs.

Having said that the chances of a small market team winning the Larry O’Brien trophy are small then that begets what is and will be the biggest question in pro hoops in the next few months – where will LeBron James play?

When was the last time a franchise player from a small market team stayed with the team that drafted him? Kevin Garnett departed Minnesota. Vince Carter left Toronto. Even Hakeem Olajuwon, the long time Houston Rocket eventually left in the twilight of his career. Right now the only one to remain is Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs. But such is life in pro sports with free agency. The bright lights beckon elsewhere.

But those franchise players when they left, did they win a title in a big market? Garnett did with the Boston Celtics two years ago. Carter is playing in the Eastern Finals with Orlando now (against Garnett’s Celtics no less).

It isn’t everyday that the hometown boy plays for the local team. The only notable one right now is Derrick Rose for his hometown Chicago Bulls.

Aproximately a decade ago, Magic Johnson hung the tag of “team of the 90’s” on the Cavaliers team of Mark Price, Ron Harper, John Williams, Larry Nance, and Brad Daugherty. Magic was wrong. Dead wrong because they happened to co-exist at the same time as Michael Jordan. So if a super team couldn’t win it (they only went to the Eastern Finals once and time and again they were destroyed by Michael power) could one man, one who dared to be called the King, win it all?

He’s been to the Finals once and the past four playoffs have been filled with heartbreak.

For sure LeBron cannot win it alone. He must have forgotten this back when he was in high school:

It would be cool for ‘Bron to stay in Cleveland but history shows that the small town boy will leave for the bright lights of the big city. Care to wager where he will be holding court?