Bleachers' Brew #116 Vox Populi

(This appears in my Monday July 21, 2008 column in the sports pages of the Business Mirror http://businessmirror.com.ph/07212008/sports06.html.)

Vox Populi
by rick olivares

Part of being a sportswriter is being observant of not just the game but what goes around you. What follows are real conversations and incidents that provide an interesting and sometimes chilling insight into sports and the way people think.

The Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight

Overheard outside the cinema during the Manny Pacquaio-David Diaz match at the live screening at one mall.
Scalper: Sir, meron na kayong ticket sa Pacquiao? Isang libo na lang ‘to. Malapit na magsimula yung main event.
Man (looking somewhat annoyed as he’s in a hurry to get inside): May ticket na.
Scalper: May extra kayo, sir? Bilin ko na.
Dad: (sarcastically) Sige, isang libo.
Scalper: (gulps). Ngek. Patay tayo diyan.

Inside the cinema
Chino Trinidad: Pagtinignan mo yung mukha ni David Diaz nandun yung tatak ng glove ni Manny Pacquiao.
Spectator 1: (laughs). Oo nga no. May Nike.
Spectator 2: Nike sapatos niya, no?
Spectator 3: Mabagal pala to si Diaz. Kayang kaya ni Manny ‘to. Sandali lang ‘tong laban na ‘to.
Security Guard who left his post to watch: Malapit na matapos ‘to. Duguan na si Diaz.

When Diaz was knocked out in the ninth, Spectator 2, the most talkative of the three asked Spectator 3: Sabi mo sandali na lang, eh, knockout na?
Spectator 3: Bakit hindi naman umabot sa Round 12? Hindi nag the distance.

After the spectacular ninth round knockout:
Spectator 1: Panalo na naman si Pacquiao. Marami na naman pera pang bisyo.
Spectator 2: Mayabang na naman ‘to sigurado. Lalaki na naman yung ulo niya.

After the live screening at the cinema
As the cinema crowd exited after the Pacman’s victory, some passed by the fountain area near the food court where people were watching the much-delayed telecast on a wide screen projector. One spoilsport blurted out loud, “Uwi na kayo. Panalo si Pacquiao. Knockout sa ninth.”

Several people cussed him out and one even tried to chase him (the cowardly spoilsport ran towards the exit).

UAAP Men’s Basketball Season 71

Halftime of the Ateneo-La Salle game last July 6
Man in Green sitting at the patron section to a fellow alum: I just came from the CR and the Ateneans are complaining about the officiating. What can we do? Kasalanan ba natin that the referees are incompetent?
Fellow Alum: (laughs) Didn’t UP get NABRO?
Man in Green: Yeah, basta walang sishan.

After the game that resulted in a 79-73 victory for the Blue Eagles:
Man in Green: Ang sama ng officiating. That should have been a kick ball on (Atenean Yuri) Escueta. Luto! Palitan na yung NABRO!

During the Ateneo-La Salle July 6 game when NBA star Gilbert Arenas sat in the special ringside section without being publicly acknowledged unlike Manny Pacquiao.
Photographer 1: O, hindi man na-introduce si Arenas sa mga tao?
Photographer 2: Syempre, si Manny muna. Eka nga, “Pambansang Kamao,” di ba?
Photographer 3: Hindi kasi si Manny sa Nike. Eh, si Arenas sa adidas. Sponsor ng UAAP ang Nike.
Photographer 4: Ganon? Walang delicadeza. (shakes head).
Photographer 2: Kunan na lang natin yung mga bebot na kasama ni Manny. Tara!

In the aftermath of the suspensions of the three referees who worked the match:
Sportswriter 1: (in reaction to the UAAP Commissioner’s statement about the suspension) Failed to control the game? Na-control nga nila. They didn’t let the players play. Parang lahat ng possession pinituhan nila.
Sportswriter 2: May quota kasi! (laughs)
Sportswriter 1: Quota o kita?

After the UST Growling Tigers waxed the UP Maroons:
Maroon fan 1: I’m happy.
Maroon fan 2: Why?
Maroon fan 1: We won’t go 0-14 this year. Probably 1-13 lang.
Maroon fan 3: You know why we (UP) beat UST in last year’s Cheer Dance competition?
Maroon fan 4: Kasi mas maganda yung production natin?
Maroon fan 3: Yes pero kasi our cheering squad was well-rested (in reference to the basketball team’s 0-14 record that didn’t give fans or their cheerleaders much to cheer about) so hindi sila pagod.

After the NU Bulldogs went 0-3 to put a huge damper on their campaign.
NU fan 1: Talo na naman tayo.
NU fan 2: Buti pa UP at Adamson may panalo na. Kawawa naman tayo.

Outside the Philsports Arena where scalpers abound
Scalper: Boss, may ticket na kayo? Heto, sa taas sa may Ateneo side.
Patron: Magkano ba?
Scalper: Five hundred na lang.
Patron: Mahal naman. Eh, hindi naman ako taga-Ateneo. Taga-Adamson ako.
Scalper: O sige. One fifty na lang.