No Pressure Over Cappuccino

It's quite something to sit down and sip cappuccino and watch the world pass you by. More so when the mind begins to wander far and the thoughts shift from one to another like you're channel surfing. I wish I could say that I don't have a care in the world but I got a whole kaboodle of that. Last night I played hoops (and fervently prayed I wouldn't cramp up after not playing for like a century). I didn't if you want to know. I was also worried that my mind will tell me to do things but my body wouldn't allow me to do that. Thankfully, it wasn't the case. I am just trying to get a feel of the damned court and game again. Hey, guys -- pass the ball my way, okay? 

One of the things I live by is that you'll learn a whole lot more from listening than gabbing endlessly. But the couple in the table right in front of me have been exchanging non-stop terms of endearment. It's too early for excess sappiness so I tune them out.

Of late, I've been following Tiger Woods as he struggles to find a semblance of the game he once had. "Shooting 18 over par is not fun. It's been a long year," he exhaled after the final round at the Bridgestone Invitational. 

Honestly, I follow him more now than when he was at the top of his game. Am I rooting for him to get back to where he once was? Yes, I am. I am not condoning what he did but everyone deserves a second or third chance (unless it's of the thieving or murdering kind), right? Watching him the other day, it's just not the same Tiger Woods. Even his body language is different. I think he needs to step back and take stock of things (even his swing isn't there; maybe a mechanical flaw due to all that stuff percolating inside his head?). The aura of invincibility (or even arrogance) is gone. I am sure that every time he steps on the greens, at the back of his mind, there's this fear, this shame that he carries. That someone, maybe even the whole lot of them in the crowd thinks he's a jerk or an asshole. He has to watch himself now because the slightest slip and everyone will be on him like a shark smelling blood. There's nothing you can really do about that but try and change their perceptions by working on one's game and being contrite. But that fear has got to affect him big time. Woods has to free himself of that in order to play better.

Woods isn't the only one taking stock of things. Roger Federer (surprise surprise) has responded to his slipping to #3 in the tennis rankings by hiring Paul Annacone as his coach. Annacone, in case ya'll don't know was Pete Sampras former coach. Federer has not had a coach in what -- eons? Am not even sure if he even had one as an ATP pro. Sorry, if I'm not sure about that because I'm more of a Sampras fan.

Roger isn't the only one needing help with his game (though I'm not sure of the Swiss Sensation will listen to another voice for so long seeing as he won the lot of his titles without anyone telling him what to do). Mardy Fish got himself a new one as well. I figure that they took notice when Swede Robin Soderling went on a tear after he brought in Magnus Norman in the last couple of years.

Then there's Mike Silungan. 

Has there been any player saddled with so much expectations in recent years? I'd say there are two -- Ryan Buenafe and Arvie Bringas. But this isn't about them. 

Mike was a totally different player during the summer and UP's first two games in this UAAP tournament. After that -- ironically after Aboy Castro was removed -- his game went down (and that's an understatement). There's the turmoil, the weight of expectations, the morale-busting loses, and adjusting to a wholly different competition for him. In the game against NU, he was hounded in the final minute and he couldn't get off a proper shot. Watching him from the baseline, there was that concerned look in his face. An "oh shit" kind of look. But it also brings to mind Kobe Bryant's rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers. That missed last second shot against the San Antonio Spurs and the late Chick Hearn saying live on national television, "Don't worry, son. You will be making many of those in years to come."

So I feel bad for Mike. When I was picking out the players for the Gatorade campaign (yep, I picked 'em), I went with Mike for UP. I debated about using Martin Reyes but we were looking at a long term working relationship and since Martin was graduating... We used those players (minus EAC and UE) for an insert in chalk and the billboard along EDSA and another place. I'm writing a longer piece on Mike and the Maroons (hmm... doesn't that sound like some band like Mike + the Mechanics? Bwahaha!). His struggles are particularly jarring. When I watch him on the bench and come off it, it's just so different. 

I can even say the same thing for Boyet Fernandez. The UAAP is a different animal from the PBA (ask Norman Black). More so since he did not have the benefit of a pre-season to work his way in. In that game against NU, I thought that he used Miggy Maniego at the wrong time. Miggy is someone who will give a 110% when he's on the floor but he needs to get in there early to get a feel for the game. Not when the match is on the line. But as I told Mike after the loss to NU, remember this and use this memory to get better. And I am pretty sure that he will bounce back as will the Fighting Maroons. But this is just so much of an unexpected season. 

Of course this doesn't mean that they are throwing in the towel now. 

And there's this bit about FC Barcelona's trip to South Korea. You gotta read this. If I were the organizer, I wouldn't have organized a friendly game/tour so soon after the World Cup. It has been a long long season for many players of Barca so it would be a steal for the entire first team to play. But the Catalan club is equally to blame for agreeing to do this. Obviously it was done for the money because logic dictates that the first team would not be in a mood for that. If the players were unhappy with being in Korea, they should have at least feigned interest (yes, I know that is not kosher as well, but...). The interviews were particularly embarrassing and an insult to the Koreans. That sort of reminded me years ago when a colleague of mine in Solar Sports was interviewing Tracy McGrady (in the US) and when he was asked what he thought of his last trip to the Philippines, he seemed surprised. He answered like, "I went there?"

Yup. More proof that pro athletes shouldn't be role models. Since I cover sports, I get reminded of that regularly. 

Now my cappo is almost gone.

I think of the trip to Cam Sur next week. Because of that I am missing the Ateneo-La Salle second round match. But I'll be watching from my hotel room.

Now you'll have to pardon me coz my ride is here and I have a PL meeting in an hour or so.