Roger Federer is well on his way to break Pete Sampras record for the most number of grand slam titles. He won over a Taiwanese in the first round of 2009 Wimbledon tournament. With Nadal out there is nada to hound him and admittedly with the pressure now off since tying Sampras, Roger can cruise his way to his 15th slam. Barring any drama from hometown boy Murray.
In golf, Phil Mickelson is once again heartbroken. Losing the US Open to virtual unknown Glover (who he?). It was Phil's golden chance, he was lurking behind and actually caught up midway the final round. His ill wife was goading him to win. That was the drama behind the otherwise bland game. But Mickelson, ever the game's heartbreak kid, was again beaten. I don't know why, but next to seeing Tiger win, seeing Phil lose provides drama and a good excuse for following the game.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Deserving and undeserving
Gasol has toughened up a lot since last year's debacle against Garnet. And Howard softened up, perhaps the previous series' exposed him. Perhaps the law of averages that was absent against the Cavs caught up with the Magic. Lewis and Terkoglu can't pull out rabbits from their hats now.
In a similar vein, in the PBA, Rain Or Shine says TY to TY Tang for the ala-Horry and Fisher 3pt shot that gave them the deserving win over the deserving-to-lose Purefoods. When you bench your best and highest paid player, you immediately lose at least 25% of your productivity. When you do that for the last 3 quarters, you do not deserve to win.
The cut clearly bothered Cotto. But if he fights like that against Pacquiao, he does not deserve to win.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
At last I got one right
I am totally off in my sports predictions lately. But PAG-ASA still has a worse batting average. The Cavs-Nuggets NBA finals I was gung-ho about flopped famously. A friend reminded me that basketball is a team game not a Kobe-LeBron game. I switched allegiance to the Magic, being the anti-Kobe that I am, but they lost game 1.
I blogged that Federer's hopes of matching Sampras' record lies on him not facing Nadal in the finals. In this year's French Open, Federer showed that the other players are catching up on him. He was always put on the brink before somehow managing to find the will to win. Meanwhile Nadal rode on a record win streak until big-serving Robin Soderling took care of him to pave the way for a Soderling-Federer setto.
In the finals, Federer breezed through the first set. But Soderling was holding his own on the second. The rains came suddenly making the match much tougher for the world number two. Federer comfortably squeezed thru a tie-break to take the second set as well.
In the third, Federer broke and held in the first 2 games and the two held on their serves until Federer got the game, set and match to equal Sampras' record. Way to go, Fed! I got one right at last. Tomorrow, the Magic will win to continue my streak. Eat your heart out PAG-ASA.
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Update: The Magic lost game 2. My streak ends.
I blogged that Federer's hopes of matching Sampras' record lies on him not facing Nadal in the finals. In this year's French Open, Federer showed that the other players are catching up on him. He was always put on the brink before somehow managing to find the will to win. Meanwhile Nadal rode on a record win streak until big-serving Robin Soderling took care of him to pave the way for a Soderling-Federer setto.
In the finals, Federer breezed through the first set. But Soderling was holding his own on the second. The rains came suddenly making the match much tougher for the world number two. Federer comfortably squeezed thru a tie-break to take the second set as well.
In the third, Federer broke and held in the first 2 games and the two held on their serves until Federer got the game, set and match to equal Sampras' record. Way to go, Fed! I got one right at last. Tomorrow, the Magic will win to continue my streak. Eat your heart out PAG-ASA.
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Update: The Magic lost game 2. My streak ends.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Go Fed!
In the lull before the NBA finals, I turn to the French Open for the sports thrills. I like Roger Federer's odd to win this one, he showed tough grit in recent wins and he's not facing Nadal this time. I watch men's tennis because of the high level of play mixes well with the intense drama.
On the other hand, I like the women's side because of the great looking players. I did not like women's tennis back then during the time of Evert, Jean-King, Navratilova and even Graf. Even if Bobby Riggs (a male) lost to Billie Jean King (a female?). But Ana Kournikova changed all that. The first tennis goddess made me watch women's tennis seriously, albeit for another reason.
So now I eagerly await for matches involving the likes of Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova, Maria Kirilenko, Hantuchova, Elena Dementieva, Nicole Vaidisova, Anna Chakvetadze, and Iveta Benesova among others. I wish somebody with the face of Ivanovic, legs of Sharapova, the gravity-defying 34DDs of Simona Halep (see photos below), rolls into the sensuality of Kournikova. That would be the ultimate delight.But I wouldn't watch Sarah Gronert, even is he/she has been cleared to play tennis as a woman.
On the other hand, I like the women's side because of the great looking players. I did not like women's tennis back then during the time of Evert, Jean-King, Navratilova and even Graf. Even if Bobby Riggs (a male) lost to Billie Jean King (a female?). But Ana Kournikova changed all that. The first tennis goddess made me watch women's tennis seriously, albeit for another reason.
So now I eagerly await for matches involving the likes of Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova, Maria Kirilenko, Hantuchova, Elena Dementieva, Nicole Vaidisova, Anna Chakvetadze, and Iveta Benesova among others. I wish somebody with the face of Ivanovic, legs of Sharapova, the gravity-defying 34DDs of Simona Halep (see photos below), rolls into the sensuality of Kournikova. That would be the ultimate delight.But I wouldn't watch Sarah Gronert, even is he/she has been cleared to play tennis as a woman.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Amazing happens
Where amazing happens. An Orlando Magic fan is demanding an apology from Glen Davis after the Celtics' thrilling win in Game 4 yesterday, where Big Baby hit the winning shot with no time left. No this is not a joke, it is true. The fan sent an email to the NBA complaining that Davis crossed the line, literally, and embarrassed his son. In the e-mail, the fan said Davis conducted himself like a "raging animal with no regard for fans' personal safety." According to him Big Bay shoved his 12-year-old son with such force, that the boy's baseball cap catapulted into the air and the boy went tumbling into his courtside seat. Apparently the fan and his son sits at VIP row A seats 5&6. Here's a video of Big Baby's heroics and the funny (not to the father) incident. Check 0:59.
Amazing shot. Amazing fan. Hahaha.
Amazing shot. Amazing fan. Hahaha.
Monday, April 27, 2009
NBA predictions
I am busy this week watching the NBA first round playoffs, among other stuff. With the Suns out of it all, I was rooting for the Celtics to win again but with The Big Ticket sidelined for the playoffs I switched allegiance to the Cavs.
I am still anti-Kobe though I still predict a Lakers-Cavs finale. The Lakers are the heavy favorites in the West. Kobe is playing a much controlled game. Perhaps he is put on a leash by Phil Jackson, to preserve him for the final push where he his pent-up desire to take over the game will be unleashed. Or perhaps, he is not that young anymore. There is a better chance for the West teams to upset their top seed than for the East teams. The Nuggets, barring another post-season bad luck for George Karl, stands the best chance. They are followed by the Mava snd the Rockets. The greatest thing going for the Lakers is that they are all healthy at this time. Tex Winter suffered a stroke but expect Phil Jackson to make that a rallying point.
In the East, the Celtics cannot ride on emotions to make it all the way. I believe emotions can only sustain the charge for only three games max, after which, the body will not respond and the other team's pride and emotion will in turn carry them through. So emotions can carry the Celts, net of Garnett and Powe-less, past the young Bulls but they will be tested to the hilt and further weakened by the second round. The Cavs on the other hand are healthy with the King James not even in his primest.
The expected Lakers-Cavs setto is very evenly matched. The Cavs cannot be trumped in the forward position with King James on their side. The middle decidedly goes to the Lakers with Gasol, Bynum, Odom. The guard position again goes to the Lakers. The coaching, too, shows advantage for the Lakers with Phil's nine rings waiting for the tenth so each finger will have one. So in the Lakers-Cavs finals, the Lakers will be the heavy favorites. But I am still rooting for the Cavs. Because I am anti-Kobe.
I am still anti-Kobe though I still predict a Lakers-Cavs finale. The Lakers are the heavy favorites in the West. Kobe is playing a much controlled game. Perhaps he is put on a leash by Phil Jackson, to preserve him for the final push where he his pent-up desire to take over the game will be unleashed. Or perhaps, he is not that young anymore. There is a better chance for the West teams to upset their top seed than for the East teams. The Nuggets, barring another post-season bad luck for George Karl, stands the best chance. They are followed by the Mava snd the Rockets. The greatest thing going for the Lakers is that they are all healthy at this time. Tex Winter suffered a stroke but expect Phil Jackson to make that a rallying point.
In the East, the Celtics cannot ride on emotions to make it all the way. I believe emotions can only sustain the charge for only three games max, after which, the body will not respond and the other team's pride and emotion will in turn carry them through. So emotions can carry the Celts, net of Garnett and Powe-less, past the young Bulls but they will be tested to the hilt and further weakened by the second round. The Cavs on the other hand are healthy with the King James not even in his primest.
The expected Lakers-Cavs setto is very evenly matched. The Cavs cannot be trumped in the forward position with King James on their side. The middle decidedly goes to the Lakers with Gasol, Bynum, Odom. The guard position again goes to the Lakers. The coaching, too, shows advantage for the Lakers with Phil's nine rings waiting for the tenth so each finger will have one. So in the Lakers-Cavs finals, the Lakers will be the heavy favorites. But I am still rooting for the Cavs. Because I am anti-Kobe.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Flash and the Furious
The first of three consecutive Sundays of boxing featuring Filipino champions produced wonderful results. Flyweight champion Nonito 'The Flash' Donaire defanged previously unbeaten Raul ‘La Cobrita’ Martinez over four one-sided rounds this morning. This proves that Donaire's best known win over Vic Darchinyan was not a fluke. The Filipino Flash proved his power again in this fight knocking down his opponent twice in round one, once in round two, and once again in round four. The referee might have prematurely waived off the fight since the Martinez showed signs of recovery in round three and just prior to the last knockdown. Martinez initially appeared to protest but eventually relented and congratulated the winner.
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In 'The Furious' side of the bill, Brian Viloria captured the crown of frequent Filipino tormentor Ulises Solis with a spectacular eleventh round knockout. Viloria started very well in the first five rounds, inflicting cuts over Solis' both eyes. Solis was deducted points in rounds three and five for low blows. But in the second half of the fight, Solis appeared to outbox Viloria, until Viloria unleashed a well-timed “Hawaiian Punch” that dropped Solis in round eleven. The former champion was not able to get up before the referee made the full count.
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Promising Filipino fighter Denver Cuello won a vacant alphabet soup belt with a fourth round knock-out over his opponent. He earlier scored a knockdown in round three.
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In 'The Furious' side of the bill, Brian Viloria captured the crown of frequent Filipino tormentor Ulises Solis with a spectacular eleventh round knockout. Viloria started very well in the first five rounds, inflicting cuts over Solis' both eyes. Solis was deducted points in rounds three and five for low blows. But in the second half of the fight, Solis appeared to outbox Viloria, until Viloria unleashed a well-timed “Hawaiian Punch” that dropped Solis in round eleven. The former champion was not able to get up before the referee made the full count.
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Promising Filipino fighter Denver Cuello won a vacant alphabet soup belt with a fourth round knock-out over his opponent. He earlier scored a knockdown in round three.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter week
I woke up not to get back top work after the Easter break but to catch the Masters live. Tiger is playing. There's got to be some drama.
Phil Mickelson added to the drama in the Masters by tieing the record 6-under 30 in the front nine of the last round, firing home six birdies in the first eight holes. He was just one behind the leaders but but he hit the water to double-bogey the 12th. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods continued to lurk closely behind the leader, silently firing a 3-under 36 in the fron nine. He birdied the 13th to suddenly be just 3 behind with 4 holes to go. I have a feeling this is for the leaders to lose. Tiger is back at his game this Easter.
Meanwhile, leader Kenny Perry was steadily matching pars through the first 8 holes to keep the lead against the surging Mickelson and Woods. He's got to have steely nerves to maintain poise as he hears the sound of the comeback, the oohs and ahhs in Phil's and Tiger's flight.
Who says golf isn't exciting?
Phil Mickelson added to the drama in the Masters by tieing the record 6-under 30 in the front nine of the last round, firing home six birdies in the first eight holes. He was just one behind the leaders but but he hit the water to double-bogey the 12th. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods continued to lurk closely behind the leader, silently firing a 3-under 36 in the fron nine. He birdied the 13th to suddenly be just 3 behind with 4 holes to go. I have a feeling this is for the leaders to lose. Tiger is back at his game this Easter.
Meanwhile, leader Kenny Perry was steadily matching pars through the first 8 holes to keep the lead against the surging Mickelson and Woods. He's got to have steely nerves to maintain poise as he hears the sound of the comeback, the oohs and ahhs in Phil's and Tiger's flight.
Who says golf isn't exciting?
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Improving stats and otherwise
It's been a while since my last post. Tiger Woods won another major slam, putting him closer to Jack Nicklaus' record. Hindi yata talaga tao.
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Manny Pacquiao again won convincingly. As a tribute to the great event, I posted round 3 of his fight versus Morales on YouTube. They shot it down after 106 views, acting on a complaint from HBO saying it is copyright infringement. The last time I checked YouTube, there were still 1,248 videos of the same fight, some with more than 4,000 views. Just my luck to be singled out and threatened with a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
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Philippine life has not improved since. But this delusional government believes otherwise. It says unemployment is down. The government brought unemployment down not by creating more jobs but by not counting the unemployed properly. So if you see lots of tambays on the streets, they may be not working but they are not unemployed. It is a very imaginative unemployment reduction. Unemployment is down by more than 2 pts on a sub-par economic growth (compared to our neighbors) and a very high population growth (again compared to neighbors). How did GMA do with her promise of a million jobs a year, anyway? They are silent on that while they gladly report the new unemployment figures. Perhaps we should ask the government to reveal also the number of 'discouraged' workers who are left out in the counting of the unemployed.
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Manny Pacquiao again won convincingly. As a tribute to the great event, I posted round 3 of his fight versus Morales on YouTube. They shot it down after 106 views, acting on a complaint from HBO saying it is copyright infringement. The last time I checked YouTube, there were still 1,248 videos of the same fight, some with more than 4,000 views. Just my luck to be singled out and threatened with a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
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Philippine life has not improved since. But this delusional government believes otherwise. It says unemployment is down. The government brought unemployment down not by creating more jobs but by not counting the unemployed properly. So if you see lots of tambays on the streets, they may be not working but they are not unemployed. It is a very imaginative unemployment reduction. Unemployment is down by more than 2 pts on a sub-par economic growth (compared to our neighbors) and a very high population growth (again compared to neighbors). How did GMA do with her promise of a million jobs a year, anyway? They are silent on that while they gladly report the new unemployment figures. Perhaps we should ask the government to reveal also the number of 'discouraged' workers who are left out in the counting of the unemployed.
Monday, July 24, 2006
In a zone and SONA
Tiger Woods at 30 won his 11th major (in less than 10 years of tournament play). Nicklaus won his record 18th and last (in 24 years of tournament play) when he was 46. At this rate, Tiger will double Nicklaus’ majors haul before he retires. Tiger once again proves his super human golfing talent. He is an alien. He is not human.
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For a change, this cute government acted fast in declaring no classes and office due to weather conditions on the day of the SONA. I wish they also act this fast on other non-SONA days.
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Hearing the latest SONA, we realize the true state of the nation today and that is - the president doesn’t have anything really good to say about our state today. She cannot embellish the truth more than they have done the past months, as in the redefinition of unemployed and underestimation of imports/balance of trade. So instead of getting flak for lying again through official statistics, she did not present the state of the nation at all. In lieu of the SONA, she presented her plans for the rest of her term.
What’s wrong with plans? All great accomplishments start with good plans, don’t they? Sure they do. But in presenting plans instead of the true state of the nation in a SONA is reveals several things: 1) the true state of the nation is not something to brag about in a SONA; 2) after 5 years in office, she is just starting to plan, we are still in the planning stage; 3) she is in denial about the true state of the nation; 4) she is still in dream state.
In her first SONA, she first articulated her plans through her ‘bangkang papel’ dramatics. Trabaho, edukasyon, sariling tahanan, pagkain. Succeeding SONAs should have mentioned where we have gone from those plans. Had she done that, she would have reported that unemployment is down because she redefined unemployment. More are being educated because she packed each classroom with more than 100 students per day. Hunger/poverty is easing because her statisticians say the basic caloric requirement is available via an unpalatable but cheap diet. More houses are being built not by her but by NGOs.
She cannot ascribe any positive development to her governance without getting criticism from all sectors. And next year is an election year, so even this early she goes on campaign mode, promising infrastructures. Talk is cheap and she can dream, can’t she?
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For a change, this cute government acted fast in declaring no classes and office due to weather conditions on the day of the SONA. I wish they also act this fast on other non-SONA days.
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Hearing the latest SONA, we realize the true state of the nation today and that is - the president doesn’t have anything really good to say about our state today. She cannot embellish the truth more than they have done the past months, as in the redefinition of unemployed and underestimation of imports/balance of trade. So instead of getting flak for lying again through official statistics, she did not present the state of the nation at all. In lieu of the SONA, she presented her plans for the rest of her term.
What’s wrong with plans? All great accomplishments start with good plans, don’t they? Sure they do. But in presenting plans instead of the true state of the nation in a SONA is reveals several things: 1) the true state of the nation is not something to brag about in a SONA; 2) after 5 years in office, she is just starting to plan, we are still in the planning stage; 3) she is in denial about the true state of the nation; 4) she is still in dream state.
In her first SONA, she first articulated her plans through her ‘bangkang papel’ dramatics. Trabaho, edukasyon, sariling tahanan, pagkain. Succeeding SONAs should have mentioned where we have gone from those plans. Had she done that, she would have reported that unemployment is down because she redefined unemployment. More are being educated because she packed each classroom with more than 100 students per day. Hunger/poverty is easing because her statisticians say the basic caloric requirement is available via an unpalatable but cheap diet. More houses are being built not by her but by NGOs.
She cannot ascribe any positive development to her governance without getting criticism from all sectors. And next year is an election year, so even this early she goes on campaign mode, promising infrastructures. Talk is cheap and she can dream, can’t she?
Monday, January 23, 2006
Hail PacMan!!
Manny's convincing win will be discussed for several days to come. The euphoria will rise again when he comes home to a hero's welcome. His feat once more proves that positive things can still come from this country. Unfortunately, the long wait for the fight to start made some of us turn to our favorite past-time - rumor mongering. I received several text and phone messages saying either Pacquiao won in 3, lost in 6, KOd Erik in 9, etc. All were untrue, of course, as the fight was yet to start. This rumor mongering even reached a message board dedicated to boxing discussions. It was embarassing and annoying to know that fellow Pinoys flooded the message board with nonsensical comments, and in Tagalog at that, when all members should just be waiting for the round-by-round updates. Ang Pinoy talaga!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
Not a fan but glad they won
I am not a Ginebra fan, but I am happy the Gins and not the Thunders won last night. Yeng is a bad coach (Chua comes a close second). He has all the material and he wastes it. What makes him (and Alfrancis) even worse is that he doesn’t realize his shortcomings and instead blames the referees. Yeng says they’re a come-from-behind team. With the talents he has, they should not be left behind. Even without Miller, they’re the best team, with much to spare in every position.
Red Bull wins big games not because of their talent but because of the failings of their opponents. Art Long’s recent mysterious drop in game form easily comes to mind. Asi also had a dip in game when they met once. The Thunders should start asking what happened to Harp’s game. But they don’t ask, as in Miller’s case. They let go.
Red Bull wins big games not because of their talent but because of the failings of their opponents. Art Long’s recent mysterious drop in game form easily comes to mind. Asi also had a dip in game when they met once. The Thunders should start asking what happened to Harp’s game. But they don’t ask, as in Miller’s case. They let go.
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