Monday, November 18, 2013

Hendricks tapped!

Gif from MMAJunkie.com
Imho, the great Georges St-Pierre escaped with a lucky decision in his bout with Johnny Hendricks. The very close split decision, however, is not a blatant robbery. Hendricks could have won if luck smiled his way instead of GSP. Remember, Jon Jones escaped with a similar controversial victory over Gustafson.

If Dana White can live with the Jones win, he should live with this one too. After all, imagine the revenues from the rematch.

Fight fans like me appreciate the candidness and humility displayed by GSP after the fight while many are turned off by the bragadoccio from Hendricks. Contrast this to the grace shown by Gustafsson after his loss. I hope someone can ask Hendricks about the seeming tapout gesture he made early in the fight when GSP almost got him in a guillotine choke.

There is an ongoing survey on whether it was a tap or not. As of this writing, more than 2/3 believe that it was a tap. I think so too.

When GSP hinted in the post-fight interview that he may retire, saying that a lot is going on in his mind, I thought he will out himself. He is single, no children, no steady girlfriend.

Now that would be the biggest controversy of all.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Moronic decision to sack Soria

elmer soria
PNP Reg8 Chief Elmer Soria during
happier times. Photo from
leytesamardaily.net
Why did they sack and admonish PNP Region 8 Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria for estimating 10,000 dead from typhoon Yolanda?

The government targeted zero casualty from Yolanda, but it's almost impossible to prepare for the strongest typhoon ever to make landfall. This government must have been patting itself on the back in the early news of just a few casualties, not realizing that knocked down power and communication lines prevent full reports. Perhaps they did not see  Atom Araullo's brave report from Tacloban. One would guess many will not survive that onslaught.

But why sack Soria for his 10,000 estimate? Was he off the 'daang matuwid'?  Did he misdeclare his SALN? Did he fall short of customs collection? Was he corrupt? Did he cheat? A human rights abuser?

His only mistake was an estimate that is deemed over the top by Malacanan. At worst his, estimate jolted the world into action to help us

Definitely, the current (and rising) count is much more than Pnoy's guess. But will we, his bosses, sack him? No, he is still our president.

The decision to sack Soria is moronic. Palace spin doctors say that Soria was relieved because he suffered too much stress. And sacking him would destress him?

As of now the death toll is over 4,000 with over 1,200 still missing. The final count could very well double Pnoy's projection and even approximate Soria's estimate.

I hope they reinstate Soria immediately. When the number of casualties reach his estimate, they even ought to promote him. And say 'Sorry, ha?'