Tim Lincecum and more on RA 9064

Master Blaster
Neil Bravo


Tim Lincecum, the long-haired starting pitcher of the newly-crowned World Series champs San Francisco Giants, is half-Filipino.

Tim started for the Giants in Game 1 facing the highly-rated Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers. Lee was battered with eight hits and Lincecum held his own against the Rangers to snatch the Game 1 win against Lee. That giant win in Game 1 propped the baseball club from the Bay Area to eventually win the series 4-1.

It took another outstanding job at the mound by Tim in Game 5, repeating over the hard-luck Lee, to make it two straight against one of the most feared pitchers in the majors.

Incidentally, Tim is the second highest-earning athlete with Filipino roots next only to seven-time world champ Manny Pacquiao according to Forbes magazine. Tim’s mother Rebecca Asis is a full-blooded Pinay. Incidentally too, another Fil-Am athlete Ana Julaton, is a dyed-in-the-wool Giants fan. She once delivered the opening pitch in one of the Giants’ games this season wearing a Giants jersey with her moniker “Hurricane” at the back.

Tim Lincecum turned pro in 2007 and with his impressive World Series performance, his market value is expected to be raised antes higher when the next season begins. Meantime, Cliff Lee could be packing his bags and head to the bullpen of the New York Yankees next year.

Now back to the subject matter in our previous column—Republic Act 9064 or the sports benefits and incentives act of 2001.

I have pointed out earlier that RA 9064 should be replicated in the local government levels to apply to local athletes, coaches and trainers.

But unlike RA 9064, a local legislation should be responsive to the state of sports in the local level. Let me extensively discuss this in the light of the many unsettled arguments and conflicts besetting local sports.

RA 9064 is crafted within the purview of the Olympic movement. The structural framework which was made as a basis for the statute is the Olympic structure of competitions from the quadrennial world championships, the quadrennial summer Olympic games, the quadrennial Asian Games, and the biennial Southeast Asian Games. These competitions flow under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) framework which has for its participants all accredited national sports associations (NSAs) under the umbrella of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Simply put, the law applies to competitions within the family of the national sports associations recognized by the POC and the IOC. And when you speak of the Olympic structure, the family is very exclusive. Strictly exclusive. It does not allow for a stranger. No gatecrashers allowed.

A legitimate conflict arises because not all sports competitions are conducted under the Olympic family. There are other sports competitions conducted by sports federations outside that family. These organizations also conduct their own national and international competitions.

To paraphrase things, the conflict in sports can be compared to classic conflicts in religion. One religion says it is exclusive, another says they deserve equal treatment. It is not a simple conflict, I must say. It is a complex one which has to be addressed properly by appropriate legislation.

The problem becomes even more complex when you do not define the territories accordingly. Let me cite the Davao City Sports Council, the supposed umbrella organization of NSAs in the city. Having existed under the NSA concept, it follows that it exists under the Olympic structure. Problem with the DCSC is that it reportedly recognized representations from non-NSA recognized associations. It likewise did not recognize the representation of those who should legitimately represent their respective NSAs. Meaning, there are de facto representatives within the Council.

There is also the conflict of the non-NSAs under the Olympic family to demand for recognition and support from the Council and the local government.

For argumentative purposes, we will not lay judgment on the legitimacy of representation and who really deserves government support and recognition. It is simple, if the law says the criteria is the Olympic structure, apply the law. But if the criteria itself is convoluted, the recognized body loses moral ground to impose the law.

Under the recognized doctrine of equal protection, non-DCSC members or non-NSAs who exists to carry out the same noble intention of promoting sports in this territory can also demand for support from government.

Therefore, we come down to this. Unless you see this vacuum, you will never end the conflicts in local sports. This is where appropriate local legislation is needed to put order to the state of sports. Those demanding for support and recognition cannot make a different interpretation of laws designed under the Olympic framework nor expand its application.

One just cannot demand if the law says it applies only to a particular class of achievers.

Even if you are Tim Lincecum or Manny Pacquiao.