Belief vs. Doubt

MASTER BLASTER, Mindanao Daily Mirror May 31, 2011

It’s going to be a rematch of the 2006 championship when best of the West Dallas Mavericks face off with the beast of the East Miami Heat in this year’s NBA Finals.

I won’t be as excited as some hoop fans are, however.

Reason? Neither team is my favourite.

If there is anything tugging within me, it is the fact that a half-Filipino gets a chance to win an NBA title as a coach and that is Miami’s man on the bench Eric Spoelstra. Spo will naturally have the Filipino fans praying he wins an NBA title.

This time, I’m a kibitzer and will be objectively weighing the chances of both teams.

Miami is the overwhelming favourite to win this year from the day they signed their Big Three. I have said in the NBA Trash Talk facebook page that it will be a disaster for Miami not to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. An even worse disaster if it loses to the Bulls. But that is history now as the Heat have disposed off the Bulls in five.

There is overwhelming belief that Miami will win its second title this year with the Big Three. This belief was strengthened after the Heat sent the Celtics to an early vacation and then slaughtered the Bulls with a four-game sweep after losing Game 1 in the Eastern Finals.

There is reason to believe the Heat should win the title. Lebron James, D Wade and C Bosh combined is the basketball equivalent of a trinitrotoluene bomb. That’s a three-headed monster. And then there’s the support crew, the white hot crowd and the inspiration of a master in at Pat Riley.

Is there reason to doubt Miami could win it?

This is the issue of this year’s Finals. Belief vs. Doubt.

Miami will have to prove this overriding belief while Dallas will have to convince everyone to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Let’s take a look back at what happened in 2006.

Five years ago, Dirk Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks won the first two games at home, 90-80 and 99-86. Jason Terry and Dirk, the remaining two remnants of that squad, led the Mavs in both games. Jason pumped in 32 in Game 1 and Dirk scattered 26 in Game 2.

When the series shifted to South Beach, the Heat escaped with a 98-96 win in Game 3 with D Wade pouring in 42 as the Heat came back to life after being down 13 points in the 4^th with a huge rally sparked by the now retired Gary Payton. They followed it up with a 98-76 thumping in Game 4 to tie the series as Wade punctured the hoop with 36 and Miami limited Dallas to just 7 in the 4th.

Game 5 is one hell of a game Dallas would rather forget. With 9.1 ticks in OT and Dallas ahead 100-99, the Heat went to D Wade and the Mavs committed a ridiculous foul on him with 1.9 seconds left. Wade hit the first and as if ridiculous things would not end there, Josh Howard called for Dallas’ last timeout. This means that if D Wade connects on his second freebie, they could no longer call timeout and inbound from the sidelines. Wade connected on his second to shove Miami ahead 101-100 and there was no time for Dallas to put up a decent shot. Dirk kicked the ball to the stands after the game ad was fined.

Game 6 back to Texas. Jason Terry had the chance to send the game to OT but he missed a three as Miami wrapped up the series 95-92.

This year, only two Mavs from the 2006 roster will be back and that is Terry and Dirk. Miami will have D Wade and Udonis Haslem. The men at the bench will also be different. Gone are Pat Riley and Avery Johnson for Spo and Rick Carlisle.

The series will also necessarily involve some personalities outside the floor particularly Dallas owner Mark Cuban. In 2006, Cuban criticized the officiating for giving D Wade what he calls as “phantom fouls.” Lakers coach Phil Jackson would later blame it as the referees’ retaliation on the brash Cuban who is very vocal of his dissatisfaction over the league’s officiating.

Dirk Nowitzki will be the strongest proposition of any reasonable doubt Dallas will beat Miami. The 7-foot giant of a shooting guard is the hardest to defend in the NBA today. This is no exaggeration but the Heat should prepare to defend against Dirk like Navy Seals. Dirk should be defended on ground and air.

The doubt will also have strong propositions from Dallas’ snipers like Shawn Marion, Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic. And then you will have to stop two of the brainiest quarterbacks in Jason Kidd and Juan Barea.

Bottomline is that it is going to be a good series. Better than the 2007 Finals when Lebron made his first trip to the big stage against San Antonio that ended in shattered dreams for the wonder kid from Akron. This is Lebron’s first real chance to win a title and for Dirk, his last real chance.

Belief vs. Doubt. That is how this series will go.

If you believe in prophecy, bet on Miami, but in case of doubt, bet on Dallas.

SMI’s masterpiece

Master Blaster, Mindanao Daily Mirror May 22, 2011

Growing up as a kid from the once sleeping town of Mati, I took my pencil and paper on several afternoons at the old wharf waiting to catch a glorious sunset. There were no DSLR cameras yet to capture the natural beauty of a setting sun. I had no formal art training either. No money to buy a canvas and paint. I only had my eyes and my hands for my simple work that would later become a masterpiece for my two adoring fans—my parents.

My works would end up pasted on our wall until the next artwork would dislodge the old one.

I had great times as a self-made artist. Later I would have some informal training with a town moviehouse artist and I would have my share of the movie billboards in exchange for a free movie pass on weekends.

Growing up, we are inspired by the beauty around us and would only hope our creativity would match the wonders of creation.

Last month, 24 kids from Malungon in Sarangani, Tampakan in South Cotabato and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, and Malalag and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur got the dreams of their young lives as artists.

Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), the Philippine Government’s contractor of the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project, held an art workshop for selected high school students last month at the Sarangani Highlands Resort.

Jamel Obniana from the University of the Philippine Diliman College of Fine Arts was commissioned by SMI to be the workshop facilitator to help the young artists build their confidence and polish their painting skills.

The 24 students aged 14-18 participated in the workshop which was themed “Highlighting the identity of Southern Mindanao together with SMI.” These artists emerged from a qualifying competition held earlier to pick the crème of the crop.

John Arnaldo, SMI Communications Manager said the Department of Tourism chaperoned participants to the workshop venue where they were taught how to paint and express their ideas through art.

It couldn’t get any better than this. The kids were given by SMI all the materials needed for the workshop. Makes me regret why I was born too soon.

Things like this one really inspire us. We don’t get a chance like this everyday and when we do, trhe opportunity is just too good to pass up.

Twelve finalists will be picked from the output of the workshop which will be displayed in an art exhibit on May 27 and the best three works will be declared winners and will be sent to compete in the first ever Southern Mindanao Regional Arts Competition which SMI is again sponsoring.

Sweet.

You get to have your work in the gallery. Get a chance to be the best work out of this program. Compete in a bigger stage. And who knows what’s next? These are what every artist dreams of.

These are among the many outreach programs SMI is implementing as part of its social commitment in the development areas. I once chatted with Andy Orobia of SMI Communications and he shared a number of CSR programs SMI is doing, something we do not normally hear in mining exploration projects.

As a child growing up, I love the sunset bidding goodbye to a lovely day. But I am always just as thrilled to wait for the sunrise in the morning as I wake up to join my father to the old tennis club for an early morning game.

To this day, I still look forward to painting a wonderful sunrise. I may just have to capture it someday. But for these young kids touched by SMI, all of the next day’s sunrise is brighter.

Brokenshire has new program for coaches

Master Blaster May 21, 2011

Things are looking up for coaches, sports administrators and former athletes looking for a permanent career. Brokenshire College is coming up with Bachelor of Physical Education major in Sports and Wellness Program.

I had the chance to talk to its proponent Dr. Arlene de Vera, who heads the BPE, and she is quite excited of the program. The course is now being offered at Brokenshire College.

The BPE course is ideal for school-based coaches and sports administrators because it is designed to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the many disciplines of sports management.

Three major reasons why we need to professional preparation in sports management:

First, to meet a real, recognizable need for professionally trained administrators in the broad area of sports.

Second, this is a natural outgrowth of the study of sports, combined with the view that Physical Education is a broad-based academic discipline.

And third, fewer students seeking to become Physical Education teachers, an overabundance of would-be Physical Education teachers already seeking jobs, the reduction in requirements for daily Physical Education in many school systems.

Doc Arlene hopes some of the LGUs and schools extend some sort of scholarship grants to their coaches for them to avail of this degree. This is a step towards professionalizing the ranks of sports managers and coaches.

The beauty of it all is that it does not cost a million pesos to earn the BPE degree. Tuition is very much affordable and the investment is worth every peso you pay.

The BPE program of Brokenshire comes in very timely as I ran across an article in another paper about a congressman from another Mindanao city asking for a 1-Million peso consultant’s fee for Davao City to host the Palarong Pambansa.

That’s plain BS.

I don’t think that would work. Davao has a lot of bright people to do that without the need of a consultant from elsewhere. In fact, there are supposedly some of them at the City Hall right now in the comfort of their air-conditioned rooms and swivel chairs.

So when I read about the offer of former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos offering his services for a fee of 1 million pesos, I naturally grimaced from my seat.

Why the heck do we need help for? Don’t we have the people to do that? Thanks, but no thanks.

But wait.

On second thoughts, I think the Congressman Jalosjos offer is not at all a big joke. It’s not ridiculous afterall.

It should be food for thought for the bright guys at the City Hall’s sports office. I remember some people harping at all the possible things that would happen to Davao sports once they are in the position. Sports complex, grassroots sports, sports tourism. Name it, they brag it.

Question is: where are those?

In the drawing board or in your dreams?

In fairness, I know a few good people who silently do about their work at the City Hall. They don’t play basketball against fellow executives, and they attend meetings and consultations. I do not know with some newbies out there who still need Sports Management 101.

Where are the programs?

I think some guys need the help of Congressman Jalosjos afterall. But not at the expense of the city.

Notes: A lot of great things are happening at Bluejaz Resort and Waterpark. On Saturday, there will be a kayak competition, DABTOA Officers Induction and a party at night...Resort owner Jazmin Middleton hosted a welcome party last Saturday. Expect another blast of a night this weekend...Resort Manager Ian Pescadero is having his hands full preparing the venue for the 2011 Kicksand Beach Football-Mindanao leg at Bluejaz on June 11-12. Registration is now ongoing for the men’s and women’s divisions (Open), please contact Mr. Alex Adolfo at 09092876880.

Sugar-free

MASTER BLASTER May 11, 2011

Three months ago at about the same time Bob Arum announced that the next Manny Pacquiao challenger is Shayne Mosley, I had my sugar level checked.

Critical level. My doctor pressed the warning button. He told me not take sugar lightly. It’s a killer enemy. I nodded.

I took the warning all too seriously. I went on a sugar-free diet and practically avoided all the sweet things life could offer in the next three months.

Two days before Manny Pacquiao was to face Sugar Shayne Mosley, I had my sugar level checked again. Now, it was down three notches. That was a marked improvement. Three months of staying away as much as I can from anything sweet somehow paid off.

It ain’t easy getting rid of sugar especially when you’re used to it. But it was a decision I stood by in the same manner as I got rid of smoking. Sugar indeed is not an easy enemy. You know why? Because sugar or anything sweet is man’s best friend. You don’t want to hurt a friend. Much less get rid of a friend.

That is what exactly happened in the ring last Sunday in Las Vegas.

Manny went up against a man nicknamed Sugar. In boxing, not everyone gets to be nicknamed Sugar unless he is really good. Sugar Ray Robinson. Sugar Ray Leonard. And now Sugar Shayne Mosley. Even the expert of the sweet science of boxing goes by the name Bert Sugar and I assume that is either coincidence or that is his nom de guere.

My scientific mind tells me that in life and in boxing, sugar is not an easy enemy because it is sweet. Ever heard of the saying “the best things in life are free”? That has been challenged by the saying “the best things in life are sweet.”

Nothing in this is life is free. Mommy D would no longer settle for a paper bag these days. She already has a collection of Lowis Biton bags and now she is salivating on a Hermes. To her, that’s sweet. Life changes for everyone. Can’t blame her.

All of these my scientific mind tells me last Sunday that Sugar Shayne would not be an easy commodity for the Pacman. Indeed, he was not.

I had already an inkling something is not going to give on fight night. During the build up to the fight until the pre-fight press conference ad weigh-in, there were no sparks from both camps. There was just too much sweetness. Sugar Shayne had to turn Manny to his side for more photo ops. They looked more like sweethearts than combatants.

When they finally met in the ring, I expected some fireworks from both fighters. I thought they will unleash their angst finally when they face each other in the ring. I thought Shayne’s sweetness will translate into more energy. I was wrong.

Sorry, but this is not the best of Pacquiao fights I have seen. Collectively, Manny and Mosley were too sweet for comfort. Too much caution for a combat. Shayne was obviously scared from the very start. Manny was too shy to hurt Shayne. I thought the knockdown in the third would prod Manny to go for the kill after that. But he slowed down his attack. He was too cautious I thought too much of scientific boxing has made him lose his sting lately. He wasn’t as mobile as he could get. Not as feisty and ferocious until he was counted on a freak knockdown in the 10^th.

My scientific mind is telling me, Manny could have fought more ferociously had he been sugar-free. By sugar-free I mean Manny should not have been too sweet to Sugar Shayne who I thought can be knocked down despite his immaculate record. He showed his angst after the freak knockdown—which tells me that he was overly cautious and is capable of letting it all loose. Shayne could go down had Manny got enough rounds left.

For ten rounds, Manny chose to fight as a segurista.

He did not force the issue of getting Mosley decked for the first time in his career even when his scientific mind tells him he can.

Nothing bad with that. In his scientific mind, Manny would also tell us boxing is not about killing your enemy.

Like a chocolate sculpture you would not want deformed, boxing can be sweetly deceiving. Just like your sugar level. After all, my scientific mind tells me the sweet things in life are risky.

Notes: Thanks to NCCC Mall, NCCC Department Store and Head and Shoulders for the live viewing of the Pacquiao-Mosley fight...Watch out for Kicksand Beach Football Series Davao Leg on June 11-12 at the Bluejaz Resort and Waterpark organized by the Beach Football Association of the Philippines and F1 Event Solutions, Inc.