SACRAMENTO?It was 7:42 a.m., local time when I peeled myself from bed. Exhausted, I felt every day of my 39 years.
With the two-hour difference from Chicago?s Central Standard Time to California?s Pacific Standard Time, I quickly realized that I only had less than 60 minutes to meet my deadline.
Shock came. Panic followed. In the end, my column made the cut, but this Diary met its brief demise.
But it?s here, this Diary, resurrected in living glory.
I started the day having breakfast with Salven Lagumbay, easily the best boxing writer in the country, who spills his fabulous ink in the sports pages of CDN and the Inquirer.
Salven was modest with his intake, having just pancakes and a blood-red apple with his coffee. Meanwhile, I attacked the buffet with the blistering contempt of a hungry man. On my third serving, a Filipina server named Vicki threatend to call the police.
At around 10:14 a.m., after breakfast, I spoke on the phone with prominent Cebuano artist Boy Kiamco, a confessed Homer Sayson fan.
At 1 p.m., the World Cup?s final press conference was held at the Arco Arena, where I met Team Philippines. Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim was also there, and so were Michael Aldeguer, Sammy Gello-ani, Leon Panoncillo of the WBO and executives of Golden Boy Promotions.
We went back to our hotel at about 2:30 p.m., lingered in the lobby, before settling at an Italian Restaurant called Sofia, nearby.
Drinks flowed like a river. Heinkens, Coronas and Tecate beer were among the poisons of choice. I had rum and Coke, double the pleasure.
After my fifth or sixth shot, I?m not sure, I began longing for Jessica Biel.
We left Sofia just as darkness beckoned. We moved to a more adult setting. Sorry, I just can?t tell you where.
It wasn?t until after 12:05 a.m., when I finally went back to the hotel. I crashed into Salven?s room, whom he shares with artist and web whiz Dong Secuya, the Phlboxing.com kingpin.
Dong, Salven and I, swapped World Cup tales. We talked, fondly, deep into the night, Until 4 a.m., when the snorefest began.(Homer D. Sayson)
