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Philippines, 24 Nov 2024 |
Home >> News >> Columns >> Mortz Marcelo Ortigoza |  |
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Sports R.P. Can Globally Pole-Vault PhilBoxing.com Sun, 25 Jun 2006 Like boxing, soccer is another sport where the Philippines can go to places. Unlike in basketball, where height plays a major advantage, soccer is ceteris paribus (all other things being equal). It's like the Republican-Democratic ideal of "all men are created equal" (unless one goes for a peek at the men’s urinal). The same with boxing -- except with the weight -- height is also not a factor. Before he is allowed to fight Manny Pacquiao at super featherweight -- Osca Larios will see to it that he tips the scale at between 126-130 pounds, although he is two inches taller than our Pacman. As much as basketball players bring excitement to its followers, the chances of Pinoys to be world class in this sport is a dark as a the skin of Elizabeth Ramsey. That’s why when a Pinoy walk in some alleys in America, you can’t hear an American or a group of Americans reverently yell at him the name of a famous Filipino basketball player. Instead, the dude can hear the chant of "Pacyeouw, Pacyeouw, Pacyeouw!" If you’re the recipient of this accolade, say thanks to the sender. However, if the tone of "Pacyeouw!" is the curse thing, then better run off to save your dear life! With the World-Cup Fever being observed by millions of people from the 140 or so countries, familiar countries old and new names become again household names. Brazil for her Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Carlos, Kaka. England for her Cole, Rooney, Beckham. Germany for her Klose, Ballack, France for her Zedane, and South Korea for her Park. Speaking of South Korea. Despite her miniscule players, still she commands respect among the game's afficionados. It wowed the world when it entered the semi-finals of the 2001 World Cup held in Seoul in South Korea. Last week it awed the world again when it tied at 1-1 powerhouse France, overall champion of the 1998 World Cup. Many now consider the Koreans (like Japan) as a force to reckon with in the future World Cups. So what’s wrong with the Philippines? As people around the world stayed awake at the wee hours to watch live on TV countries eliminate each other to clinch the most aspired gold trophy, Pinoys here are all agog about what’s the latest on the National Basketball Association in the United States. Are Filipinos peculiar being? Or is our government remiss on inculcating and promoting to us sports like boxing and soccer? Probably. yes. One example is my City of Dagupan. In the mid 1990’s, I used to play football with foreign students like the Iranians, Saudis, Palestinians, Sudanese, and South Koreans at the back of a public elementary school. And mind you, I was one of the few Filipino skippers since every compatriot would rather simulate their PBA idols at every available basketball court any any sari-sari store's backyard can offer. But when the Palarong Pambansa (National Game) was hosted by Pangasinan, the local government did not include soccer as one of the games. This oversight was deplorable. Another missed chance for the locals to learn from the expertise of those foreigners. To that world class swimming pool? Oh man, its another white elephant. That was not able to produce even half of the moulds of an Eric Buhain or Akiko Thomson from the prospects in my city. Is our government remiss also with the promotion of boxing? When I asked my kasimanwa Sammy (Pinoy Don King) Gello-Ani (a partner of Oscar dela Hoya in the Philippines, who was seated beside me in a shuttle bus bound for the 1st Boxing Convention’s Rumble at the Bay in the City of Manila last April) if he could promote boxing matches in Pangasinan (the biggest province in terms of population in the Philippines). He was skeptical about the monetary return a promoter will reap there. He said the enthusiasm of the people in my province is far different to the zeal of spectators from Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Davao City. So what’s wrong with Filipinos on the sport of boxing and on soccer? Unlike those South and Latin American and Eastern European States whose financial constraint are synonymous to ours, is the Philippines at fault for its failure to aggresively spearhead in changing the perception of our people to what kind of sports we can globally pole-vault? (Send comments at totomortz@yahoo.com) Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author. Click here for a complete listing of this author's articles from different news sources. |
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