Get Your Big-Boy Pants On !

Another cat and mouse affair has transpired in the season of LA Lakers. Beside losing and coaching change, the controversial theme for this week falls on Pau Gasol.

Gasol struggled mightily for second straight game and was benched the final minutes of the game against Orlando, which they lost 113-103. Afterwards, Kobe Bryant calls out Gasol, adding fuel to the fire on what has been a beleaguered season for the Lakers.

Via CBS Sports:

"Pau has to make some adjustments, obviously, to his game. He might not be posting up as much as he likes, but he just has to adjust. 

"The reality is, I've adjusted. I've never run this many screen-and-rolls in my entire life. But I've worked on it. I've worked on handling the ball; worked on coming off screens and making plays. I'm used to being in the post much, much more. You have to adjust; you have to master what it is we're trying to do here. Pau's talented enough and good enough to be able to do that." [...] 

"Put your big-boy pants on," Kobe said with a trace of disgust in his voice. "C'mon ... just adjust. You can't whine about it or complain about it. Heck, I'm 34 years old, and I'm running screen-and-rolls out there because Steve is out, and my ass is running up and down the court more than I ever have in my entire career. But you have to adjust to it."

Put your big-boy pants on” Another ranting from the franchise player. A combative call-out directly intended for Gasol to wake up a sleeping giant.

It’s evident that Gasol have struggled adjusting to D’Antoni’s system. His run-and-gun, up-tempo offense doesn’t suit the style the Lakers are currently running. Gasol is a smart player. He plays finesse basketball and has been proven efficient on his post moves. With the run and gun style of D’Antoni plus limited post touches in the post simply puts a dent on the struggling season of Gasol.

Kobe delivered this message for one reason: Play basketball. Adjust what is given to. Gasol is way too good of a basketball player not to adjust. He thrived in Memphis. He even excelled under Phil Jackson and there’s no reason why he can’t adjust to D’Antoni. Despite the age and health, Gasol remains one of the best power forwards ever played the game and there are optimisms among fans that he will revive to his old dominant self.

Lakers always find a way to lose. From shooting horrendous from the foul line (thanks Dwight), to allowing opponents to score 40 points in the fourth quarter and to benching one of their key cogs, Lakers should stop finding excuses and work harder. Chemistry is the name of the game and clearly, they don’t have it.

For the Lakers to succeed, they should bend-over-backwards. Do whatever it takes to win, even sacrificing their game for the sake of the team. Come hell or high water, Lakers should stick together, find their flaws and stop calling out people.

Or better yet, start shooting better from the foul line. The mellow drama of Lakers just continues to roll.

Read More

New York Knicks: Dawn Of A New Era

The New York Knicks have been in the NBA industry for 6 decades. 60 years of hard playing basketball and with only 2 championship titles to show for. Yet, despite it’s futility, it’s hard to imagine how these fans were able to embrace the culture of this team.

History and highlights will never be short for this franchise. From Willis Reed’s gutsy limping appearance during the Game 7 of 1970 finals wherein he shouldn’t play due to severe thigh injury, to the Allan Houston miracle floater to lead the number 8 seeded Knicks eliminated the number 1 seed Miami Heat in 1999 playoffs and well to the frantic Reggie Miller’s 8 points in a span of 8.9 seconds to beat the Knicks in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Led by Patrick Ewing, the Knicks were winning back then. In 1985, He led a rebuilding franchise into one of the most feared teams to reckon with. During the 90’s, Ewing was considered as one of the best centers ever played the game and has led the Knicks into playoff contention every year. Sad case, Ewing wasn’t able to give Knicks the desired championship after playing 15 seasons. Despite the setback, Knicks remained as competitive as ever. 

But in 2003, the biggest culprit in franchise history has been born.

Dark age had come to New York.

It was a period of chaos and travesty. The Knicks have hired Isaiah Thomas as president of basketball operations. Thomas dealt for high-profile players in Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis which all went for naught. He signed fringe players such as Jerome James, Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries to a head turning, eyebrow raising and God-knows-why contract only to see these three players sat on the rotted bench. Who would also forget Thomas decision to draft Ronaldo Balkman ahead of Rajon Rondo?

  

Well, Thomas did help the Knicks something. They have the highest payroll in the league during the 2005-2006 season wherein they also have the second worst record in the league.

Sarcastic? So much for the saying, “With great power comes great responsibility”. Even Spiderman would be disgusted on the ghastly decisions of Thomas.

After 5 gruesome years of losing, Knicks management has seen enough. In 2008, Donnie Walsh was hired to replace Thomas. Walsh laid out a plan to revive a dying franchise. He without delay traded high-profile players for expiring contracts hoping to clear significant salary space. And yet he did. In 2010 and his biggest signing, Walsh signed Amare Stoudamire to a $100 Million for 5 years. In that same year, he traded for Chauncy Billups and Carmelo Anthony. That was the last move of Walsh before resigning.

From that point, the Knicks were a playoff-team again.

After 2 seasons of 1^st round playoff exit with only one win to show for, it’s back to the drawing board. Knicks just pushed the panic button. Despite the hype of Linsanity, they’ve decided not to resign Jeremy Lin. Instead, they signed a bunch of aging veterans in Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, Marcus Camby and Rasheed Wallace. Knicks are hoping these veterans could provide leadership and guidance to a fast-rising young team.

But the early stage of 2012 season’s saga started bleak with Stoudamire starting the season on the injured list.

The result? No problem. The Knicks are winning again. Thanks largely to the regular season MVP leader in Carmelo Anthony.

In a game perceived to be a team game, superstars nowadays are forming allegiance to win the elusive championship ring. Lakers have their avengers, Fantastic 4 invades Miami and Clippers suddenly became Gotham City with their batman and robin tandem. As for the Knicks, they have their Man of Steel.

Less is more. Having one potent offensive threat and a bunch of role players has finally solved the formula for a losing franchise. It’s a common misconception for managers to stack their rotation by having two or more potent offensive guys to improve the team yet it always turned out to be a bust.

Anthony has an uncanny way of leading this Knicks team. His game has finally matured. His mantra is to score yet try to look open teammates for better scoring opportunity and rarely forces bad shots. 14 games into the season, Anthony is averaging close to 27 points per game and shooting 46% from the field. In 3 seasons with the Knicks, this is his best year number-wise.

Chemistry. This is what Anthony’s game has been telling us. He doesn’t need Stoudamire in his Knicks team. Him being the focal point of the offense is enough, evident to what he had equally done in Denver. Despite Anthony and Stoudamire claims that they could co-exist with one another, they just can’t. In their case, 2 negatives can’t be a positive. Now that Stoudamire is injured, Anthony is delivering that statement in a bold way and that is leading Knicks to victories.

Anthony has relish in his bite-off-more-you-can-chew role in New York. In some way, he has a paradox way of playing basketball. Fans have labeled him as a selfish player, ball hog and a terrible teammate whenever they lose. However whenever they win, Anthony is a matinee idol for basketball, star player, great competitor and many more. One thing that drives Anthony this year is the fact his 3 buddies in his draft class and teammates in US Olympics team have won the elusive championship. Wade has won twice while Lebron and Bosh won theirs a year ago.

Starting the season 6-0 with victories over powerhouse teams in Miami and San Antonio, Anthony had given Knicks fan a sigh of relief. The Isaiah Thomas tenure is over. The rising impatience of Knicks fans has settled down and a once beleaguered franchise is on the rise once again. For every wins the Knicks mustered, it was a step further from repenting what Thomas caused them during his tenure. This was the reward that Walsh expected when he took the job and lastly, this is what Ewing envisioned after deciding to call it a career.

Quoting from an Alicia Keys song, “In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do. The lights will inspire you”. Yes, in New York, this is the place where Carmelo Anthony will place his legacy, which is why he wanted to be traded here in the first place.

This is the new era, the Carmelo Anthony era.

One fact is certain: Spike Lee will be on the courtside supporting his beloved Knicks.

Read More

PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ 4: The Primer

After 3 blockbuster fights, 36 rounds and 108 minutes of pound-for-pound boxing, the debate on who is the better fighter between Pacquiao and Marquez remains to be unseen.

Enter the fourth part of the Pacquiao-Marquez saga.

Manny Pacquiao will face Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, 2012(December 9, Manila Time) at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. The two fighters continue their colorful rivalry that has been considered as one of the longest and fiercest this decade.

All three previous fights have been intriguing and controversial. In their first fight dating back last May of 2004, the fight was ruled a draw despite the fact Pacquiao knocked down Marquez thrice in the first round and winning majority of the rounds. To add fuel to the fire, judge Burt Clemens later admitted that he scored the knockdown incorrectly and that Pacquiao should have won that fight.

4 years later, their second fight was more intriguing. Pacquiao won the fight via split decision. Pacquiao floored Marquez once on the third round and it was all it takes to give Pacman the win. Despite the fact that numbers favor Marquez when it comes to percentage of punches landed and thrown, analysts said that Pacquiao still won the fight. It was also this night that Pacquiao has shrugged off the idea of another Pacquiao-Marquez rematch.

Lastly, their third fight was the most intriguing. Pacquiao won via majority decision that led to negative reactions and speculations from boxing analysts all over the world. Even our own boxing experts, Ronnie Nathanielsz and Ed Tolentino shared the same opinions, as they thought Pacquiao should have lost the fight and that Marquez was robbed off of his victory.

Pacquiao will always be remembered as one of the best, if not the best pound-for-pound boxer of all time. He is currently a 7-time champion, was named fighter-of-the-decade and has been ranked as one of the greatest boxers ever existed along with the most arrogant, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao has the power, speed and stamina. He is also a smart boxer and chooses his punches carefully. Speed has been his greatest arsenal coupled with a terrific footwork and perfect timing for counterpunches that made him very dangerous. He is very patient on the offensive end and has a high tolerance of pain that also makes him hard to knock out. His left hook still remains to be his knockout punch and he still has enough power to put anyone to sleep at any given ring.

But the question remains: how long will Pacquiao be able to do it?

Pacquiao is now at the tail end of his career. He’s 34 years old and has repeatedly said that this will be his last 2 fights before he hangs his gloves and retire. We’ve seen his performance dipped. His power and speed might still be there but we all know there’s a decline in those two categories. He was not the same fighter that he once was, knocking down anybody on short notice (Hello, Ricky Hatton) and was always predicted to win the fight via knockout in 6 rounds or less. In his last 5 fights, he was not able to knock down his opponents. It’s either winning by unanimous or majority decision. His weakness has somewhat been exposed. Opponents play full defense on him, meaning backing up and refusing to engage with Pacquiao on a jab-for- jab, free-for-all boxing thus eliminating his chances of a knockdown just like what Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley and Timothy Bradley did.

Juan Manuel Marquez, meanwhile, was described as one of the best Mexican boxers of all time, joining him in the ranks of Marco Antonio Barrera, Julio Chavez, Erik Morales and the golden boy himself, Oscar Dela Hoya. Nicknamed as “Dinamita”, it’s safe to say that he is considered as one the best counter punchers of the game. His career started in the featherweight division and has been circling around super featherweight, welterweight and lightweight division. In 2009, he climbed to the welterweight division to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. He eventually lost that fight but came back strong by winning his next 3 fights against Juan Diaz, Michael Katsidis and Likar Ramos, 2 via knockout before losing to Pacquiao on their third bout last year.

Facing Pacquiao for the fourth time might just do the trick. It’s evident that Marquez is desperate to fight and beat Pacquiao. Who wouldn’t after coming up short thrice, and to make the matter even scintillating is that Pacquiao has yet to hit the floor in 36 rounds of their fights. The mere fact that Marquez is a counter puncher while Pacquiao is more of an attacker shows that these two fighters has contrasting styles which makes us wonder who has the bigger advantage. It’s like an X’s to the O’s, a superman to kryptonite and a fire to an ice combination. What Pacquiao loves to do, Marquez can neutralize it. This has been going on for the past 3 fights so it’s interesting on what these two fighters have in store for us.

We’ve witnessed their bouts and it’s pretty clear to say that when these two fighters first met, we had no idea that this fight could go this far. In 2004, we’ve seen two aggressive fighters going at each other, punching like their own careers are on the line in just one fight. 8 years later, here they are again but this time closing on a their respective chapters of their careers. In their fourth and possibly the last battle, let us just hope that this fight is as good as the first three. There were no guarantees given despite the fact that age has caught up with them. Pacquiao is 34 and Marquez is 39 and their aggressive trading punches might not be as good compared to their previous fights.

Given the odds, there’s a big chance that this fight would go the distance again. 12 rounds of rough house beating between these two famed fighters. It is also worth seeing how Pacquiao bounces back from a loss. This is the perfect time for Marquez to finally get the monkey off his back and get the first and probably the last win against Pacquiao. Lastly, this is the perfect scenario for Pacquiao to prove to everyone that he’s not done yet.

Regardless of what will happen in this fight, these two fighters have given us a wonderful show in their previous bouts and it’s just fitting that these two deserves to have a colorful ending. This is their legacy towards the finish line of their successful careers.

Come December 8, we’ll get another taste of what Pacquiao-Marquez hype is all about.

But as early as now, I can’t wait for Michael Buffer to say the words “Let’s get ready to rumble!” because I’m dead ready for this fight.

Read More

Like Mike: Lakers New Head Coach

After 5 games, Mike Brown was officially dismissed as the LA Lakers head coach. As we all know, the Lakers stocked up their lineup this year by acquiring 2 all stars in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, hoping to contend for another championship yet they started the season 1-4 prior to Brown’s firing.

Lakers fans expected Phil Jackson, the multi-titled mentor to return for another stint as a head coach for the most lovable franchise in the NBA. It was an expected move considering that Jackson was vacant and Kobe Bryant’s endorsement for Phil to return.

Awww… Too bad Laker fans.

Enter Mike D’Antoni.

Yes, it’s another Mike at the helm of the Lakers team.

One more Mike… this time Lakers fan are hoping for a different result.

Mike D’Antoni was hired by the Lakers as their head coach, reuniting him with his former MVP in Steve Nash. D’Antoni’s philosophy of basketball could be intriguing knowing his offense has been simple. Run, run and run. Could his offensive mindset replace the once famous triangle offense of Phil Jackson and the ridiculous “Princeton offense” of Mike Brown?

Another idea that made me wonder is how D’Antoni can handle his players? During his tenure in Phoenix, he had Stoudamire and Nash as his main players. In New York, he had Stoudamire again and Carmelo Anthony. This time around, can he handle not one, not two but four all stars in one team? To add to insult, the Lakers bench/supporting players are atrocious.

Kobe Bryant has been his old self, selfishly saying that Lakers is his team. Howard has been the same, the imposing big man under the block with a free throw accuracy more pathetic than Shaq.  Gasol remains the finesse big man and Nash, a two time MVP, has been passive and has been giving the rock to Bryant to make the selfish player happy.  This all could change once D’Antoni change the regimen of the team.

The prospect of Lakers scoring more than 100 points in a single game remains in doubt. Another fact that D’Antoni’s offensive game plan requires a solid outside shooter that he once have in Joe Johnson(Phoenix) and JR Smith(New York), something that Lakers doesn’t have. D’Antoni also loves to play small, which will be impossible in Lakers knowing they have Gasol and Howard.

For me, I’m ecstatic to see how D’Antoni changes the Lakers. Whether it’s better or worst, that remains to be seen. I can’t wait to see how D’Antoni handle the ego of Bryant and the rest of his teammates. How he can pursue Howard and Gasol to run on a fastbreak remains a clue. It’s also a challenge how he can ignite the play of their top reserves in Jordan Hill, Antawn Jamison and Steve Blake,

Laker fans,this is the calm after the storm. Your villain in Mike Brown has been fired and his Princeton offense has been dumped. In comes your hopeful savior, Mike D’Antoni with his up-tempo offense.

If D’Antoni didn’t work out, Lakers might need a Mike Reaport to coach them(kidding) since they are fond of Mike’s this year.

As what Jerry Buss and the rest of the Lakers fans want to see, let’s get the “SHOWTIME” going.

Read More

Fans Perspective: James Harden

The NBA season is just a week old, yet the drama and surprises are just beginning in a league that anything can happen.

The Lakers are surprisingly 0-3 despite having the strongest starting lineup of the league. Eric Gordon's lame knee injury that led to speculation that he didn't want to be part of my beloved New Orleans Hornets. Rajon Rondo clothes-lined Dwayne Wade in the waning seconds of their opening game. James Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets.

These were just some of the surprises NBA has to offer in their initial week of their season.

Sure, we've heard the news. James Harden rejected Oklahoma City Thunder's contract extension, forcing GM Sam Presti to trade Harden,Cole Aldrich,Lazar Hayward and Daequan Cook to Houston for rookie Jeremy Lamb,Kevin Martin, 2 first round picks and a second round pick. But what surprises me is how Harden played in his first 2 games as a Houston Rocket.

2 games, 2 victories. 80 to go for the season.

Harden is averaging an eye-popping 41 points 6.5 rebounds and 7 assists in his first 2 games. Unrealistic wise, these averages will surely drop. The law of average will caught up with him. But surprisingly, no one ever thought this guy was this good. Sure we can argue that the 2 teams he faced has no primary or lockdown defender(Detroit and Atlanta) but his numbers were way beyond expectations and too good for a NBA player.

$80 million dollars. This is the figure that caused Harden to spurn the Thunder for Rockets. Sam Presti never recognized the man's talent. A former sixth man of the year asking for a superstar salary figure? Not even close. That's why Presti traded this guy in fear he would get nothing in return during the offseason. He kept Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka(a walloping $48M in 4 years). He underestimated Harden when it comes to number figures so that caught up with him, knowing his organization is a small market one.

Harden has yet to face the elite players of the NBA in Wade, Rondo, Kobe, Eric Gordon(Nah.. I'm just kidding on the Gordon thing) and Paul, but one's things for sure. He is the real deal. The Houston Rockets future looked bleak with the contracts they used to signed Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik. Everyone thought that the Rockets will be bankrolled-stripped in the next 2 years but with the arrival of Harden, his contract and his play has given other free agents-to-be to consider Houston as their next destination.

Durant and Westbrook, fearing their worst nightmare

From the time Harden stayed with the Thunder, he learned a lot from coach Scott Brooks. 2 years with Thunder made him realize when to shoot, pass and even taking over a ballgame, which Kevin Durant usually does.

This time around, it's his turn to take over a ballgame. Thanks largely to Durant and his ball-hogging skills.

Fear the beard. This was once a slogan OKC fans used to label Harden. It was their battle cry during the regular season and the postseason. Well, too bad that the slogan once created by the Thunder, backfired upon them.

Yes, NBA and Oklahoma City Thunder. Fear the beard all right. A superstar is born. His name is James Harden. And to add to insult, this was once a sixth man of the year that was ignored behind Westbrook and Ibaka. 

Linsanity, your time was last year. This year around, it's Beard-Mania time!

Read More

A Date With Destiny:San Francisco Giants

Destiny.

A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control.

San Francisco Giants, your battle with destiny is now closing in. The battle, in which everyone deemed your team as “finished”, is now a win away from the coveted World Series. A Battle that not even a single living person could have ever predicted that it would go this far.

Not a single person, not even their own playoff heroes, Marco Scutaro and Ryan Vogelsong can explain their fantastic ride towards the postseason. Not even the injury of closer Brian Wilson and the suspension of Melky Cabrera could stop them.

2 blunders, 2 costly blunders on what was an easy play paved way for this team to reach this far. Down 0-2 on a best of 5 series in NLDS against Cincinnati, with the score tied at 1-1 at the top of the 10^th inning, Joaquin Arias grounded towards third basemen Scott Rolen. Rolen, an 8 time gold glove winner, failed to make the easy out enabling Giants to win the game. This led to Giants winning 3 straight, including 2 on the road to eventually win the series. Second, it was Game 5 of NLCS where in a close game turned out to be a blowout, thanks to an error by pitcher Lance Lynn in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Coincidentally, those two errors happened during the elimination game for the Giants.

Smell something? I do.

Destiny? Probably.

In a season where no one believed, this team managed and stays afloat. Who would have thought, that a team bannered by only 2 powerful bats in Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval could go all the way and winning 4 straight elimination games? Despite the fact that pitching is their strength which includes Cain,Vogelsong,Zito,Lincecum and Romo, this team just wouldn’t go down. Winning the last 4 elimination games just made me a believer of this team.

Scutaro is a journeyman who was eventually picked up in the trading deadline from the Rockies. It’s unbelievable to think the fact that trade bait became an instant playoff hero. Vogelsong, he’s a pitcher who failed to impress other teams during his first year in Pittsburgh, landed a place he can finally home. Thrust into the limelight in 2 NLCS games against playoff superstar/ace/hall of famer Chris Carpenter, including one elimination game, the underdog who has nothing to lose pitched a hell of a ballgame that includes his career high in strikeouts of 9 with a combination of slider,fastball and curveball that fooled St. Louis Cardinals hitters and eventually tied the series at 3-3 with the deciding Game 7 to be played tomorrow.

Regardless of what happens on Game 7 tomorrow, the Giants have made me believe that quitting is the last option. They made me realized how a bunch of underdogs such as Angel Pagan,Marco Scutaro,Brandon Crawford,Brandon Belt, Ryan Theriot and Sergio Romo can dream big and lay it all on the line against the defending world champions.

“Don’t stop believing”. This was one sign that a fan was carrying shown on National TV in ESPN. From what I saw for the past 3 weeks, I won’t.

As the slogan goes, “Go get them Giants!”

Game 7, let’s get it on!!

Read More

Smart Gilas 2.1 Needed Badly!

Smart Gilas 2.0 that needs to be re-tooled

"We have X-marks on our back as we enter the FIBA Asia Cup".

These were the words of Jinno Rufino on the segment of BTV's The Grind explaining the format of the given tournament. 

Come to think of it, what have the Smart Gilas Philippine team achieved to gain the sights and attention of other Asian teams?

Winning the William Jones Cup against the Americans?? Come on.. even for a amateur or not even a basketball player knows that is way too shallow.

Jones Cup plays a single round robin, with the team with the best team wins the championship. No playoffs. No do or die games, No nothing, No China. Iran played like it was tune up game for them. Lebanon also played like a warm up game. Yet, our Philippine team gave it all and won the championship thinking they bested the best teams in Asia.

Give me a break.

LA Tenorio suddenly came out as a hero, even obliging as the best point guard in the Philippines for his effort against Taiwan. Then came the FIBA cup and they even can't beat a China team that fielded it's B-team aging between 18-21 years old.

Yes, they blasted Uzbekistan and Macao but that was expected. Come quarters, they even had a hard time disposing a Taiwan team. And finally, the truth. Iran blasted our own team and they lost a third place game against Qatar that could have qualified us to the FIBA Asia Championships.

Santos and Cabagnot could have been better

Now, what the hell was Chot Reyes thinking fielding in Jay-R Reyes and Enrico Villanueva in the roster? Didn't he used his stupid brain thinking there are far better players in the PBA rather than these 2 clowns? They could have given JuneMar Fajardo a chance, or even Belga and Pingris could have played better. Who the hell is Ganuelas? Gary David played like shit the entire tournament that made me wonder whether David is just a pure PBA scorer who can't thrive under the international competitions?

We, as Filipinos must unite in meeting our goals. Like basketball, which we are hoping to gain some name in the Asian competition, still has to come through some adversity. Under the twitter account of Chot Reyes, SMC didn't allowed some players that he hoped to join the Philippine team. Players like Arwind Santos, James Yap, Alex Cabagnot, etc etc. This is the problem with us Filipinos. We tend to be pasikat and even politics comes to factor in forming of the National team. Why in the world would San Miguel would not allow their own players to play for the sake of our Philippine flag?

I'm not a professional basketball player but somehow I played the game so i have a small idea on how the sports work. Basketball is a team game. It takes 12 players on the roster working together to succeed. Now, if we would field in players who can't even thrive on our local scene, then why the hell did we included them in the roster? I'm talking about Sonny Thoss, whose role was to foul everyone in the tournament. Jay-R Reyes, who had just one productive college year before joining the pros and is more productive when he's sitting on the bench. Gabe Norwood, the Obama look alike who can't put the ball in the hoop and Enrico Villanueva, whose specialty is only street fight and not basketball.

See where I'm going. If Philippines want to gain exposure then they should have a better idea on how the game works and not politics. Chot Reyes originally fielded his entire Talk n Text player in De Ocampo, Alapag, Castro, Fonacier, Dillinger, Douthit and Ganuelas(all under TNT corp). There are a lot of players  outside Talk n Text who are capable of helping us and who are also willing to lend their helping hand for the sake our our country.

So, to Manny Pangilinan, stop your gayish ways of managing and forming the Philippine team. To Coach Chot Reyes whose son is a gay and a speculation that he's gay either, look for someone outside your stupid team to help our country win it all. You kept on saying "Laban Pilipinas" when the players in the roster are insufficiently capable of playing the sport.

And lastly, Jinno Rufino, the bald idiot of BTV, you can stop talking so that you would not look stupid in front of us.

This is ultraMike, signing off.

Read More

Krazy Garlik: Restaurant Review

So I watched Hunger Games. After the movie, it was my turn to look for my own food. As the movie slogan “May the odds be always in your favor.” Let me rephrase that, “May the FOODS be always in your favor”

Yes. I was hungry and I cooked up an appetite. I looked for restaurants around greenbelt.

I ended up in Krazy Garlic, located at Greenbelt 5 besides California Pizza Kitchen.

This is my third time to dine in this restaurant. I chose to sit on the smoking area because it’s cozier than the place itself. It has an overlooking of Greenbelt 3 and the fact of fresh air during the night lightens up the mood.

As expected, I ordered their best seller, Hara-Kiri Rice. It has an option to share or solo plate. As hungry as I am, I decided to go for the “to share” option. Priced at 365 pesos, I can pretty say the food is worth the price. Hara Kiri rice is their house specialty rice that includes shrimp,squid, bacon and a spicy flavor to the rice. The serving is good to 2 to 3 persons.. But if the person is as hungry like me, then the serving might be good for just one person. Kidding aside, their serving size and the plate appearance is well appreciated.

Second on the list, we had the white fish fillet with creamy seafood. I cannot determine which kind of fish that is used in this menu but it was cooked perfectly. The meat was pan-fried and delicately cooked and to top it with white sauce that includes shrimp and scallops made it more mouth watering to eat. Priced at 545 pesos. A little pricey but once you saw the food appearance and even tasting it, I wonder if you would even consider the price because I drooled upon seeing the food came out.

Lastly, as they say, you cannot have it all. We had what they called 40 Kloves Garlic Chicken. It was a marinated chicken, in their own original garlic sauce that is shimmered around their kloves. To be honest, it was a fried chicken with gravy sauce. Simple as that. To make the food worse, the chicken was not freshly cooked. It was just like reheated.

To conclude, the food was great. The ambiance was perfect and the service was not bad at all. A perfect place for dates, which I just did last night. To mention other foods that I would like to try last night was their Korean Beef Stew and their Japanese Matsuri, which is a Japanese mushroom topped in garlic sauce. Their fruit shakes and their cranberry juice deserved to be mentioned.

Certainly, this will not be the last time I would dine in this restaurant. Mr. Muncher will be back. And I'll bring my SLR camera for better image resolution :)

Read More

Another Challenge Completed: BDM 102K

For the past weeks, i still could not believe what i have accomplished. I could not even remember the hell that i went through just to finish the race. It was not nor never easy, yet i was lucky and blessed enough to finish one of the toughest races ever organized here in the Philippines.

It was a valuable and an unforgettable experience to be part of a race that is made to tribute the heroes of Bataan. A race that made us wonder and doubt ourselves whether the distance is really humanly capable or not. Imagine, running around midnight on a dark, scary and long highway of Bataan. Picture yourself running at that time of the night while being chased by stray dogs. And lastly, imagine running around towns and villages with drunk persons around, while you are huffing and puffing catching your breath just to run fast as you could in order to avoid them.

And just when you are delighted to see the sunshine in the morning, the heat comes back after you. Running around 9AM to 2PM? It's just one of the moments you kept talking to yourself ad saying "why are you doing this to yourself?".

Pretty much, it was a wild, couragous and a very tough experience that i gained in my never ending quest for chapters in my life.

This quest came with a steep price.

Imagine being betrayed by a friend.

Ouch.

Running a 102 kilometers starting from Mariveles, Bataan up to San Fernando, Pampanga is a very steep and tall task. It requires patience, determination and of course strong body to downplay any injuries or even emergencies such as death. It was this moment that i was encountered sleepless nights due to fear. It was this moment that I needed each and everyone's support. It was this defining moment that i desperately needed their confidence in me and their motivation to help me realize that a simple runner who once weighed 220lbs, a slowpoke and a runner who is running just to fulfill his grandmother's last wish, can pull of a feat such as this one. It was also this period that i hoped that my former closest teammates in my former running team would be the one to guide me or even cast a vote of confidence in me.

I was wrong.

I received doubts. I heard negative comments such as "di matatapos ni Mike yan" and the "hanggang 60K lang tirik na yan" up to the most sarcastic comment like "bilisan mo naman pupunta pa tayo ng Pampanga" on the day of their Run United Leg 1 run.

Again, ouch.

To make my feelings worse, my close friend,ally or even my close confidant to me tried to sabotage the run by trying to pull out the two most important people in my crew, which are my PT(personal trainors or physical therapist).

Wow. I'm loss for words on this.

Yet, I pulled it off. Never had i imagined nor expected that this is the friend that I trusted since the day I joined their running team. I expected more from her, yet in return, i was shoved down in a deep hole that i luckily survived.

Everything happens for a reason, as they say. And this run taught me to never trust anyone. I joined this run for the sake of experience and trying, not to brag about what I've achieved nor looked down on other people. Yet, this is what i get in return. This was my motivation of finishing the race despite the pain in my both knees and my body wearing down. I want to see the look on their faces when i hold the trophy and the medal up high while wearing my finisher shirt. This person pushed my will to the very limit that giving up of DNF(did not finish) was never an option.

"He/She envies others does not obtain peace of mind". Let this quote be a perfect example of these people who are envy of what I've accomplished. Again, i never brag about this accomplishment. If they're envy, then so be it and take a look at my pictures on the finish line and drool yourself with envy, knowing it will take years for them or maybe never to accomplish this feat of mine.

Bataan Death March has taught me a lot of lessons. From trusting anyone to determining who you're real friends are and up to understanding the true definition of the word TEAM. All the pain, time and the journey was worth it.. because i got the chance of knowing one's person real attitude nor intentions towards you.

I have kept my silence for a long time. Now, this is the time and the only time that I'll speak up.

To my fellow batchmate, I'll see you next year in BDM 160Kilometers.. I'll see you at the sidelines for as of this day, I'll officially retire from running. I run for fun and make friends, but if running will only be the source of having people envy me or having enemies, then not running is more worth it.

Ka-Chow! This is UltraMike, signing off :)

Read More

Linsanity: Jeremy Lin Taking Over Knicks

"Linsanity"

Try searching this word in the dictionary and you found nothing.

Better yet, try recalling this words 2 weeks ago if these words ever come to your mind.

Now, it's one of the hottest trending topics in Yahoo! and sports world.

Jeremy Lin, the newest superhero of NBA's most pathetic franchise, the New York Knicks, was suddenly was thrust into the limelight of the NBA. Of all the franchise he could end up, it was the most controversial Knicks that he finally find a name for himself.

Call him "The Savior" or Tim Tebow of the NBA. Nothing matters. What surprises each one of us is how in the hell this guy started the season in the D-League?

He started his rise to stardom against New Jersey, wherein he posted 25 points and 7 assists(both career high). The next night, he eclipsed his career high with 28 points and 8 assists again leading the Knicks to another victory. If only eclipsing career high was this easy in the NBA, then maybe i would even have a shot of playing in the NBA. Kidding aside, Lin was phenomenal in both games.

If those 2 games weren't enough, he faced John Wall 2 nights after and scored 23 points and 10 assists(another career high), including his first dunk of his NBA career. His cross-over one handed dunk against the defenders of Washington sets the tone.

It was the exclamation point of his stardom. It was one message he was delivering to each and every die-hard Knick fans:BELIEVE.

Fantasy owners were seen rapidly adding this kid to their fantasy teams.. well including me. Golden State must have been kicking themselves so hard as they could not imagine how their player, who was seen playing garbage minutes last year transform into a starting point guard flourishing the floor with his scoring and playmaking abilities. Maybe they are starting to doubt whether it was a wise decision to keep Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry when they can have Lin and his cheap contract.

Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire, who needs them?! Their selfish play of ball hogging and expensive contracts are just one of the reasons why New York simply became a pathetic team. Baron Davis, who is expected to practice with the Knicks soon, must retire in order to save face because he is about to be outclass, outwit and outplay by a guy who wasn't even included in this season's roster and hails in Asia.

New York Giants won the Super Bowl this year behind Eli Manning. The Yankees won the World Series last 2009. This year, could it be the Knicks?

With great power, comes great responsibility. Better yet, with great power, comes great Linsanity. Vinsanity(Vince Carter), move aside. Linsanity is in the house.

Read More