Rainy Tuesday

The so-called Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is messing up the weather and we're getting all the rain and the wind that could sometimes seem like they can blow us away with their fury.

Last Wednesday, I was at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club for something else and not to play golf and noticed that despite the drizzle the "real golfers" were there. Before I picked up the game 11 years ago, I'd have called them crazy, but now I know better. They're not crazy, but just hooked to the game.

It has been a long time since I frolicked in the rain. It could be my aging bones. When it starts to rain and I am unfortunately at the golf course or the soccerfield, I suddenly feel like my system goes into a hibernate mode and I lose the fun that I would have had if the weather were better.

I really admire those people who continue playing despite the rain. I admire more those who seem to even play better in wet conditions.

In weather like this, I'd like to just stay in bed, but since work beckons, a steaming hot cup of coffee always helps to make the day bright. Much more if you have that hot cup of coffee with friends who share the same passion for the brew.

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Oops, before you might get ideas that I am starting a column about coffee, let me make this official - I am not. It's just the weather and besides I am no expert about coffee maybe you can ask some of my friends in the business like Glen Anthony Soco, the president of the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA), who owns Coffee Dream.

Last weekend, the CEVA staged the Cluster 1 tournament of the 2nd Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup at the Naga Sports Complex.

I had my weekend planned, but had to change it when some pressing concerns had to be attended to.

Nona Catipay, the executive director of CEVA and the main cog in the GUV Cup was however there to give me updates about what was happening.

Several more cluster competitions will follow in the succeeding weeks and I hope to really get a chance to be there and enjoy the action.

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The rain kept me home the whole morning yesterday. While channel surfing, I came across and intense moment in the series One Tree Hill over ETC (Channel 40 of SkyCable TV).

What got me glued to the show, at least for several minutes before I flicked the remote to take me back to CNN was a scene where the school board met to discuss the fate of a coach.

One of the characters talked about the need to change their basketball coach because he was aging and they needed somebody to inject something new into the team so they can win a championship.

Whitey, that's the nickname of the coach, is an old guy and his team was headed towards being the champion of North Carolina. Some wanted him changed because he wasn't the one who they believed could take the team to the title.

A mother, who sat at the back of that meeting stood up and asked that she be allowed to speak.

What she said was something that sporting parents should always bear in mind. Although I could not quote her lines, it said something to this effect. She did not want her son to be part of the team because the game (basketball) had eaten up so many men and she would not want her boy to be the same. However, under Whitey, the boy learned more than just basketball and had also acquired valuable lessons.

She added that if they change the coach, in the end they might just end up with a bunch of very sad boys.

As a parent actively supporting my son in sports, I believe that there are lessons far more important than just winning that they can gain out of the experience of participating in sporting activities.

Well, it was worth the few minutes that I spent watching that episode. Maybe I'll try to watch again when I have the time.

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MILESTONE: Happy birthday to Sheelah Marie S. Malicse, who turns a year older today. More power, Marishiel!