The POC versus PSC and a Fallen Tiger

From the lofty perch as the number one ASEAN sporting nation in 2005, we are now struggling to keep the number six spot in the 25th edition of the Southeast Asian Games at Vientaine, Laos. As of this writing, we have a 60-medal tally (18 golds, 19 silvers, 23 bronzes). The bulk of the medals come from swimming, taekwondo, athletics, billiards, golf, karatedo, muay and tennis. We are behind Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Our joining the biennial event has been without the usual hype that even TV coverages of the games have been non-existent. Maybe some of us have seen some footages but I still have to catch even snippets or highlights of the games.

In fairness to our athletes, considering the inconsistencies of the powers that be, they have shown their worth and have gallantly done battle for flag and country. Surely, we will be adding more medals to the present tally, thanks to their discipline and perseverance.

The sad fact about our participation is that two “supposed” sports governing bodies, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission have different agendas, and are at each others throats. They can impale their butts with those javelins or whack their heads with baseball bats for all I care, but please, please, please, be considerate of the athlete’s welfare, desire and will to compete.

Look what they’ve done with their stupid grandstanding and politicking. We are not represented in some of the events for the ridiculous reason that the government was still reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy and wants to save on expenses. Really? Why send a delegation in the first place? Is that why the Philippine delegation paraded in track suits on opening day?

Then there’s the POC cycling team and a PSC Cycling team. The supposed team has several medal contenders but here comes Union Cycliste Internationale, the world’s governing body for cycling, declaring that only one rider has a UCI license to compete. It gets crazier by the paragraph. The people heading these national agencies don’t deserve to be mentioned. POC? Let’s call them Pulos Oplok nag Cauban. And PSC can well be Pakauwaw Sa Catawhan.

***

Another one fell from his hallowed throne , this time it’s a Tiger. With his admission of infidelities, Tiger Woods’ sponsors are beginning to drop him. He should learn from the PacMan. Never admit guilt. Latest on the list is Accenture, a management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company that boasts of a $26 billion capital.

The company since 2001, also sponsors the lucrative Match Play Championships where the world’s top 64 golfers compete. It has recently renewed the deal until 2014. This is separate from Wood’s endorsement contracts.

We all knew what happened. That was the first time that Woods has driven less than 250 yards. Its not often that he starts out with a bad drive, hits a water hazard and ends up in the trees.

There was a rumor that Ping has offered Woods’ wife an endorsement deal pushing for her own set of drivers. They’ll be named Elin Woods - “the club you can beat Tiger with”. Apparently, the only person who can beat Tiger with a golf club is his wife.

And what is this I hear that a Hong Kong movie outfit is making a movie about the golfer’s crash. It’s called “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Hydrant.”

***

Congratulations to Aljew and Chiny Frasco who had their wedding last week at the historic Boljoon church. The southern town had a mini invasion from Liloan.

E-mail me at [email protected]