XLIV

After 18 bruising games, all that’s left is the New Orlean Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. While the Colts is the cerebral pick to win, I like the chances of the Saints. Five years ago, the Saints had a QB that two teams rejected ad no dome to call home after Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans. But the nice thing about the NFL is the word “parity”, and this gives teams a chance who are mired in the cellar one year and at the pinnacle of success the next year. That’s unheard of in the NBA, mind you! Go, Saints, Go!

It wasn’t fun following the NFL this season, especially after ESPN and BALLS channels scrapped the games. If only I could get a source for the NFL, I’d gladly pay for it. The other channel on my wish list is EUROSPORTS. But with SKY monopolizing the cable business in the city, it’s wishful thinking.

Come to think of it, we subscribers pay more for SKY compared to cable subscriptions in Tagbilaran and Tacloban yet cable TV in those cities have more variety in their programs.

Kurt Warner

Kurt Warner, one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation, announced his retirement last week. After John Elway retired, I followed closely the career of Warner. He wasn’t a college stud, and was cut by his first NFL team. He played in Europe and in the Arena League (like Futsal is to soccer) and worked bagging groceries before being signed in 1999 by the ST. LOUIS RAMS as a backup. When the QB got injured, Warner got his chance and led the Rams (the Clippers of the NFL) to its first and only Super Bowl win. His passing accuracy was among the best and his Rams team was called as the “Greatest Show on Turf”. He would lead the Rams again to its consecutive Super Bowl appearance but would lose to the New England Patriots.

After his abilities seemed to decline, he was benched and traded to the moribund NY GIANTS to baby-sit superstar in waiting Eli Manning. He was then traded to the Cardinals, another moribund team, as their 3rd string QB but then again got his chance when its QB got injured. Amazingly, he again led the team to its first Super Bowl appearance last year and came within 2 minutes of upsetting the Pittsburg Steelers.

What I like about Warner is his humility, his strong religious belief, his family values and his rock solid belief that not only will he get his chance but to make most of that chance. He stuck out like a sore thumb in the “look-at-me” world of the NFL and American sports.

Warner walked away with his faculties and his body intact, and more tellingly, walked away with a year remaining in his 2-year, $24-million contract. I’ll miss him.

IGI

Congratulations to Igi Maximo for winning the junior criterium in the Philippine Premier Cycling League last week! But before we all anoint him as the next great, please consider that the 14yo kid is also into other sports, which is a wise choice. More importantly, as his father, Jonathan, told me, his studies come first before sports.

But in the bigger scheme of things, I would say that it would be difficult for any athlete (except for basketball, whom we have a fatal attraction) to improve his craft in the country if there are no events to go to. However, Igi and his Dad bring a breath of fresh air in the small but very active cycling community.

Finally, February is DENTAL HEALTH MONTH. I’d like to commend the good job of CEBU DENTAL SOCIETY President Dr. Rodivick Olofernes -Docor and her staff……My warmest regards to my classmate, Dr. Felma Velos!