Rewarding profession

The Cebu City Sports Institute, which was organized by the Cebu City Sports Commission, has already received some donations of shoes from a few private schools.

These donations will be given to the poor, but deserving athletes, who would still be able to put them to good use.

This idea of starting something like this started when there was an appeal for shoes by the players of Abellana National School. That appeal has been granted by well-meaning alumni and we thought that we could do something bigger in support of Cebu's athletes.

Aside from the shoes, the institute will also receive donations of used sports equipment, which could just be gathering dust in your closets.

It doesn't take much to share and what might not have any use to you can still be very useful for others.

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It was such a sad day yesterday as I witnessed a massacre and could not easily shake off the sight of my favorite baseball team being whacked in their home field.

The Texas Rangers dumped the New York Yankees, 8-0, to take a 2-1 lead in the American League Conference Series.

The six runs that the Yankees gave up at the top of the 9th was such an ugly sight, but maybe it did seem like a car wreck, it looked bad, but you can't help but watch.

I am still hoping to see the Yankees make it to the World Series. They just have to win three more games and not allow the Rangers to win two more.

With a payroll difference of $152 million, we might readily conclude that the Yankees would easily advance to the World Series, but this is what makes baseball very interesting.

Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid Yankee taking home $33 million for this year. The highest paid among the Rangers is Michael Young and he gets a mere $13 million.

Other Yankees are also getting mind-boggling salaries. Pitcher CC Sabathia, my son's favorite in the team, is the second highest paid at $24.285 million and he is followed by team captain Derek Jeter with $22.6 million.

First baseman Mark Teixeira gets $20.62 million while pitcher AJ Burnett earns $16.5 million and star closer Mariano Rivera, who usually works only in the 9th inning, gets $15 million.

Other Yankees getting seven-figure salaries are Lance Berkman ($14.5M). catcher Jorge Posada ($13.1M), Andy Pettitte ($11.75M), Javier Vasquez ($11.5M), and Kerry Wood ($10.5M).

Second baseman Robinson Cano, who has played a great season, is getting only $9 million while Nick Swisher earns $6.85M and Curtis Granderson $5.5M.

If you're thinking of a professional sports career for your child, these figures might make you buy him more baseball stuff.  

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to Aaron Astor, Cherry Pie Oronce-Yu and Rowena Buot-Alix, who all turned a year older last Monday. The same goes to Anne Paulin-Tabligan, who celebrated last Sunday.

Belated greetings also to my cousin barangay captrain Carl 'Caloy' Belarmino of Sambag 2, my wife's nephew Eric R. Ybarita, Dr. Reggie Uy, and my fellow UPians John Nepomuceno and Liz Rances, who turned a year older yesterday.

Today's greetings go to Leah Acantilado and Glenn Anthony Soco.

More power to all of you!