Misses

This is my last column for the year and as we are about to welcome 2011, let us look back to the year that is about to pass, count our blessings, and learn from our mistakes.

We might not have attained all our goals, but this should not stop us from dreaming and continuing to aim high. 

One of the biggest disappointments this year was Tiger Woods failing to win a title as well as the break up of his marriage to Elin Nordegren.

The year of tiger wasn’t exactly a big one for Tiger, but his fans are hoping he’d make a big comeback in 2011. 

After coming so close, but not near enough to the finals of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, the Filipino football fans are hoping that 2011 will be a big one for the Azkals.

It was a surprise that we made it that far in the tournament and an even bigger surprise at how the nation has suddenly realized that football is a sport that also deserves support.

Locally, I was hoping to see more support for batted sports, but again it did not come. But I am hopeful for better a better year for batted sports (baseball and softball) in 2011.

After one pro-fessional event in Cebu, the Aboitiz Invitational, which was part of the Philippine Tour, the local golf community hopes that there would be more similar events in the future.

While this is not exactly something that we failed to attain in 2010, but just having one event after several years of absence, seems to have made many want for more.

One thing we did miss in golf is the chance to host the Philippine Airlines Interclub Golf Tournament again.

Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon are hosting the event in the first quarter of 2011 and Cebu is again bent on bidding to become the host for 2012.

While I haven’t missed any PAL Interclub since I first covered it in 1994, I look forward to the tournament coming back to Cebu, which used to be its permanent home.

I had also hoped to a more united front for football in Cebu, which did not seem to happen in 2010.

Some sports organizations also continue to be troubled by quarrels of its leaders and I hope that in 2011, we will see fewer if not zero incidents of squabbling. We can never attain our goals for sports if this would go on.

The problem of Cebu athletes being lured to Manila have hurt many of our coaches and school sports directors.

This problem of ‘pirating’ athletes has long been there and sports commentator and analyst Bill Velasco somehow made it clear during the recent sports summit at City Hall that the attitude of the coaches towards such practice must change. 

Bill, who has volunteered to help spread the good news about Cebu sports to the media in Manila, said that this means that the program of the coach, who loses an athlete is working, thus he or she must continue to do what is being done and develop more stars.

We missed many things in 2010 and hope for better things to come in 2011. Let us not stop dreaming and continue to work to attain our goals.

Thank you Lord for all the blessings you gave us!

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings to my closest friend from my town, Minglanilla, Councilor Robert John ‘Jojo’ Selma. The same goes to Rezza Boy Omega and Riza Lyn Nellas.

Today, our family also remembers my late grandfather, Cipriano Rosal Quiñones, Sr., who would have turned 93 year old today.

Advance greetings go to Arsenio Pelicano, Gina Gabiana-Nacorda, and Lyndon Angan, who are celebrating tomorrow.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN