Tough Olympic Club

The Tao Brotherhood and Sisterhood lost one of our pillars last Sunday when our brother Michael Mende passed on.

His remains now lie at the St. Peter's Memorial Chapel along Imus Ave., Cebu City.

I would like to ask our pious readers to say a prayer for his soul. Mike was a Psychology professor at UP Cebu.

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The Olympic Club broke so many hearts during the US Open. Not only the hearts of the players, but also that of the fans hoping to see their favorite pros win the title.

Tiger Woods was in the thick of the battle after two rounds, but he was unraveled in the third and could not anymore get back his shape in the final round.

Somebody on Facebook called him a "choker," which I think is very wrong considering that the entire field was struggling on the roughs and the length of some holes.

The greens were also very tough. Even short putts that look so hard to miss appeared so hard to make.

Now I will not anymore feel too bad when I cannot get out of the rough or hit from one bunker to another. Even the world's best pros can make such bad shots.

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By the time you read this, the last of the group stage matches of Euro 2012 shall have been played.

France and England only need a draw against their respective opponents to advance to the quarterfinals.

France will face winless Sweden while England battles co-host Ukraine. I would not anymore give you scenarios as the results will be all over the international TV networks and the Internet while you are reading this column.

Let us instead take a look at the quarterfinal matches that are already scheduled.

The first match pits Group A top finisher Czech Republic against Group B number two Portugal. The Portuguese are favored to win this most especially after the resurgence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who sank the Dutch with a two-goal effort in their final group match.

The second quarterfinal pairing that is already made pits Germany, one of the tournament favorites, against the struggling Greece. The football and economic woes maybe inspiring the Greeks, but this match-up is seen titled heavily towards Germany.

Spain, winner of Group C, awaits the runner-up of Group D for their quarterfinal match. Italy, runner-up of Group C, will be facing the winner of Group D in the last quarterfinal match.

There are still many reasons to be awake at 2:45 a.m. to watch the games live on TV.

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday greetings to my aunt Sonia Labrador-Peral, who turned a year older last Monday.

The same goes to my former students Riza Balgos and Matet Niere, Julienne Eva Guanzon and Mickey Arroyo, who celebrated yesterday.

Today's greetings go to Rhea Fantonial-Bautista, Joan Villahermosa, Dr. Josefa 'Epang' Jordan-Jimenez, Edward Ceniza, Dennis Gaona, and my Tao brother Prince Motol.

More power to all of you! — THE FREEMAN