Winning and losing feel the game- Booby Mutos
Cebu, Philippines -At more or less this time of the year, I always look forward to seeing locally-based athletes receive their due recognition from the people who make their achievements come alive thru print and broadcast media. For 31 years, the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC), in cooperation with San Miguel Corporation, had been giving Cebuano and Cebu-based athletes the honor they richly deserve.
Because of some viral infections, I failed to do my article last Friday and also missed on last Sunday’s awards ceremony for Cebu’s sporting elite. I don’t want to spoil the fun of everyone with my presence having coughing spells rivalling that of a short-circuited speaker system. From the pictures posted, that was a an entertaining evening. The men and women of SAC, specially those who are in the line of fire as far as preparing for this yearly event is concerned, had done a magnificent job. As always.
Past president John Pages and his court left big shoes to fill but SAC’s new Dynamic Duo, Rico Navarro and Mike Limpag will surely be up to the task. It was a pleasure to be under your wings, John. Thank you. Rico and Mike and the rest of SAC, you have my support, however minimal or miniscule it might be. And the occasional masi, of course.
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Miami is on a 24-game roll and if this continues, they only have nine more games to equal the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers for NBA’s longest regular season winning streak. 15 games remain on their regular schedule and they are up against a few lightweight opponents and if their luck holds, they will be a game or two up above the record. LeBron James and his dunks are becoming more ridiculous that even Blake Griffin is lock-jawed.
To enlighten everyone, the 1971-1972 LA Lakers went on to win the NBA title 4 games to 1, over the New York Knicks. Both the Lakers and the Knicks had on their lineup two average players who would later on become Hall of Fame coaches, Pat Riley (LA) and Phil Jackson (NY). Pat and Phil are champion coaches and both steered the Lakers to multiple titles at sometime in their careers.
The Heat’s current win streak placed them on the NBA’s number two all-time, overtaking the 2007-2008 Houston Rockets with 22 wins. Houston had Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming that time and the 10 of the 22 wins were done with Yao out, nursing a foot injury. We all know it was the Boston Celtics who won the ’07-‘08 title, humiliating the LA Lakers.
This 24-game thing does not guarantee Miami an NBA championship. The real battle begins during the playoffs when only eight teams are left in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences. San Antonio, Indiana, OKC, New York, Memphis, Boston and the rest of the post-season bound teams all have a shot at basketball glory.
Miami does not have the monopoly of winning streaks this season. Griffin and his Los Angeles Clippers were on a 17-game run sometime in December last year up to middle of February this year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers own the distinction of having the number one and two spots on the most futile attempts in winning. The post-LeBron Cavs of the 2010-2011 season recorded a 26-game losing skid. The 1981-1982 and 1982-1983 edition Cavs (LeBron was still hanging on his dad’s testicles) are tied for second place with 24 consecutive loses.
Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats recorded an 18-game losing streak this current season. Without question, His Airness was a great basketball player, unstoppable during his prime. Without a doubt, he also is a bad team owner with the way his Bobcats are growling, I mean meowing.
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One good thing about election season is that when you get tired watching regular sports programs on TV, you get to see candidates trading insults against each other. There’s two geriatric wannabee mayors acting pediatric complete with their cheering squads and then there’s the two scions of political families running for the senate exchanging pleasantries about marital infidelities. Ah, politics is entertainment. Wow Philippines!
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