Potshots

What plot? – If there really was a Cory-Drilon plot to oust GMA by October 15th, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s "expose" has pretty much preempted it. The President owes her one. But if, as former President Cory asserts, there was no such plot and the tale of an excessively chattering Drilon relative was a product of Miriam’s "wild imagination," her motives in going public with the charge will be the issue.

A couple of things are clear: One, the Palace is dead certain there is a conspiracy to unseat GMA, by force if necessary. Aside from the alleged Cory-Drilon plot, the purported evidence of the plot includes the Garci tapes, the Drilon "set-up" of the GMA "I Am Sorry" speech, the Hyatt Ten resignations, Cory’s call for GMA’s resignation, the same demand from some Liberal Party members led by Drilon, the failed impeachment saga, the continuing post-impeachment rallies, Senate investigations of the Venable lobbying contract and the North Rail project, and the testimonies of Gen. Gudani and Col. Balutan in the Senate wire-tapping inquiry.

Two, the Palace has reacted with a get-tough policy featuring, among other things, GMA’s "bullies in the schoolyard" stance, the Department of Justice "study" on emergency rule, the No Permit, No Rally policy, the House "revamp" of all committee chairmanships and memberships, Speaker Joe de Venecia’s renewed cha-cha offensive and his open advocacy of the abolition of the Senate and, of course, Executive Order 464.

Three, the Senate fully realizes the threat to its very existence, while the opposition in the House of Representatives is aware that the majority coalition is bent on reducing it to abject irrelevance. GMA’s foes are convinced the administration’s preoccupation with conspiracy theories may indicate a paranoia which may manifest itself in irrational strikes against perceived enemies.

Therefore, the Senate, including ostensible GMA supporters, and the House minority are girding for what they know is a life-and-death epic battle. The opposition in both Houses is counting on public sentiment to turn the tide. The majority thinks the opposition is engaged, yet again, in exercises in futility.

So if you thought that the crisis was over when the impeachment complaint was dismissed, you know now that yours was a pipe dream. The knives are out and they’re looking for someone to carve their initials on. Ordinary folk, it seems, should just get out of the way while the politicians have their fun. The trapos may be in for a big surprise.

The Two Faces of Gudani.–Depending on who you listen to, or what text messages you read, Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani is either a devout Christian and dedicated soldier who is doing what he thinks is right for the greater glory of God, or he is a fraud and charlatan who used his military position to back the wrong candidate for president and is now trying to divert investigators hot on the trail of his hidden ill-gotten wealth by giving false testimony before the Senate.

Will the real General Gudani please stand up? A lot of people are putting reputations on the line by either praising or condemning him. If he is an upright and principled man, as one school of thought contends, then it is a good and worthwhile fight. But if he is a fraud, he won’t be the only one that is dragged through the mud.

It has to be said though that the favorite at the moment is the underdog, the guy who was sacked from his current position and appears to be the target of a merciless government spin machine. The gentleman looks like the victim, not the lady.

Yeah, but was Yeo talkin’ trash?– De La Salle assistant team manager Manuel Salgado has already been meted the unprecedented penalty of a perpetual disqualification from even attending UAAP games. He has also taken a "leave" from the University, and suffered the ignominy of having his inexcusable conduct condemned by no less than the University System president, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC.

The penalty fit his "crime" which was to slug Far Eastern University star Arwind Santos from behind and then reportedly run for cover. With respect, Danny Jose, this wasn’t too harsh. It was absolutely necessary. Moreover, some sportscasters have dug up the record and will raise Salgado’s past involvement in incidents with other teams.

De La Salle is a strong enough team not to have to brook inanities of this kind. I’m glad some La Salle officials and alumni took it upon themselves to publicly castigate Salgado even before UAAP officials met to rule on this incident which was caught on live nationwide television. We can now leave the matter where it stands. We won’t pile it on Salgado, even if some skeptics insist his public contrition is insincere.

But I hope the UAAP honchos look at another problem which, far from being simply a manifestation of a strong competitive spirit, could put the future viability of the league in serious jeopardy.

Some players have taken to what they call "trash talking" and to overly exuberant celebrations which strike competing teams as insulting or provocative. These juvenile attempts to ape attempts of pro cagers in the US to "intimidate" or "psych out" the competition have threatened, or actually resulted in, violent incidents.

If you saw the tape of the Salgado cheap shot, you probably noticed that just before Salgado slugged Santos from behind and ran for his life, De La Salle player Joseph Yeo was saying something to Arwin, who was walking away, seemingly ignoring him. I’m certain Yeo was not inviting Santos to a sumptuous dinner at the latest "in" Greenbelt resto. Salgado claims he reacted because of "sweet nothings" Santos was uttering. However, the tape does not show Santos saying anything.

So, what was Yeo saying? Was he perhaps "trash-talking"? Was he telling Santos that FEU’s win was a fluke and that Santos himself could expect a warmer reception from green shirts this Thursday? And what else might have Yeo have been uttering? Perhaps the videotape can be referred to some expert lip readers.

Whatever happened to sportsmanship? Aren’t the players taught to be gracious in victory as well as defeat, to remember that what goes up must come down, and that one’s worth in life is gauged by many factors other than one’s exploits on the hard court?

The UAAP Board should nip this growing problem in the bud. There is a big difference between a healthy competitive spirit and just plain mean-spiritedness and hubris which, the Greeks knew, is a fatal flaw. It may just be a game, but learning the wrong lessons can have lifetime effects. Those kids in the UAAP who have a bloated opinion of themselves had better learn some hard lessons in humility before it’s too late.