People power and sports

This is the beauty of sport.

People grasp the same power, abilities and fighting spirit that athletes possess in order to win by involving themselves in the contest simply through dreaming, cheering and “aspiring” that their favored athlete/s or team would prevail and emerge victorious.

While being entertained, they share the struggles among the players as well as the courage and sentiments of winning and defeat to propel the human spirit.

The experience is always fun and could either be a cause for celebration or a reason for hope.

All sports ought to bring excitement and inspiration to the spectators or audience.

There is a certain “high” and “push” that the people can gain from watching any sports competition to climb heights and beat life’s odds with “tools” beyond them.

Any sport, therefore, that is bereft of athletes that exhibit superiority in what they can achieve far yonder their competitive reach would soon degenerate to become just a mere game to play in a “circus” and/or a mere “purse” to earn for the “sharks” that lurk in shallow waters. Hence every sport needs heroes.

True sports are blessed with great athletes at different times in different fields. Boxing has Sugar Ray Robinson and Henry Armstrong. Basketball has Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Rod Laver and Sharapova/Williams in Tennis, Cristiano Ronaldo in Football, Mark Spitz in swimming, Joe Lewis in Karate, Jack Nicklaus in Golf, Trever Bayne in Track and Field and the list goes on.

Boxing today has back-to-back sensations in Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire. And they are not only great boxers. They are “heroes” that seldom come around in a lifetime.

The Pacman has transcended his greatness in boxing to become world famous in more than one positive way that brings about positive impact not only upon sports aficionados but also upon people of many races from all walks of life who are aware of the man’s “goodness”, accomplishments and extraordinary exploits inside and outside the ring.

It was a clear triumph of faith more than a win on account of abilities for Nonito Donaire when he rose to the occasion to soar above himself and beat Fernando Montiel in an unbelievably stunning way.

As for the Filipino Flash, he is evolving to become another “icon” of talent and power in the sport of boxing who may soon capture everyone’s imagination beyond wonders as bigger fights and colossal challenges are ahead of him to win and amaze the world again.

Henceforth, in the same vein that these two modern Filipino “icon” athletes brought great honor to the nation and as we did the same in EDSA during the People Power Revolution of 1986, let all rise and do it again!

--Reni Valenzuela