Sporting Chance

Player agent Jerald Wrightsil wrote a scathing e-mail the other day accusing me of harboring "an alternate agenda" in talking to him during a recent flight from San Francisco to Manila.

To be frank, I am shocked at Wrightsil's reaction.

Last Friday, I recalled our plane conversation in this column. I never accused Wrightsil of sending Fil-Am impostors to play here. But as he has brought Al Segova and Rob Wainwright to our shores, I noted that "it appears (he) specializes in 'discovering' Fil-Ams." Nothing wrong with that. Unless you feel alluded to in a negative way. Or if you've got a guilty conscience.

In fact, I quoted Wrightsil as dismissing Ed Najera as a potential Fil-Am since in his words, "he's Mexican -- forget it." As for "alleged" Fil-Am Andre Reyes -- a 6-9 center from the University of California, all I said was Wrightsil had a line on him. Nothing more, nothing less. You make of that what you will.

I did throw a bait at the end of my column when I mused that Wrightsil could've applied in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as a Fil-Am. In his e-mail, Wrightsil wryly said, "I am not of Filipino lineage." Touchy, touchy.

Wrightsil told me Segova flew the coop to gather more evidence of his Filipino lineage and said he never heard of the rumor that Purefoods management sacked him after discovering his birth documents were doctored through computer manipulation. He also said Segova now plays in Turkey.

Wrightsil castigated me for not mentioning in my column that he no longer represents Segova and that he has never represented Sonny Alvarado. Why? If as Wrightsil said, Segova went back to the US to authenticate his Filipino roots (it might be easier to dig up relatives in his supposed hometown of Piddig) and Alvarado is "more Filipino than a lot of Fil-Ams I know," then there's nothing to be ashamed of in being associated with them. They've done nothing wrong, right?

Anyway, I can't recall that Wrightsil said he is no longer Segova's agent. Still, let's put that on record. As for Alvarado, why is Wrightsil so adamant in denying any links to the former University of Texas star? One of Wrightsil's players, incidentally, said the agent had a hand in sending Alvarado here.

Wrightsil's overreaction makes you wonder where he's coming from. I would've thought he'd appreciate the free plug that he's in town to talk to PBA coaches about their future import requirements. In fact, several PBA coaches asked me how to contact Wrightsil after the column came out. I even mentioned that Wrightsil said the Philippine market is fantastic because Filipino fans are great. That's a plus, Jerald, not a minus.

As for Reyes, Wrightsil said: "I informed you that Mr. Reyes is an 'alleged Fil-Am' but there is no proof that I know of and I stated to you that without proof, I could not help Mr. Reyes, WITHOUT CLEAR PROOF (all caps were his)."

That's fine. I never said otherwise.

Finally, Wrightsil -- whose claim to fame is he's married to 1992 Barcelona Olympian and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) pro Clarissa Davis -- said: "We resent the fact that you lead the public to believe our Company is breaking the law. We respect the Philippines and Filipino laws beyond a shadow of a doubt. Therefore, how would you like our newspaper to put in print that you periodically break American laws, lie to a nation, and insult the nationalism of a country? Fortunately, there are responsible reporters who do not wish to sensationalize an off-the-record encounter by twisting events."

That parting shot was quite a punch. First of all, Wrightsil never said our conversation was off-the-record. Let's set that straight. I asked Wrightsil if I could take his picture and he declined. Fine. You've got to respect a person's privacy. But he never told me his remarks were off-the-record.

Did I sensationalize or twist events? C'mon, Jerald. You can do better than that. Read my column again and don't be so paranoid as to think you're being accused of sending Fil-Am impostors here -- unless you really are.

Incidentally, I don't think washing your hands off Segova's case gets Wrightsil off the hook. If Segova doctored his birth documents, wouldn't his agent be an accessory to the crime? Shouldn't an agent be responsible for making sure his players are legitimate and aren't Fil-Am impostors?

Doing a Pontius Pilate is no guarantee of absolution.

Postscript. Viva Vintage broadcaster Anthony Suntay celebrated his 33rd birthday in a unique way last Feb. 22. He got his friends together at the Power-Up gym in the Rizal Sports Complex on Shaw Boulevard, treated them to a fantastic dinner (you can count on Outback Steakhouse for good food), then held a "climb" and an auction to raise funds for his favorite charities - the UP PGH Pedia Ward, the Philippine School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, and Sr. Teresa McEntee (an Irish nun who's lived here at least 20 years, caring for Muntinlupa death row prisoners, providing a halfway home for ex-convicts, and sheltering - and educating - streetchildren). Anthony, with the help of his benefactors, coughed up P100 for every guest to attempt a climb on a vertical wall and P250 for reaching the top. The auction was for a Northwest business class round trip ticket from Manila to the US, an airconditioner, a VCD player, and a TV. In all, Anthony raised over P130,000 for his beneficiaries.

Anthony said the celebration wouldn't have been possible without his sponsors (Zen-New Age Day Spa, Danny's Restaurant, Outback, Northwest, Duty Free Philippines), friends, relatives and loved ones, especially his Tet. Among his guests that night were Bobong Velez, June Rufino, Chino and Babs Trinidad, Willie Marcial, Danny Ildefonso, Chito Narvasa, Raul Teehankee, Donnie Ramirez, Nicky Gocuan, Bob Zozobrado, Jeff Cariaso, Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Chris Jackson, Danny Espiritu, Lando Hiso, Alfrancis Chua, Dr. Jorge Canlas, Robee and Chiqui Puno, Paolo Trillo, Ed de los Reyes, Rommel Ng and Tony Gangaramani.