Christmas wish list from Singapore

Last week, I posted my Christmas wish list for Philippine sports, which probably gave Santa Claus cause to take a few sedatives. This writer also asked readers to send in their own longings to fill everyone’s stocking this season of joy. Most of them were summed up in a rather lengthy and well-thought out message from regular STAR reader Kenneth Inocencio.

Kenneth moved to Singapore as few months ago, and rues missing the UAAP Finals. He was lucky enough to catch the Indonesian feed of the Pacquiao-Morales fight, with the help of a hastily erected antenna.

The rest of his letter goes as follows:

"My sports wish list for Christmas has the following:

1. A resolution to the basketball mayhem. We all know who the legitimate stakeholders of the game are (the PBA, UAAP, NCAA, PBL and other major leagues) and those who are desperately clinging on whatever it is they are hanging on to at the expense of the game itself, the development of a legitimate national basketball program, basketball players and hardcore hoops fans.

Not having basketball in the SEA Games is bad enough (nothing beats the feel-good atmosphere created when we beat our regional rivals by a bunch of points, except for the PacMan giving a beating to someone else). The PBA and its all-powerful Board should stomp their foot and make them all toe the line. The BAP is downright disgusting. A bunch of old geezers who care only for themselves and not only have the spine to back down on a gentleman’s agreement but the audacity to ask for the leadership position as well. This is an appeal to MVP: Please save us all.

2. A rematch between PacMan and Marco Antonio Barrera. With the way our idol blasted his way past Morales (who gave a gallant stand by the way and was pure class, even in defeat). If only we can have a PacMan bout every weekend to make the country more peaceful.

3. A US-NCAA type of league for college hoops. I know the glamour boys of the UAAP and NCAA have the spotlight, but we can go further by making a truly nationwide league for college hoops. More school spirit for everybody, plus a chance for the schools in Cebu and Mindanao to show that they, too, can ball.

4. A retirement care program for former athletes. They gave our country something to be proud of in their prime. We should set up some program to help them find a means of livelihood when their careers are done (coaching or something that will impart their experience to the next batch of athletes), and for medical aid when they need it. The TV features of old athletes suffering through poverty is a shame. Anthony Villanueva wanted to sell his silver medal which, until Onyok came along, was the biggest prize we got in the Olympics.

5. Grassroots programs for football. This is something we can excel in. Height doesn’t matter in football. If we cut a fraction of the mega-millions spent in hoops, we can come up with a decent program to give our neighbors a run for their money. So we can kick serious butt (no pun intended) in the pitch as well. Who knows, some kid out there may be able to bend it like Becks. I wish we’ll be able to sing Lupang Hinirang loud and proud in the World Cup Finals. That would be something.

6. PBA exhibition games in Singapore. Barangay Ginebra vs Singapore Slingers (an Australian National Basketball League team - Bill.) in front of thousands of screaming Pinoys. Singapore Indoor Stadium will rumble."

Thanks, Kenneth. Who knows? After all, it doesn’t cost anything to dream, now does it?