A ‘Hardball’ secret

In one month’s time, the country’s first daily all-sports talk show, Hardball (live Monday to Friday at 10:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN News Channel) has already stirred up the sports community. Since its launch last Nov. 20 (the day after Manny Pacquiao’s demolition of Erik Morales), it has caused many people to laugh and drop their jaws in reaction to some of the things we’ve said on the air.

True, Boyet Sison, Jinno Rufino and I have a great time and at least three or four good laughs every day (thanks to a great research team and a very attentive crew), but it is hard work. Staying up late every night may be child’s play for many people, but I’m no spring chicken. And sometimes, we stay up to watch the replay at 2:30 a.m.

But it has its rewards. We say what people think, and it’s something that people need to hear, and have wanted to. We don’t skirt the issues. Every day, in fact, we lay it on the line just making predictions. As I write this, Jinno is texting me somewhere (probably dancing with joy) since he has gotten three correct predictions in a row. (Come to think of it, he might be consulting a clairvoyant, or something.)

We’ve been receiving e-mails from the United States (our program is live on cable there in the mornings), and they’ve been very uplifting. One fellow wrote in concern that he would be able to catch our Thursday show because he was scheduled for surgery on a torn ACL. Another said that his day isn’t complete if he doesn’t watch us, and that the show is "well-produced, well-written and the hosts are entertaining." He even claims we "do a better job than ESPN!!!" Though I wouldn’t go that far, we certainly do get our licks in.

In the past month, we’ve cracked up about which Rocky movie is the best (Rocky 1, which else?), who will lead the Denver Nuggets in scoring when Carmelo Anthony gets back (we all think Melo will put AI in his place), who’s the better fighter between Bruce Lee and Jacky Chan (I said Chan would have to stand on a chair just to kiss Lee’s behind), and who is the best player on the Ginebra squad (we all thought Rudy Hatfield and Eric Menk deserve a nod, though it was close). And who should sing at the next Manny Pacquiao fight. Boyet thinks it should be Lea Salonga, while Boyet wants The Black-Eyed Peas singing "Lupang Hinirang". So it’s been fun.

But the real secret to Hardball’s lightness is the power behind it. No, I’m not talking about the tremendous resources of ABS-CBN (though it is a major, major factor). I’m talking about what happens when we’re all silently brushing up on our scripts, all miked up, sitting on the set while the lightsmen and audio men silently work around us to as not to disturb The World Tonight airing live right next to our set. I’m not talking about us going over the state-of-the-art computer database in the constantly-buzzing newsroom, or lining up to squeeze in for make-up between NewsCentral, Business Nightly and the aforementioned The World Tonight.

What I am talking about is a ritual that Jinno, Boyet and I do with about ten minutes before we air, when we whisper to each other "Bro, let’s pray." And clasp hands, bow our hands and call on the real power behind Hardball.

In the spirit of the season, I would like to bring you into our little circle, and give you this gift for Christmas, The Prayer for Protection, which I first heard in our weekly study group of the Inner Peace Foundation founded by Regina Dee almost thirty years ago.

"The light of God surrounds us,

The love of God enfolds us,

The power of God protects us,

The presence of God watches over us.

Wherever we are, God is.

And wherever God is, all is well.

We are so grateful.

And so it is!"

I pray that this declaration helps you, too, the way it has helped us.

Merry Christmas.