Sports and patriotism

One certainly could not miss the great blend of sports and patriotism during the Azkals losing but gallant stand, 1-2, against Kuwait’s Al-Azram Thursday last week at the Rizal Memorial Track and Field and Football Stadium in the second leg of the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. A huge Philippine flag was hoisted by spectators in the bleachers at every turn as a way of both saluting the Azkals and the Philippine tri-color itself. Such scenes repeat themselves when Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and a host of other Filipino ring warriors go atop the ring and demolish anyone put in front of them and in other international competitions.

John Branch, in his article “American Flags as Big as Fields” (found in the book, “Sport in Contemporary Society”) says the trend of displaying the American flag during athletic competitions began nearly 25 years ago, spiked after 9/11 (the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York) and now seems part of the cultural backdrop in American sports. Where there is a big game, there is a big flag, often the size of the playing field itself.

Branch says that according to Jim Alexander, a retired Coast Guard commander who runs Superflag, the company that basically invented the industry and once held the world record for the largest flag, which temporarily hung over the Hoover Dam, “People go ape when they see it. It’s a feeling. It’s a feeling that takes over a whole stadium. If anyone in the stands opened their mouth and objected, there would be hell to pay.”

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 Speaking of Donaire, it looks like it’s all systems go for his next fight which has been scheduled for October.

For a while, it seemed that the career of Donaire, 28, hung perilously in the balance after a contract dispute with Top Rank. After four months of arduous discussions, prolonged by personal attacks between Top Rank’s Bob Arum and Donaire’s Filipino-American wife, Rachel, the two sides came to terms. Donaire signed a multiyear contract extension that also ended an attempt to leave Top Rank for Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).

Donaire, a three-division world champion and currently the WBC and WBO bantamweight titleholder, finished defending champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico in the second round of their title fight on February 19, 2011. The victory earned for Donaire the distinction of being the second Filipino and the third Asian to become a three-division world champion.

Donaire, also known as the “Filipino Flash”, won his first world crown in 2007 after pulling off an upset over the brash Vic Darchinyan. Donaire knocked out Darchinyan with one punch in the fifth round to win the IBF and IBO world flyweight titles. Donaire was a 7-1 underdog when he battled Darchinyan who was then undefeated when they met on the ring on July 7. 2007. The spectacular victory was regarded by the prestigious Ring Magazine as the “Knockout of the Year” and the “Upset of the Year”.

After Donaire’s victory over Montiel, there was talk of the Filipino defending his title on May 28, against a number of exciting contenders. But it was not to happen. Two weeks after his victory, Donaire announced he had become a free agent. The case then went to arbitration with the arbiter stopping Golden Boy from promoting Donaire and upholding the 2008 contract of Donaire with Top Rank.

 Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), who has not lost since his second professional fight, has knocked out the last four boxers he has fought (Manuel Vargas, KO 3; Hernan Marquez, KO 8; Wladimir Sidorenko, KO 4 and Montiel, TKO 2).

The Filipino Flash is also known for dedicating his fight against the tough Rafael Concepcion of Panama on August 15, 2008 in memory of President Corazon Aquino who died on Aug. 1 after a 17-month battle against colon cancer. Donaire had asked Everlast for a yellow robe with the words “IMO” or In Memory of (President Aquino) stitched on the robe and yellow boxing trunks with the name “Aquino” in the waist band of his trunks. The country observed President Cory’s second death anniversary two days ago.

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Congratulations to the Tennista Philippines which was runner-up in the 4th Sabah Invitational Team Tennis Tournament 2011 (also known as 1 Malaysia Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor Challenge Trophy). The tournament which attracted five countries, was held recently at the Likas Tennis courts in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The 10 players in the Tennista Philippines Team were Aniceto Estanislao, William DeMyer, Cornelio Gregorio, Benjamin Frias Jr., Jacinto Tomacruz III, Nestor Baul, Joselito Tomacruz, Manuel Suarez, Annie de la Peña and Rosana Caniza.