Christmas wishes (Part 1)

It’s that time of year when everyone gets just a little more hopeful that we can get what we really want despite all indications to the contrary. Christmas is the season of boundlessness. And for a sports junkie, the wishes should be a breeze. Or so you’d think.

Pacquiao beating Mayweather. Okay, what we’d all really like to see is Pacman shutting Pretty Boy up for good. Of course, we all know that Floyd can’t stop yapping and sour-graping, but still, it would be nice to see Manny put him on his backside in front of the world. But honestly, given Mayweather’s penchant for dirty tactics, this wish is two-fold: that Pacquiao knocks Mayweather out, and comes out of it unscathed.

Bigger audiences for the PBA. With Ginebra in transition, new member teams trying to find their place in the league, the fertile PBA looks a lot like it did when it peaked at the end of the 1980’s. As Asia’s first professional basketball league approaches its 40th anniversary, it has many challenges to contend with, mostly fighting for attention in a jungle of alternative media. At the end of the day, it’s all about the game, and if the players maintain their passion and professionalism, the league will steadily rise to the front of mind of a younger, more discerning audience.

A great year for the Azkals. With a hefty turnout for the “Dream Cup” match with the LA Galaxy, the Philippine Azkals jump back into the awareness of the mainstream. Next year, they face many challenges as they seek to climb up amidst the powers of Southeast Asia. My wish is for the pool of Fil-foreigners to remain consistently available and the new homegrown talents to flourish. With that, breaking FIFA’s top hundred should be reachable.

A Secretary of Sports. Sen. Antonio Trillanes has revived the notion that the supreme government body for sports should be a Cabinet-level position. As this writer posited years ago, sports has an impact that far exceeds the obvious, from boosting the nation’s morale to saving its billions in health expenses and more. And yet, our sports agencies beg for money from Congress, and aren’t given their due. The manpower is already in place, and the Secretary of Sports will be an appointive position, anyway. But a Cabinet minister will regularly have the ear of the Chief Executive, his or her own budget, and more clout.

Rugby nation. The Philippine Volcanoes have made tremendous strides locally and internationally, especially this year. From their success in beating China and Korea and our Lady Volcanoes making the Hong Kong 7s to their outreach program, the Phl Rugby Football Union has been the exemplar among national sports associations. What this writer would like to see is for us to vault past Japan and be the number one team in Asia. If not, then how about an outright invitation to the 2015 World Cup and qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games, instead?

A successful Palaro. With problems besetting national student competitions this year, the Palarong Pambansa shifts back to Pangasinan, where it has been successfully staged in the past, beginning with the establishment of the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in 1995. The provincial government is ironing out the final details of the Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education, and a tentative date of May 6-12 has been set. I think we all pray that the student-athletes are treated well, the officiating is fair, and private and government sponsors throw their weight behind the 2012 edition of the games.

More sports in the UAAP and NCAA. Sports like arnis and dancesport and rugby have already started making inroads into the country’s premiere college leagues. If all goes well and new sports are introduced on a probationary basis in 2012, after three years they will be full member sports of each league’s calendar. All it takes really is open-mindedness on the part of each league’s host school.

The gospel of Arnis. Yesterday, a form was finally held on the implementing rules and regulations on the Arnis Law. Perhaps now, there will be more impetus behind two facets of the law: how it will be taught in all schools, and what exact guidelines will be used. Incidentally, part of the law also commands that the logo of the Philippine Sports Commission be changed to include arnis as the symbol of sports in the country. In the end, we all want the sport to make it to the world stage, beginning with consistent inclusion in the Southeast Asian Games.

More Christmas wishes on Monday.