Bike For A Cause

This is an excellent project happening this Sunday (July 15). What is Best Buddies? Here…

Best Buddies Philippines, International (www.bestbuddies.org) is a volunteer organization which provides opportunities for people (volunteer buddies) to connect with our less fortunate brothers with developmental disabilities (special buddies). Each special buddy is paired with a volunteer buddy for the year-round activities of Best Buddies. Each pair will be with each other in eating, playing team games, assisting each other in all the activities, and develop a special bond of friendship. In this process of friendship building, special buddies are given undivided attention and value, as well as opportunities for social interaction and the chance to live fuller and happier lives.

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Categorized as Cycling

High-five!

What can you say? When a man is down four break points in the fifth set of the 2007 Wimbledon final, and he unleashes aces and barrages of forehand slingshots? You say he’s a Swiss magician.

When a man is facing immense pressure in trying to win No.5, and he looks up at the front row and there, with flowing white hair, sits the last man to win a High Five… Bjorn Borg? You say he’s as cool as the Swiss Alps.

When a man is fronting the Hercules of Tennis, the left-hander who leads their record, 8-4, the same Raging Bull who trampled on his red Swiss flag four weeks ago in Paris? You say he’s part of the Swiss Army.

You know what I want to say to Roger Federer? BRAVO!

Is there a word more fitting? Here are two more: “Wimbledon Champion.” Yes, Wimbledon champion. Again. And again. And again. And again. That’s five straight times. Will it ever stop? Will he know the meaning of “end?” No it won’t. Only 25 years of age, his effortless strokes will make him win, in my estimate, one, two, four, five more Wimbledon titles.

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Categorized as Tennis

Roger The Great

HE’S DONE IT! Down two break points in the second game of the fifth set, he escaped. Down another two break points in the fourth game of the fifth set, he squeezed out aces and escaped. And then, in the next game, during Rafael Nadal’s serve, he broke. A few minutes later, Roger Federer smashed a volley, fell to the grass, then held aloft the Wimbledon crown. His fifth straight title at the All-England Club. His 11th major. But more importantly, he beat a nemesis who conquered him four weeks ago in Paris. And, he showed the world his heart of a champion. As my good friend Jourdan Polotan said it best in his text message at 1:20 this morning: BRAVO!

Check out these articles. Among all that I’ve read about the Final, these are some of the best: Bud Collins with “Federer’s Heart Lifts Him To Title.” Here’s Jon Wertheim on “Nifty Fifty“… his 50 parting points. And, of course, read the full interview transcript of both Roger and Rafa here.

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Categorized as Tennis

The Wimbledon Finale

THEY’VE MET 12 TIMES. Rafael Nadal leads Roger Federer, 8-4. But this is Wimbledon. As Boris Becker once said, “THIS IS MY HOUSE.” Today, no, make that for the past five seasons, Wimbledon has been Roger Federer’s home.

Federer’s game is tailor-fit for the coat-and-tie setting at the All-England Club. Though he doesn’t serve 155 mph aces like Andy Roddick, Roger has the most accurate serve in men’s tennis. And he serves his best when under pressure. That’s what champions do, right? And Roger is a Champion’s Champion. Forehand? His is maybe the best of all time. Backhand? I love that cross-court passing shot. Volleys? Smooth. Relaxed. So Federer has got all the weapons in his Wilson racket.

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Categorized as Tennis

Is Venus out of this world? Roger on that!

I made a mistake. I apologize. Last week, I picked an “R” to win Wimbledon. Not “R” who’s won six of the last nine Grand Slam singles crowns. And not the other “R” who’s won the last three French Open trophies. I predicted another R to be the King of Grass: Roddick.

I was ‘Rong. Also known as “The Man Who’s Lost To Roger 13 Of 14 Times,” Roddick lost two nights ago. Again. Thus, his dream of standing at the center of Centre Court and carrying that All-England Club trophy is just that… a dream.

The men’s semi-finalists? Roger Federer vs. Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic. They played last night. Too late for me to have watched and written this column. And so I’m guessing the winners…

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Categorized as Tennis

Rain… Rain… Go Away…

IS IT TRUE that Wimbledon hasn’t seen this much rain since, when, the year 1982? That’s 25 years ago. Unbelievable flooding. But true. That’s why everyone should watch Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” to realize that the world climate is in havoc. Isn’t it funny: the most revered tennis tournament in the world is asked by Mother Nature to pause, start, stop, re-start, pause, stop, start… again and again these past two weeks? Thank God the British are finishing, by 2009, a retractable roof on Centre Court. Just like the Australian Open, it will be open-air–until the rains pour then the roof closes. Good! This way we can continue watching uninterrupted live TV coverage. Read this Wimbledon rain Q & A by one of my favorite tennis scribes, Jon Wertheim (Sports Illustrated).

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The 30th PAL Intersports

THIS IS MAJOR. This will bring tourists. This will be talked about by friends, executives, Ilonggos, Cagayanons, Cebuanos and Filipinos from as far as Las Vegas and Guam. Over 1,000 executives will descend in Cebu from August 30 to September 1 when the 30th PAL Intersports hits this city. Of the 30 years that this event has been held throughout the country, this will be the biggest. A total of 18 clubs are coming–including six from outside RP: from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Guam, Shanghai, Las Vegas and Australia. I attended the press conference last Monday at the City Sports Club and the organizers were in full force. Read what Ed Chiongbian wrote yesterday (July 5) in his column and what Rommel Manlosa, also of Sun.Star, wrote last Tuesday (July 4).

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Categorized as Cebu

Mizuno Cup

IN FOOTBALL, one of the big events in town is the Mizuno Cup. This August 25-26 and September 1-2, the 2nd edition of this event kicks off in Cebu. Officially, it’s called the “2ND MIZUNO FOOTBALL FIESTA.” Fiesta? Sure. There’ll be music. Banners will surround the venue. Food booths will scatter around. Parents. Lolas. Titos. Everyone in football will be there to watch. Organized by Dr. Wendell Villacin (the owner of Mint Shop in BTC, the distributors of Mizuno) and assisted by Neil Montesclaros as tournament director, footballers as young as six years old and as “mature” as 40-plus year-olds will wear their spikes, kick, scramble and shoot for that goal.

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Categorized as Football

BIKE4U

Bite Magazine turns over proceeds from a fund-raising event “A Night of Graffiti All Star BITEs” to its beneficiary BIKE4U Foundation. During the check turn-over, (from left): BIKE4U directors Tex Hernandez, Roy Zapata, Meyrick Jacalan and Boying Rodriguez (far right) and Bite magazine’s David Harris and Roy Lumagbas (3rd and 2nd from right). BIKE4U is a non-profit who organization who grants bicycles to indigent students. For donations, log on to www.bike4u.org or call 23285-18 0r 19.

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Categorized as Cycling