2007 – Page 14 – Cebu Sports Blog by John Pages

Dance on Fire!

I don’t know how to dance. My version of the Cha-Cha is like Optimus Prime of the Transformers moving two steps forward then sliding two steps backward. I’m stiff. My bones act like chopsticks. They’re not flexible like spaghetti.But this I do know: I love watching dancers strut. To be more precise, I love watching our DanceSport Team Cebu City performers dance.

Two years ago at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held at the Waterfront, I stood on a high chair and gazed at our Cebuano dancers tap, skip, foxtrot and waltz their way to gold medals. Wasn’t that a proud moment?

Cebu City Sports Commission

THE VERY FIRST MEETING of the new Cebu City Sports Commission: (from right) Dr. Danny Villadolid, Gene Faelnar, Rolly Diorico, Alex Pacquiao, John Pages, Councilor Yayoy Alcoseba, Nimrod Quinones, Councilor Jack Jakosalem, Councilor Gerry Carillo, Dennis Reyes, and a representative of Councilor Joey Daluz.

We talked about Barangay sports. We tackled the resurfacing problem at the Cebu City Sports Center. We vowed to organize a September 9 Half-Marathon Run. We ate the sumptuous feast offered by Yayoy’s Grill. We smiled. We agreed to hold a planning session to map out the city’s sports development for the next three years. We’re all bound by the same love and passion: CEBU SPORTS.

Read these articles by Marian Baring of Sun.Star Cebu: “Sports Commission targets ‘P30 million repair’ for track oval in Cebu’s only stadium” and “CCSC eyes Boston Marathon for Cebu.”

Minus Lance, it’s still ‘Le Tour’

Football has the World Cup. Basketball owns the NBA Finals. The NFL has the Super Bowl. Boxing features Manny vs. Erik. The 100-meter dash will be held at next year’s Beijing Olympics. Golf: The Masters. Tennis? Last week’s Wimbledon. Every single sporting spectacle has that one solitary event when all the world’s 6.6 billion eyes are glued and when all the athletes’ muscles are flexed.

Cycling? It’s happening now. It’s 21 days. It’s 3,553.9 kms. It’s 189 men in helmets and skin-tight shorts. It started in London and will end in Paris. It is, in my mind, the most grueling activity ever invented by man.

“I Want That iPhone…”

This isn’t about sports. Some will find it corny. Some will stop it after 35 seconds. But it’s funny. Real funny. And the lyrics are perfect. It’s unique. It’s a video song about this gadget that’s been hyped about and drooled over and salivated at from the moment Steve Jobs first raised his hand to show it to his fellow earthlings… the iPhone. Watch this self-made video by one of the world’s top technology writers, from the New York Times… David Pogue.

If you can’t view the above video, click on this YouTube link.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

Roger vs. Rafa… Grass vs. Clay

It’s called “The Battle of the Surfaces.” If you have yet to see it, watch it…

Note: For Internet Explorer users who can’t view the video, click here.