My Weekend in My Sportsdom

My sporting weekend is not so great as my sporting wishes did not materialize.

Manny Pacquiao thoroughly defeated Shane Mosley as expected but not by way of a knockout which I so greatly desire.

The Boston Celtics winning against the Miami Heat, to cut the deficit of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series to just 1 and keep its title aspiration alive, is the only thing that came true.

The Oklahoma Thunder, fell in overtime to the surprising Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are up in the Western Conference Semifinal round series, 2 - 1. The Thunder need a lot of work if my predictions that they will be the NBA champ is to come true.

Lastly, Roger Federer once again lost to Rafael Nadal. But I guess him taking a set on Rafa's favorite surprise can be considered a little victory.

Later tonight, I hope that Baranggay Ginebra Kings could muster their never-say-die spirit to extend the PBA Commissioner's Cup Final Series to a sudden death Game 7.

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Liking Mr. Grant Hill More

Grant Hill
Image from Wikipedia

From the start, Mr. Grant Hill seemed like a very nice guy.

Liked him when he was a Detroit Pistons member. Never really saw him as an Orlando Magic member.

And definitely loved him when he resurrected his playing career as a Phoenix Suns player. I immediately added to him to my favorite players.

Apparently, there is more to like about Mr. Hill.

I first saw Grant Hill in a commercial. I think it was FILA. Where former Detroit piston Bad Boy, Bill Laimbeer is coaching him to be mean. I found that so funny.

I was not a Pistons fan then but I liked Grant Hill in those highlight reels I saw of him. It was just sad that his tenure at Orlando was injury-cursed.

When he went to my favorite team, the Phoenix Suns, obviously, I was glad because there's another player to like besides Steve Nash & Amar'e.

And the fact that he won sportsmanship awards in the NBA makes Hill all the more likable not only to fans but I guess even with most NBA players.

Now, I found another reason to like him.

He was so eloquent in responding to comments made by Jalen Rose as part of a documentary about the Fab Five lore of US NCAA Hoops lore.

Sorry to biased against Jalen. Never liked him, especially when he was an Indiana Pacer playing against His Airness, MJ. I admit, I am never privy to the Fab Five and what "Uncle Tom" is really about.

But the fact that Grant Hill stood up for what he felt was an unglowing remarks by Jalen towards his family, upbringing and school makes him a better person to me. Because that's what good people who care for their family & school do.

And for the win, Grant Hill stated in his response that among his proud moments as a Blue Devil was never losing to the Fab Five.

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Super Howl on Sports Tickets for Super Bowl Seats

I think Super Bowl tickets are least likely to be cheap sports tickets. That's why I symphatize to those 400 people who put their hard earned cash to buy sports ticket to the ultimate American Pro Football game. And the other 850 fans who were transferred to other seats. For sure, to those displaced fans, the Super Bowl XLV sports tickets they bought sucks big time.

Super Bowl XLV Tickets
Image from dallasnews.com

Sports fans should not be made to suffer as such. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell promised tickets for next year's Super Bowl. And they should. I am a sports fan, and that sad experience deserve more. I am praying that the NFL really refund those sport tickets THRICE the value and give these unfortunate football fans GUARANTEED SEATS on the next Super Bowl.

These are the least that the NFL could do because the sports moment those fans should have witnessed at the comfort of those seats can never be recovered. The examiner couldn't have said it any better,

" For these fans, the dreams of Packers or Steelers fans to witness their team play in a Super Bowl dissipated. A once in a lifetime opportunity for most fans was wasted, "

Continue reading on Examiner.com HERE

I can't determine which set of these unlucky unseated fans had it worse.

For Green Bay Packer fans, I bet they were frustrated not to see [comfortably] how their team won, 31 - 25. Perhaps they'd be consoled that the Lombardi trophy is coming back to their city.

For Pittsburg Steeler fans, the unfortunate incident further downed them, as the Steelers rally fell short in the second half.

Sports tickets to live games are heaven-sent for sportsfans like me. Organizers should ensure they would never ever suck.

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Sporting Hell for Me

The recent weeks has been a sporting hell for me.

Roger Federer failed on his end for a titanic US Open Tennis Championships finals, uncharacteristically, failing to finish off Novak Djokovic. Oh well, with Nadal in form, I figured Federer dodge another loss from his arch rival.

Tiger Woods, failing to advance in PGA's playoff format Fedex Cup. It never fails to amaze me how Tiger even in losing is still hogging the spotlight more than the winners.

Spain basketball team, not even reaching the finals of the FIBA world championships. We could have seen more of Ricky Rubio's status vis-a-vis NBA players.

Efren Bata Reyes and Django Bustamante failing to defend their World Cup of Pool 9 ball title to the dismay of Filipino billiard fans especially that Roberto Gomez & Dennis Orcullo did not make a good showing in the finals.

University of the East Warriors peaking too late to miss the Final Four bus of UAAP Season 73 Men's Senior's Basketball Tournament.

My only sports consolation was a winning bet for Alaska and Allan Caidic's performance at the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge.

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My College Alma Mater Basketball Team

Surprise, and a little pride I guess, came over me when I read about my alma mater - Techonological Institute of the Philippines - being part of the 8th Fr. Martin Division II Cup from here.

Back in my days, the TIP hoops team named Rangers were campaigning in CUSA [Colleges and Universities Sports Association] basketball and the main player was Jeff Sanders who I believed reached the now-defunct MBA (Metropolitan Basketball Association).

I wonder how the team is called now and if my former school now has a better sports facility. I hope that a respectable showing of the TIP team will lead to more sports media mileage.

Surely, I can be a big fan.

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