Who’s Your Favorite Azkal?

With just a few days away from the most anticipated Azkals game this year, fans are torn apart on who’s their favorite Pinoy footballer today. Well, who’s not when we have one of the best-looking football squads in the face of the planet? (It seems that aside from the skills, another important criterion in joining the national team would be the looks! Oh well, good bye to my ultimate dream of wearing a Philippines jersey…)

I tried to be fair in listing their names down so as not to arrange them in any significant order. Here’s the poll. You may post your comments if you want. Enjoy!

Where’s the friggin’ poll?! Click here. Or simply go to my sidebar on the right side of your screen. You know, WordPress is quite crappy sometimes. Thanks! MM

(Poll will close on February 9.)

An Addendum to My Pacquiao for President Post

Thank God!

A few days ago, some guy named Bob Arum told everybody that he’s certain Manny Pacquiao could be president when he reaches 42.

Pacquiao however, in one of the few things he has done right outside the ring, told my favorite [italics mine] sportscasters, Dyan Castillejo and no other than Ronnie Nathanielsz that he is not even thinking about presidency.

What a relief for me and the 90 million plus Filipinos. At least, straight from the horse’s mouth, we are assured that we will not have another Noynoy Aquino for the next ten years or so.

“Wala sa isip ko yan. Kung anong katungkulan ko ngayon, ‘yun ang nasa isip ko,” said the boxing superstar and lawmaker from Saranggani.

For the first time outside the ring, I can say that I’m proud of you, Manny. But you may want to look for another boxing promoter as Bob Arum will surely leave you just like how Kris Aquino dumped James Yap.

The eight-division champ added: “Makaserbisyo ng totoo, makatulong sa kapwa, maraming nangangailangan ng tulong na kelangan nating aksyunan.”

Thanks a lot,  Pac! MM

Oooh, I Just Hate You, Ronnie

In a way, I didn’t like that ABS-CBN won the rights to televise not only the Azkals game against Mongolia on February 9, but ALL of their games in the next 12 months. Don’t get me wrong though, I have nothing against the Kapamilya network–well, except for the smiling white-haired guy above.

I’m a big fan of football and the Azkals. Like the thousands who climbed aboard the football bandwagon, I am really excited to watch the Azkals slug it out against the Mongolians in February. But unlike their stint in the AFF Suzuki Cup last month, their games will not be aired on Star Sports. After winning the bid against arch-rival GMA 7 and the bullish TV5 network backed by no other than Manny Pangilinan, ABS gained the rights to air the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying game between the Philippines and Mongolia. Which could mean only one thing: Ronnie Nathanielsz anchoring the broadcast.

I don’t want to sound disrespectful. Nathanielsz has been in the business twice, maybe even thrice as long as I am alive. But watching the reruns of Studio 23’s coverage of the Azkals’ games in the Suzuki Cup semis, the broadcast was really biased. Nathanielsz didn’t even know what he was talking about. Personally, I would rather watch the game with Tantaran-Chuchurut-churut as background music than listen to Nathanielsz blather on national TV.

But what made me hate this old guy more was when he started to write in his column that the Azkals games he had anchored rated better than the PBA games that week featuring a quarterfinals game between Air21 and San Miguel and an elims game between Meralco and Rain Or Shine. Obviously, there’s a hidden agenda in this and it surely started a holiday catfight between him and another renowned sports caster, Quinito Henson. Nathy’s write-ups seemed to light a fire under Quinito and the latter came out with his own column, calling Ronnie’s articles “a crass display of news manipulation to promote a hidden agenda,” and as Fire Quinito (no, not Henson, but Jaemark Tordecilla) wrote in his blog, “it was meant to embarass the PBA and its broadcast partner, Solar Sports”. You might say I am writing this in defense of the Philippine Basketball Association, but as what I’ve said before, I like the Azkals more than B-Meg, Meralco, Talk N Text or Yeng Guiao. I just don’t like it when well-respected people with a reputation as high as his hair is white, tells something untrue for his own personal interests. That’s lying, man!

One of my favorite sports blogs Fire Quinito further reports Ronnie’s involvement and lobbying for his mother network, ABS-CBN:

The point of [Nathanielsz’] articles was to build up ABS-CBN as the PBA’s new broadcasting partner, something that Nathanielsz has been lobbying for several years now. In these stories, he never seems to mention his chummy relationship with ABS-CBN Sports’ top brass or his connection to the broadcasts.

What a guy!

If that’s still not enough, well, in case you don’t know, Nathanielsz was a former Marcos crony and has been lobbying endlessly for his personal gain. I told you, he’s been in the business twice, maybe even thrice as long as I’ve been alive.

Wow. You made it this far? Congratulations. Just like you, I wish that ABSCBN gets an anchor who knows football more than old Nathy. (But please, not Dyan Castillejo!)

All together now: What a guy! MM

Azkals Captain Predicts 3-0 Blowout Over Mongolia

“It’s going to be 3-0 for the Azkals.”

A fearless forecast indeed for Azkals’ centerback and team captain Aly Borromeo as the once whipping boys of Southeast Asia take on a virtually unknown Mongolian squad on February 9 at the Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod City.

The 27-year-old versatile defender (and obviously a hot-hot hunk, too!) also added that their focus is not only to win the game, but win it by as many goals as they can to gain as much advantage over the Mongolians come second leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying showdown.

Mongolia as you probably know it, is not only famous for their Mongolian rice and barbecue, Genghis Khan, and the tongue-twisting name of their president (Tsakhjagin Elbegdorj), but is also well-known for their brutally cold and windy climate, especially in Ulaan Baatar, the venue for their home game against the Philippines.

It’s really crucial for the Azkals to win the game here in Panaad with a big lead since Mongolia will obviously have an advantage in the second leg playing not only in front of their cheering homecrowd but a bigger advantage playing in its favorite climate. (Unless the Azkals start training in a giant refrigerator.)

Borromeo, also the MVP of the recently concluded LBC United Football League, added that they have to prove that they’re better than the Mongols. While the Philippines is currently ranked very loooow by FIFA at 150, the Mongolians however are hell-deeper at 182. They also have the distinction of the only country to lose against Guam, a notoriously lackluster team in football.

Overconfidence really doesn’t have a place in the Azkals’ system. With so much preparation and millions of Filipinos’ high expectations tagged onto them, losing against Mongolia will not only disappoint the Filipino fans, but might kill the newfound budding interest of this country in football.

To Borromeo and the rest of the team: Pleeeease, don’t disappoint us. Beat the hell out of them and make us proud once again! MM

(Photo used with the permission of Paolo Dolina.)

Pacquiao To Be President at 42?

I know it sounds silly. But some people think it’s worth a try.

Top Rank chief promoter Bob Arum made an assertion in a recent interview by Examiner.com that boxing champ Manny Pacquiao is going to be the president of the Philippines after his 42nd birthday.

“I tell you, Pacquiao will become the president when he reaches 42,” said Arum. By the way, for those of you not familiar with him, he’s the old, fat man you always see kissing Pacquiao’s ass everytime Pacman wins a match.

I clicked on Examiner.com before writing this and no, it’s not a porn site. Maybe Bob Arum was just misquoted as saying “Manny Villar will become president when he reaches 42”. But as far as I know, Pacquiao is the only Manny who could ask Arum to come to his home in Gensan tonight and pluck his underarm hair. And if I’m not mistaken, Villar is in his 50’s already!

“He is a work in progress conceivably learning the arts and wiles of politics and I believe he is going to be very successful in what he does and what he will do as a politician to the best of the Philippines.”

Yeah right.

If Pacman’s gonna be a good president, then I’m a cauliflower.

What irks me more is when he said that he will be more than delighted if the extremely intelligent [italics mine] Sarangani congressman actually becomes president in the next decade.

I hate to think that Pacquiao’s such a dumbass that he would actually tag on to someone’s political/corporate/whatever ambitions for his/her own interest. Yes, Pacquiao helps the needy, but come on, being the most powerful person in this country requires some brains. Not to mention parents who were also politicians before.

Look, I love Pacquiao like I love the tinapa vendor’s daughter across the street. Though it took me some time (and tons of beer), I actually respected his decision to run for congress. Not because I was 2000% certain he would lose, but because if he really wants to help people, that’s his right.

But running a country is no joke. You could not just ask that tinapa vendor’s daughter to be president when she reaches 42. (Unless something really weird happens). Pacquiao is the best in the world in boxing. But not the best choice to be a leader to more than 100 million people.

For Arum, I know it was just his opinion. But please, if you’re that filthy rich and powerful in the world of sports, maybe you would want to watch your mouth next time. You know, we Filipinos take things seriously. If Manny wins in 2022 elections, it’s gonna be your fault.

Or if you were just a little drunk and tipsy when you said that, that’s understandable. I say a lot of filthy things too when I’m under the influence of alcohol. (But you’re still nuts!) MM

Busboy Got Game: Pinoy Shames LeBron, Bryant, and Other NBA Stars Like A Boss

Five NBA stars stood up to the challenge. Five men down.

One busboy proved to the world that we Filipinos really got some game… and he might have NBA teams rethinking their free agency plans, too!

Superstar after superstar, Ricardo “the Busboy” Reyes has been making not only waves, but triggering tsunamis in the sports limelight recently. In Jimmy Kimmel Live Gamenight, “The Busboy” is featured challenging not only NBA players, but NBA’s biggest stars in pop-a-shot.

Reyes first clobbered an unsuspecting LeBron James as he scored 72 points to whack the hell out of the most sought-after star in the sport today, who only scored 42.

Although looking like a 5th grader beside towering NBA greats, the 41-year-old Reyes is as hot as a shooter as he is as bald.

Charles Barkley, Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom then received the same beating as “the Busboy” displayed a blistering of a shooting clinic.

The Barney’s Beanery’s probably most famous employee today then took on Carmelo Anthony, and he too, bowed down to his greatness with Reyes taking home a spanking new 2011 Ford Mustang!

Shoutout to Smart Gilas: Get this guy before someone in the NBA signs him! MM