Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Barcelona vs Chelsea

No, I'm not talking about Barcelona brandy. I'm blogging again about a football (soccer) match. Tonight will be the first leg of the 2009 Champion's League semifinal match between Barcelona and Chelsea. So, who do you think will win? If Barca were playing any team other than Chelsea, I would have rooted for them. I love their very fluid attacking play. With Henry, Eto and Messi in the attack, who could repulse them?

Chelsea, on the other hand, is my team thru thick and thin. I thought I'd dump them after Jose Mourinho left them a couple of years ago. But I remained a fan of the team. I can still be a fan of Mourinho too, while he struts his wares in Italy.

In this semis match, I think most favor the Spanish giant to win the finals. But I think otherwise. With Drogba, Lampard and Terry in the leadership roles, the Blues will win it this time in the Barcelona vs Chelsea 2009 Champions League semifinals.

Too bad I have no cable TV. And I would have been willing to forego sleep just to watch this soccer game.

Monday, April 06, 2009

The Boxing Fan

So when did I become a boxing fan? I can’t recall really. I did not become a fan because of Manny Pacquiao or Gerry Penalosa or Nonito Donaire. Don’t mention Flash Elorde as I wasn’t born yet during his prime. We’ll maybe I followed the fights of Dodie Boy then and that of Luisito Espinosa.

Probably because of my uncle who was into martial arts and he watch boxing everytime it was shown on TV. Or was it because when I was still 9, my neighbors got boxing gloves and we were paired to fight off each other in a totally sporty fashion? Brutal grown-ups! I remembered a classmate who threw fists like he was into free-style swimming. There was one who fights like a shrimp, back-pedaling after throwing a punch.

Nah, I wasn’t really into a lot of fights. Only one that I can recall. A classmate threw a challenge and I was even smiling during the bout. He was serious in covering his face and since I was taller he can’t hit my face well. A lucky punch was all it took for his gums to bleed. No, not a tooth flew. It was just a bleeding gum and a red face. I must have hit him badly that his eyes turned red. Whatever that was, I quit, apologized and shook hands with him. I can’t punish anyone even if it’s just for sports.

Ok, that was my boxing story, twenty plus years ago. Don’t ever think I can still box now. Perhaps, only in Wii.

So I decided that I’ll just become a fan of boxing. I’ll root for every Filipino who comes on stage to fight a foreigner. I root for anyone who goes up against De La Hoya. I still think he’s overrated. And Pacquiao confirmed that. I was for Holyfield when he fought against Lewis.

Even in this era of online media and blogging, I can’t help writing about boxing. So friends, if you are reading this, you might want to read also my take on the following fights:

Donaire vs Martinez – April 19, Araneta Coliseum
Pacquiao vs Hatton – May 2, MGM Las Vegas
PeƱalosa vs Lopez – April 25, Puerto Rico

For the first two, I think the Pinoy boxers can easily beat their foe. But for Gerry, he faces a very tough young warrior in Juanma Lopez. Still, I’ll root for our kababayans.