Twice to beat and twice beaten: It's Ateneo and UE in the finals!

All along I thought it was FEU. Not sure what happened but right when they're about to play their final four match against UE, the FEU management dropped their star player from the team with people saying its because of game fixing. His performance steadily declined over the past few games and he was asked to explain this to the management. Well, obviously, this has impacted the morale of the FEU team negatively. They were leading the standings with Ateneo and they just lost it.

It's sad to hear stories like this. Just earlier this week, Renault's ever flamboyant Flavio Briatore was handed a lifetime ban from Formula 1 for allegedly ordering his support driver to deliberately crash in Singapore to help Fernando Alonso win. Yup, Spanish wonder boy in another controversy.

What's the point of playing a sport if they're only going to 'fix' it? Why don't they just make a movie if they already knew how it'd end, anyway?  Oh, right. You can't bet in movies.

Walking around just like they do on Gossip Girl

I have weird sleeping habits here on the other side of the world. My cousins were expecting me to go through some jet lag after my first longest flight ever but that wasn't the case. Perhaps the beer helped (upon arrival and after dinner) put me to sleep... for 11 hours! and then everything's back to normal.

Went around midtown Manhattan alone. Fun experience! My cousin didn't want to let me go at first because she was worried I'd get lost or whatever but I insisted on going and I was fine.  She printed something from Google Maps for me and it was pretty accurate. I went the wrong way a couple of times but the street names were numbers so it was easier to navigate. I now understand the directions they give on Gossip Girl, haha!

It's 7:25 am now. Woke up so early!

FORESIGHT

n.

1. Perception of the significance and nature of events before they have occurred.
2. The exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters

That's probably it -- what we have (most of the time) that other people don't have; what should've allowed us to control things that we now think were beyond our control anyway (or is it a mere excuse?).

So how do you acquire Foresight? Is it acquired or innate? 


Well, let me know if it's for sale anywhere... I'll buy mega loads and give them as Christmas giveaways - for you and for me and the entire human race.

Mind Bites.

I was going through mind bites on flickr and quite coincidentally, they seem to have one similar theme.  Just the ones that caught my eye today... or perhaps, it's no coincidence at all.

This one was sent by a friend to a group - for La Sallians, when the Green Archers didn't make it to the final four this year... or should I say "when the Green Archers failed to make it to the final four." Haha, kidding.  We Ateneans waited 14 years to win a championship, allow us naman to have fun making fun of you! But it's all good. All good! :)

Bleh.

Ateneo running in P1!

ONE BIG FIGHT!!!


-----------------------------

No sign yet. 


Apparently, rumors are just rumors.  The mafia boss has hinted that the real slim shady will remain part of the family.  Likewise, the real slim shady maintains that so far, nothing has changed. At least not this year. That said, nothing is being decided on the 256th day.

...That's what they say but the rumors continue and it could still be #2.

Get that ball.

I'm not quite sure about how to react in particular situations where I find myself an involved observer.  

I'm at the back of a team bench, watching a basketball match obviously rooting for the team in front of me. I'm friends with them. I'm friends with the captain and I know the coach.  The first three quarters sees the usual ball game.  Alternate possessions, they make the baskets, close fight.  We understand that this is where the foundation is laid. It's where we have the opportunity to build a lead large enough to secure the last quarter but we don't take advantage of this for a lot of reasons that are difficult to point out. Missed free throws are among them.  Nonetheless, we get to keep the lead in the first three quarters albeit at a nominal margin.

We've realized before that it's really a combination of offense and defense, strategy and tactics. The best teams aren't just the ones who make the most baskets -- the best teams are those who can intelligently set-up and execute plays that will make the most baskets.  It's not enough to know how to shoot. Even the best three point gunners do not succeed based on sheer talent alone. It is after all a team sport where everything needs to fall into place and the contribution of every individual counts.

We now find ourselves in the fourth quarter, where it really matters, with not a lot of bullets to spare.  We're almost in foul trouble and the opposition has managed to stay close to us.  We miss some shots, fail to grab some rebounds... they've become stronger now.  They have taken over.  They are leading and are on the offensive. Pressure is mounting. The team is in panic. We could lose. They have gained a 5-point lead.

Crunch time.

It's during these times when I think the captain plays a bigger role on the court.  The coach is there, calling the shots from the sidelines, but he can only do so much.  It's up to the boys to execute.  When the team is downtrodden, crumbling and desperate, it is the captain who is expected to lift their spirits up. He is the leader on the court. The mantra is to never give up.

But what happens when the captain is the first to breakdown? Who will lead the team? Who will make them realize the possibilities? Who will motivate them to rise up and react positively to the challenge? What do you do if the captain is giving up on the fight?  What does the coach do when he sees that it's his captain who gives up first? 

In my perspective, as long as it is still realistically possible, we shouldn't be wasting time sulking at the corner and contemplating underachievement.  Because it is still realistically possible. The game is not over.

But it's easy for me to say.  After all, I'm just a spectator.

Last two minutes.