Remember the Alamo

One of the greatest battles in American history was the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.  Davy Crockett, Jim Bowle and Col. Richard Travis together with 180 men held off the 7,000-strong Mexican army led by Gen Santa Ana.  The Texans were wiped out but it gave Gen. Sam Houston enough time to gather his men and planned a counter attack which they did in San Jacinto.  Houston’s men defeated the Mexicans and the battle cry was “Remember the Alamo.”  Well, just last week, the San Antonio Spurs must be thinking about the historic event when they hosted the NBA leader, Boston Celtics.  The Spurs could not forget that night in 2015 when Kyrie Irving then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, scored 57 points to blast the Spurs. In that recent game “oldie” Mann Ginobili who is 40 years old fired at three-point shot with 5 seconds remaining to beat the Celtics, 105-102.  Irving was still a terror scoring 36 points but his efforts went to naught after Ginobili’s heroics.   The much improved Al Horford tried to block the shot but Manu said he made a shot just a little higher.  Hector Rama said sometimes you have to respect the “Gurangs” este… elders.Reminds me a few years back of our tri media athletics Olympics,  where I was forced to run against competitors young enough to be my sons. But as I said, sometimes you cannot discard “experience.”  So the results? I won the 400 meters after my younger opponents, quit one after the other.  I also  told them I was already running even before they were born.

Masters athletics

Speaking of “gurangs,” este, oldies, Cebu might just host the next Masters track and field championship next year.  The last time I talked with PSC chair Butch Ramirez, I told him I want to give the Masters (35 years and above) a chance to stretch their muscles again and relive their days of glory.  Butch said he is very open to the idea since the PSC has concentrated on the youth.  The last time we hosted the trackfest,we saw the likes of Sea Games veterans Linda Lavandia, Roy Vence, Rey Antoque, Elenita Punelas and Elma Baluitan Gabito.  We also saw the participation of foreigners, American Dennis Scott, Ireland’s Francis Costsgrave and Hungary’s Lehel Racz.

Elvisaya Christmas show

Don’t forget to watch Christmas with Elvisaya and Friends on December 17 at the Robinsons Fuente Activity Center, the free concert which starts at 5 p.m. also features Jhun Villahermosa, the Frank Sinatra of Cebu, Edison Monternel, the Tom Jones of Cebu and Handurawan host Amie Filomeno.

Did you know?

The first Paris Marathon was held in 1977 with only 87 runners finishing.  In the 1980’s, the numbers swelled to 7,000.  In 1991 the race was discontinued because of disputes with organizers, until the city council tapped the organizers of the Tour de France.  Today, the Paris Marathon attracts 40,000 runners.

New York Marathon

New York staged the first marathon in September 1896, soon after the Athens Olympics, but unlike Boston, which was held six months later, it did not survive.  In 1970 Fred Lebow, a Romanian, organized the New York Marathon.  The route was four laps entirely within Central Park with 127 entrants.  Only 55 finished and entry fee was only one dollar.  Today over 45,000 participate.