Discipline

Discipline is an integral part of sports. Athletes need to have the discipline in order to participate in competitions and be in shape to meet the physical and mental requirements of such participation.

We’ve seen the lack of discipline ruin the careers of many superstar athletes. We’ve seen the lack of discipline also hasten the retirement of many.

Leagues and even clubs impose sanctions for the lack of discipline. We’ve come across reports of players fined a lot of money for infractions committed and we’ve heard of those who have been banished for acts inimical to their sport.

Local tournaments also have set rules on imposing disciplinary action on players, team officials and fans.

Without discipline, there will be chaos. Without discipline, the good things that sports would teach the players and those who follow it will be useless.

One reason why I brought this matter up in today’s column was a sad experience the other night during the coverage of a local basketball league.

A player of the losing team flashed his buttocks to show his disgust. His act was even more disgusting than whatever complaint he may have after losing the match.

The action was despicable and the league must not hesitate to take action against the erring player.

That act, though committed only by one person, might be misunderstood by others as something that speaks about the whole organization. Sometimes, what may be funny to you is not to others.

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Parents, who are looking for a sport that you would want your kids to learn this summer can head the Fastball Batting Cages at the Mandaue Reclamation Area (beside Makro).

Jesse Bernad, the man behind this venture, has set a summer training camp that is set to open on the 13th of April and will run for three weeks.

Registration fee has been pegged at only P1,500 and is open to kids as young as six years old.

Baseball is one sport where the Philippines was once a producer of top talent, but has long been neglected.

The Fastball Batting Cages hopes to revive the interest of the Filipinos on baseball by providing a venue where you can shake off stress by hitting balls launched by pitching machines or play America’s favorite pastime with others who also love the game.

Jesse has been regularly inviting me to games on Saturdays or Sundays, but my schedule hasn’t allowed me to even drop by the place again after its opening.

I’ll surely be there soon as I gave myself a small gift – a new baseball glove – when I went to Taiwan.

Those who want to enroll their kids in the camp can call Jesse at 0917-3222284 for more details.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday to Morela Carlos-Noblejas, who turns a year older tomorrow along with my fraternity brother, Atty. Jeffrey ‘Pabu’ Pabriaga.

Birthday greetings also go to Pinky Mag-iba of Philippine Airlines, who turns a year older today and to my godson Franchisko ‘Niko’ Santos, son of my mistah Maj. Mike Santos, who turned a year old yesterday.

More power!   (THE FREEMAN)