We did our best

After the Gilas Pilipinas came home with a big fat zero win in the still ongoing FIBA World Cup in China, a lot of criticism was hurled to the coaching staff, particularly Yeng Guiao. The hurriedly-formed team finished dead last in the 32-team field.  Gilas was mangled by Italy and Serbia and lost a close overtime game to Angola. 

Even in the Classification Round, Gilas was massacred by Tunisia and Iran, who qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  So what’s the verdict for Guiao?. A Lot of basketball critics said Guiao should be booted out in the command responsibility principle.  In the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a Japanese marathoner who placed third committed “hara-kiri”(suicide) because he failed to win the gold. 

Some teams shaved their heads when they lose. But my breakfast buddy Rene Villanueva said,”Opao naman daan si Guiao”.  In fairness to Guiao, he probably did his best but his best wasn’t just enough, as the song “Just Once” would say.  For the next Gilas team, here’s some friendly advice.  Prepare longer and get some international exposure in European countries.  Meantime, let’s wallow in the mind.

Did you know?

FRANK SINATRA was a fixture at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, being apart- time owner who helped built the joint, he enjoyed the perks like getting credit.  In September 1967 however, a wealthy Howard Hughes bought the casino and changed some of the policies.  So when Sinatra asked for credit and was refused, he went on a rampage and drove a golf cart into the lobby, smashing it into plate-glass windows.  Executive vice president Carl Cohen and Sinatra engaged into a fistfight resulting to Sinatra, losing two front teeth caps.  Sinatra was then dubbed Old Black and Blue Eyes.  Well, Sinatra was a boxing fan himself even managing heavyweight Tami Maurello.  Sinatra’s father Antonio Martino Sinatra, was a part-time boxer and fought under the name Marty O’Brien.  His record was one win and seven loses.  He was knocked out five times in those eight bouts with his only victory coming from a disqualification of his opponent Young Seigerin January 1914. Frank Sinatra however never sang “ All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”.

DIMITRIOS LOUNDRAS, a gymnast from Greece was probably the youngest athlete at the 1896 Athens Olympics.  She competed in the team parallel bars at age 10 years and 218 days.

INGE SORENSEN of Denmark, was the youngest athlete to win a medal in an individual event.  The 12-year old won the bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

OSCAR SWAHN of Sweden, was the oldest medalist ever.  Swahn won the silver in the double-shot running deer team shooting event in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.  He was 72 years and 279 days.

DICK HOYT competed in the 1999 Ironman Triathlon along with his 37-year old son Richard, aspastic paraplegic who suffers from multiple sclerosis.  Father pulled son on a rubber raft during the swim, rode with him in the bike, specially outfitted with another seat, then pushed him in a wheelchair for the marathon portion.  The two competitors finished in just over 16 hours, 45 minutes before the midnight cut-off time.  The Hoyts are also a fixture in the Boston Marathon.  A runner friend from Boston recently sent me  a Team Hoyt singlet, the same singlet the Hoyts use  in the Boston Marathon.  Father and son ran Boston for 32 years with Dick pushing Rick in a wheelchair.

DENNIS RODMAN of the Chicago Bulls was suspended for 11 games and fined $25,000 for kicking a cameraman in 1992.  Rodman was a superb rebounding forward who led the NBA in rebounding for seven consecutive years (1992-98).  He was a member of five NBA champion teams with Detroitand Chicago.  Rodman married sexy Carmen Electra in 1998 in Las Vegas but filed for annulment after nine days, stating that he was drunk.  Rodman was also involved with Madonna.

VANDERLEI LIMA of Brazil was leading the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon with just five kilometers to go when suddenly, he was attacked by Cornelius Horan, a public nuisance, dressed like a defrocked priest.  The Brazilian recovered to take the bronze.  “Wala kaha to gibayran sa nag daug?”.

PETE MARAVICH the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer died of a heart attack while playing pick-up game in Pasadena.  At LSU, Maravich averaged 44.2 points in three seasons.  Nicknamed “Pistol Pete”, Maravich averaged 24.2 points in 10 NBA seasons.  He was 40.