Streets of Yangon

In 2016, I was in Yangon, Myanmar enroute to the ancient city of Bagan, home to the largest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas and stupas and ruins dating from the 11th century. Bagan boast of as many as 13,000 temples but only 2,200 remain today. The highlight of our trip was a 30- minute hot air ballon ride as we breezed over the golden pagodas for a magnificent aerial view. My siblings and I flew to Heho and finally to Nyuang Shwe before proceeding to Inle Lake, a 14-mile long lake, blanketed with floating gardens.  In one village, we found the long-neck ladies who looked like giraffes. Tradition  says these women put the gold rings on their necks when they were still kids as protection fron thieves. As a martial arts disciple, I wanted to visit the Shaolin temples but they were off limit to tourists. After three days in Bagan and Heho, we were back to Yangon and visited the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s biggest, rising to 330 feet and plated with 22,000 solid gold bars.  The base of the stupa is encrusted with 4,531 diamonds with the largest at 72 carats.  I enjoyed the last two days of our stay, running around the streets of Yangon.

Turmoil in Myanmar

As I write this column, the same streets where I ran, are filled with protesters who demand the release of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted in a military coup on Feb. 1. The protests have become violent lately with over 250 people killed after being shot by police.  Journalists who covered the protests were also arrested. Myanmar hosted the Sea Games in 2013,  placing  fourth and relegating the Philippines to seventh, its worst finish in the Games.  With all these chaos  and turmoil happening in the country, I’m almost certain Myanmar will fare badly in this year’s Games in Hanoi,Vietnam.

Hasta la vista Marvin

Former undisputed middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler died on Saturday at age 66. Hagler ruled the division from 1980 to 1987.  He fought some of the best fighters of the world including Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.  Hagler won the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles in 1980, stopping Britain’s Alan Minter in the third round when the referee stopped the fight. The British crowd became rowdy and threw missles and racial abuse at Hagler who had to be escorted by police to his dressing room.  Hagler stopped Thomas Hearns in 1985, sending him to the canvas in the third round.  He scored a 15 round unanimous decision over unbeaten John Mugabi in 1986 then in  1987 and at the age of 32, Hagler fought Sugar Ray Leonard, 30 who was coming from a three-year retirement.  Leonard who did not box a single contest during that day off, scored a controversial 12-round split decision.  Ring observers beleived Hagler was the winner. Hagler’s record is 62-3 with 2 draws and 52 knockouts.  By the way, Hagler and yours truly have the same birthday, May 23.

Did you know?

ANTHONY DAVIS  of the Los Angeles  Lakers shot up to 6’10” almost  overnight from a 6’3” guard.  He has a wingspan of 7’4” which made him one of the best shot blockers in the NBA.  He blocked 186 shots, setting single-season record with the Kentucky Wildcats who became champions.  After he sprouted to 6’10”, his parents had to buy a special king-sized bed so his feet  didn’t hang over the hedge.