Lost Gold

My last column had several errors. The title should have been “Back to Bataan “instead of “Back to Batman” and “Death March In 1944” should have been “Death March in 1942”.  The Japan Olympic Committee is extremely worried about the possible effect of the killer new coronavirus on this year’s Tokyo Olympics in July. If the situation does not improve, there’s a big possibility that the Games will be postponed later this year. Just imagine the billions of dollars the organizers have spent in facilities and equipment. Cancellation of the Games will likewise destroy the Philippines hope for its first ever gold medal which has evaded us since we joined the Olympics.  Erstwhile Asia’s fastest woman Mona Sulaiman asked me when we were in Seoul, South Korea in 1996 for the Asian Masters Athletics Championship, if we will ever win a gold medal before we die. Well I don’t think Mona will ever know, she died three years ago.  In previous columns, I wrote that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be the venue for our first gold medal or medals.  Gymnast CaloyYulo, who has already qualified for the Games is our best bet.  Hidilyn Diaz could likewise capture the gold in the 55kg division of the women’s weightlifting, although she has to officially qualify. Still another gold medal potential is featherweight NesthyPetecio in women’s boxing. Our best haul in the Olympics are three silver medals courtesy of Anthony Villanueva in Tokyo 1964, Onyok Velasco in Atlanta in 1996 and  Hidilyn Diaz in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.  In the event the Tokyo Olympics is cancelled, our golden dream will go down the drain. As Elvis would sing “It’s Now or Never”. Although the 10C has announced that the Games will go on as scheduled, we can never be sure.  As I write this column, the coronavirus has already infected at least 230 people across Japan with 6 deaths. Let’s just pray COVID-19 won’t spoil the party. EJ Obiena is the first Filipino to qualify for Tokyo and could snatch a medal in the pole vault.  Only two Pinoys have won medals in the Games. Simeon Toribio, who won the bronze in the high jump in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and Miguel White, who also won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Did you know?

Michael Jordan

Scored only eight points in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 22, 1986.  Jordan proceeded to score double figures in his next 866 regular season games.  His streak was stopped in late 2001 when the Indiana Pacers held him to six points. 

Carl Lewis

Missed a chance of repeating his four-gold winning performance in the 1984 LA Olympics when his teammates Calvin Smith and Lee Mc Neill made an illegal baton exchange on the third leg of the first round heat of the 4x100m relay of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Bob Fitzsimmons

Protested violently (“nagwala”) when he was disqualified in his 1896 non-title fight with Tom Sharkey.  He was only restrained when referee Wyatt Earp pointed his gun on him.  Earp was the sheriff of Tombstone, Arizona who figured in the gunfight at the O.K Corral in 1881.  Earp together with brothers Frank and Morgan and their friend Doc Holiday, killed Billy Clanton and Tom and Frank Mc McLaury in the iconic gunfight.

Ronald Mcdonald

Won the second Boston Marathon in 1898. Please don’t associate this Ronald with the McDonald’s mascot.

Bob Beamon

Shattered the long jump record in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Beamon revealed he had sex right before the competition thus breaking the myth “Having sex too soon before competition will harm one’s athletic performance”.

Valery Borzov

Once regarded as the  fastest man in the world after winning the 100m and 200m in the 1972 Munich Olympics, married Lyudmila Tourischeva, winner of eight Olympic and four medals in gymnastics.  

NOTES:  The Covid-19 is not only killing thousands of people around the world but also affecting a lot of activities including sports and entertainment. Elvisaya’s scheduled gig with ElvichPhatihatakorn, the Elvis of Thailand last February, was cancelled due to the corona virus. Elvisaya instead guested at RJ Bistro at DusitThani Hotel and performed with Ramon Jacinto.