Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

There’s been a lot of optimism going around with the free agency acquisition of four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace by the Chicago Bulls. Wallace’s tremendous weak-side defense and tenacious rebounding, as well as his veteran leadership and laudable work ethic are seen as major upgrades to the young core of Chicago.

However, many question the $60M deal across four years he was offered, particularly with his lack of offensive ability. In one interview Pistons coach Flip Saunders noted it by saying “It was very obvious, especially against Miami, that if Ben got the ball in a position to score, they were going to foul him, and he wasn’t making the free throw shots which will kill a team’s momentum. I don’t think it was my offense, if you’re struggling like that, it could be anyone’s offense. I think there’s no question we’ll miss things about Ben, but there are going to be areas where we will be better.”

Given that Ben Wallace is the sort of baller who plays better with a chip on his shoulder, will it be enough motivation for him to take the Bulls deep into playoff territory? Does Ben Wallace make the Bulls better?

Read the rest of the article at The ArmChair Jock.

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In a recent entry in his blog, Davao Councilor Peter Lavina correctly (IMHO) points out that the internet (in this case blogging) has the potential to affect politics; however Dr. Ronald Meinardus (et al) put forth some interesting reasons why politicians don’t blog, namely:

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Heber Bartolome is the voice and soul behind legendary protest folk-rock band Banyuhay, who gained immortality with the unforgettable phrase: “Tayo’y mga Pinoy, tayo’y hindi kano, wag kang mahihiya, kung ang ilong mo ay pango.” He sang songs of protest, but never angrily. He is punk without the whine of self-pity. Hardcore without the idiocy of aimless angst. An advocate for change and reform, Ka Heber saw - and sang about - the truth, but his songs were always hopeful. Even in the dark days of Marcos.

Read the rest of this entry at The Guitar Blog

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A year ago they were primed to go back to the NBA Finals and avenge their loss to the Spurs. But a month ago, neither Detroit nor San Antonio were in contention for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and we were introduced to the Wade era. The future, as they say, will never be the same again.

With a coaching change and a regular season that left everybody in the dust and broke the team record for wins, people from inside and out of the organization have on more than one occasion said that anything short of a championship would be deemed a failure. So, following their collapse at the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, the Pistons went into serious rethinking mode about how to get back to the promised land. Read the rest of this entry »

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I’ve been itching to do this for a long time now, and alternating from being sick to being unemployed, I finally have the time to do it. Presenting, the Guitar Blog, where I talk about, well, music in general, guitars in particular. I’m also gonna be doing something I call Single Song Breakdown, where I take apart  song and try to play it my way, and show you how, too.

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Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead

Imagine, if you will, being a Superman fan. In the Age of Anime.

It doesn’t paint a pretty picture, no matter how you tilt the frame. And things haven’t been good for the Man of Steel in decades.

It probably began with the Denny O’Neal - Neil Adams run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow in the 70’s, pushing social consciousness to the mainstream comics industry. Then came the grim and gritty icons like Wolverine, and the now-classic Dark Knight Returns (Frank Miller) and Watchmen (Alan Moore), giving mainstream comic books an edgier, more “adult” feel. Fast forward to now, with the Anime/Manga invasion - in the span of a few years, Superman went from being the world’s greatest superhero to being the world’s greatest boy scout.

Subsequent years saw Superman taking more of a backseat to newer, “tougher” characters. It is perhaps a tribute to this state of affairs that Mark Waid wrote Kingdom Come: a groundbreaking mini-series with art painted by Alex Ross, that illustrated Superman’s increasing irrelevance to how the world works, making the Man of Tomorrow a relic of the past.

And ever increasingly, Superman stories matured. Gone are the wacky villains and even wackier sidekicks. No longer were Superman stories about cosmic disasters and natural cataclysms and the next big unstoppable villain (excepting Doomsday). They were now short morality plays, almost - exploring his psyche, his personality, his… humanity. And mostly asking the question why, despite being able to do most anything he has a mind to do, why be a boy scout, still? Come on! He’s Super-effin-Man! Why not take over? Why not get rich? Why not be a little selfish, here and there? What keeps him good, fighting the good fight? What makes Superman, a super man?

Well, because he’s Superman, and that’s the way he is, that’s the way he chose to be. He’s become one of those people that define themselves, in a cyclic manner. It’s like, why is Samuel L. Jackson such a cool bad ass mofo? Aside from the wallet, it’s because he’s Samuel L. Jackson. Superman is awsome because he is Superman, and he fights for all that is good and decent, truth and justice, because he is Superman. He wouldn’t be Superman otherwise.

He belives in good. He sees evil, and fights against it, because he knows good. Being (up until recently) the last survivor of a dead planet, he reaches out to the denizens of his adopted home and protects them from harm, because it’s all he’s got. He’s not merely good, he represents it. Personifies it. Becomes it.

And that’s awsome.

And that’s how it feels to be a Superman fan. And that’s why I so desperately wanted the new movie to touch the non-fans the way I, a fan, am touched. To spread the awesomeness. Because Superman’s is a beautiful story of somebody trying to do good in a world that’s lost faith.

Imagine my disappointment in this Brian Singer film, then.

This is a movie that started out with so much promise. A world that lost Superman. Can you even begin to imagine how that must be like? Can you imagine living on a planet that was home to one of the most powerful beings in existence, and almost daily depending on him for help, and then one day he’s not there? Yup, neither can Brian Singer. Because we’re introduced to the world that, while not totally unimpressed by him, treats the Man of Steel like any other guy in tights. How can his leaving be relegated to a shrug? I know it took Lois Lane almost five years to write him off (and win a Pulitzer for it), but did it seem like five years? The potential in exploring those five years that he wasn’t around was limitless, and could really have gone a long way in establishing what the character meant to the people, but it was glazed over. The title’s Superman Returns, for crying out loud; would it have killed them to emphasize the importance of said return? There are moments when I know they wanted to make Superman more iconic, more relevant: the messianic poses, the standing ovation when he saved the shuttle, his declaration that the people call to him for help… but there’s no follow through. The way the film treated him, he was nothing more than a popular Spiderman, and that’s just wrong.

Another grave injustice was done to Kevin Spacey, and to a greater extent, Lex Luthor. His version was little better than Gene Hackman’s, and still with the obsession on land! Still surrounding himself with idiots for accomplices. Still with the megalomania. It’s a good thing they didn’t get Eddie Murphy (or worse, Chris Tucker/Will Smith) to reprise Richard Pryor’s role. I hate to say this, but the Smallville TV series at least treated Lex with respect. Has Brian Singer even read a Superman comic in the last 20 years? I don’t mind him taking liberties with the story, but he could have at least gotten some clues as to characterization.

And another thing: Singer killed off Jonthan Kent!? And Martha wasn’t even significant after the first ten or so minutes. These are the people that made Superman who he is, who taught him to be good and just. These are his human connections. They are what made Superman super humane, and the utter lack of storytime they got is just disappointing.

One thing that would’ve been funny if it wasn’t so… off… was Lois Lane having Superman’s kid. I’m not sure if this is a swipe at Kevin Smith - who was supposed to do the script for the movie, who directed Mall Rats, wherein they discussed the impossibility of a Superman-Lois Lane baby because, among other things, Superman would “blow his load like a shotgun” right through Lois’ back.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks that the reason for Superman’s departure was just a wee bit forced? He just up and leaves? Superman? Sure, I’d understand him wanting to check out Krypton, but just like that? Poof, gone? Brian Singer knows Superman like he knows the X-Men. As in, not at all.

What I DO Like

Having said the negative stuff, I’m glad it wasn’t Tim Burton doing the movie, as was originally planned. Although I’m still curious as to what Kevin Smith’s take would have been, had Burton not canned his script.

Brandon Routh is the spitting image of Christopher Reeve. The flight scenes are awsome, very good CGI and camerawork. He can certainly strike a pose, I’ll give him that. Very iconic, very majestic. Even his Clark Kent is like Reeve’s. Yep, same old Clark.

Lois definitely got an upgrade in the looks department. It’s Kate Bosworth, what can I say? Rowr? :p

The camerawork was superb, the lighting and sets were good.

And not much else.

I give this movie a C.

[EDIT]

Ok. I watched the movie again. Better the second time around, I’d say. I still stand by my Bryan Singer comments, but the rest of the movie… well, it’s a Superman flick, I’m a Superman fan.

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In a moment of clarity, and for the first time in the fight, Oscar Larios knew exactly what he had to do. Lashing out with a left hook and following up with a spearing right, he had Manny Pacquiao, the reigning WBC International super featherweight champ, on the ropes early in the third round.

Unfortunately, all glassy-eyed and stunned, Pacquiao had his moment of clarity as well.

It is perhaps to Paquiao’s discredit that it was only then that he took Larios - a fierce competitor and as classy a fighter if there ever was one - seriously. Behind in points by then and fighting to keep the Mexican at bay until he could regain his senses, the PacMan turned on the switch.

By the seventh round, a right hook followed by a massive left cross by Pacquiao sent Larios down, and it was something the Mexican would never recover from. His confidence was gone, and the flurry of blows and in-fighting techinques that are Chololo’s trademark have left him. Larios was never noted for his power, and when he began swinging only with his right hand, the fight was over.

When the twelfth bell rang, it was almost a formality, although I disagree with commentator Sev Sarmienta’s account that Pacquio was toying with Larios. While never giving as good as he got, he took Pacquiao’s blows head on and never quit. It is a testament not only to his training, but to his heart. And while moral victories don’t show up on the stats sheet, sometimes, how you play the game counts.

Post-fight thoughts

This is a fight of contrasts and ironies: Pacquiao was clearly the better fighter but Larios had more heart: a state of affairs that is often the reverse whenever Pacquiao steps into the ring. Larios came in as a boxer known for his inside fighting skills, and despite his lack of power, is more than capable of scoring a knockout because he could let loose an astonishing barrage of punches. Pacquiao has the reputation for being a brawler and heavy hitter, but not much of a ring tactician. What we saw in the fight was a Larios unable to conistently land his combinations and a Pacquiao counter-punching, dodging, waving, and basically out-boxing Larios.

I am disappointed in Pacquiao’s attitude though, winning AND losing. Be a gracious winner for a change and stop bragging about how Larios’ hits never fazed you. Bravado is all well and good, but when the loser is as classy as Larios has shown himself to be, you’re just making yourself look like an ass. And enough of the “I’m doing this so the country can be united” angle, ok? As glad as I am to see you win, let’s drop the bullshit

As tune-up matches go, I’m glad this wasn’t another farce like the Fashan “3K Battery” fight; by fighting a great boxer in Larios, it more than confirms the assertion that Manny’s win over Morales last January (Pacquiao - Morales II) was not a fluke. It also makes the Pacquiao - Morales tiff on the 18th of November (tentatively) an even better fight, a true rivalry between the best fighters in the world.

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