Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

Speaking in front of reporters for what would seemingly have been the thousandth time, George Mallory gives the almost snide, immortal response to the question “why climb Mt. Everest”: because it is there. Now, 84 years later, one man looks back at what Mallory must have faced when attempting to tame the wildest frontier known to man, as he himself prepares to undertake a perilous journey of his own.

I sometimes wonder what Mallory must have been thinking, cold, stranded and slowly losing mobility, struggling to breathe the thin air, prolonging for a few seconds more — a few seconds more! — a life that was better lived than any. Here was a man who dared to do things. A man who, at 38, had a richer storehouse of experience than those twice, thrice his age. A man of action, vigor and strength, helpless to prevent the dying of his once-raging light under the onslaught of the most unforgiving region on the face of the planet.

In his last moments, knowing that the end is near, did he ever regret his impetuousness? His audacity? His brazen defiance of all that stood taller, prouder, mightier than he? Some might call it hubris, that endearing yet ultimately infuriating and damning characteristic of all great Shakespearean and Greek heroes. And there’s one thing all heroes have in common, as well: they die, in the end.

I wonder about that increasingly these days, as I prepare myself for my first climb: Mt. Gulugud-Baboy. Yes, it’s only 300-or-so feet above sea level. And yes, it is, for all intents and purposes, a freaking hill. But I cannot escape the same sense of dread Mallory must have felt, all those years ago, when nature responded to his challenge. Will I fare better, I wonder, when Gaia throws down the gauntlet? Am I on a fool’s errand, wasting my bargain-basement life in attempting to conquer this… err… peak? Will I venture forth into that summit, only to be, like Mallory, never heard from again?

God help me, but I don’t care. I must do this. Because it is there.

</melodrama>

I can’t wait! Whee! Leave no trace, everyone! Whee!

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From CTV.ca:

Canadian pro wrestling superstar Chris Benoit, his wife and son have been found dead at their suburban Atlanta home, World Wrestling Entertainment says.

Police said Monday they are treating the matter as a homicide.

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I’m reposting this article I wrote for The Basketball Exchange, about the Dallas Maverick’s current struggles. At the time of writing, the Mavs are in a two-game winning streak, pulling off close wins over the Suns and the Trailblazers. They are now 2-4.

A few days ago, fellow BallEx writer John Dacanay asked the question: What is happening to the Mavericks? I won’t bother with the stats too much, because the reason he posed the question is blatantly obvious: this Maverick team is struggling, opening the season with four straight losses - the worst in franchise history.

This is a team that kept its core after reaching the NBA Finals last year, and they supposedly got deeper. This is a team that has the reigning Coach of the Year in Avery Johnson, the best foreign player (and easily top ten league-wide) in Dirk Nowitzki, and boasts having Jerry Stackhouse as a sixth man. Read the rest of this entry »

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This is part of a series of posts at the Armchair Jock featuring the third match between Manny “The Pacman/The Destroyer” Pacquiao and Erik “El Terrible” Morales, dubbed The Finale. In this post, I’ll be giving a general overview of who the fighters are and what’s happened before.

Sooner rather than later, the excuses will end, when arguably two of the best fighters in the world go head to head in what has been dubbed "The Finale": Pacquiao vs. Morales III, this coming November 18 (November 19 Philippine time). Both fighters have won over the other, and both are just as hungry to prove themselves the better boxer, no caveats, no ifs, no buts. Barring the unfortunate possibility of a draw, this fight, as with the previous two, is bound to be a serious conteder for fight of the year.

Backgrounder

Manny Pacquiao, (42-3-2, 32 KOs), is the WBC’s and the WBO’s No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger for the 130-pound titles and a consensus Top-3 “Pound-for-Pound” fighter. His exploits in the ring have made him a local icon in the Philippines, coming at the expense of some of the greatest boxers of this era: Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. A natural slugger, Pacquiao often uses his superb combination of superior handspeed, durability and power to pummel his opponents to the ground. This has, however, found a foil in the past, most notably with Morales himself, back in thier first fight in March of 2005. Still, he has more than made up for that loss in the past year. Albeit generally unimpressive in his tune-up win over Oscar "Chololo" Larios last July, Pacquiao has shown that his right hand has become almost as potent as his famed left (Manila Ice) as he sent Larios sprawling to the floor a couple of times. More impressive was his win over Morales earlier in the year in their second meeting, and becoming the first to score a knock out over the Mexican pugilist, repeatedly going for the body and wearing down the fierce Mexican. Needless to say, Pacquiao is at the top of his game.

For the rest of this article, head on over to The Armchair Jock.

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Featuring boxing analyst Allan Robles:

Every once in a while the boxing world stops and takes notice of its lower weight divisions. True that’s there’s not much happening in the usual “money” divisions. But I assure you, even if there is an up and coming Lewis Tyson match, the boxing world will still stop and take notice on November 18 - The Grand Finale. Yes, that’s what I’m talking about, it’s the highly anticipated super feather weight bout (can you believe its non title?) , the highly heated and controversial Filipino versus Mexican fight (check out some forums and you’ll know what I’m talking about). The aptly named “Grand Finale” of the trilogy. Ladies and Gentlemen, its the third installment of the Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao versus Eric “El Terrible” Morales Match.

Read more at the Armchair Jock

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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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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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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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A preview on the Mano-a-Mano fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios at the historic Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, Sunday, July 2, 2006.

You are Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao. The Destroyer. You are on the top of the world. And with good reason.

Since the day you turned pro, you’ve gone up a whopping seven weight classes, and dominated.

In a career-defining victory, you brought Mexican legend and one of the all time greatest boxers, Marco Antonio Barrera, to his knees. At his prime.

You came back for more, laying the smack down on Juan Miguel Marquez in the early rounds in your controversial fight that ended in a draw. You lost to the other third of the dreaded Mexican triumvirate, Eric Morales, but came back with a vengeance last January, stopping him in ten rounds. You are the first fighter to do that.

In a weight class owned by Latino fighters, you have left your own indelible mark, ensuring that your legacy won’t be a mere footnote.

You are among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Only Floyd Mayweather Jr. is arguably better, and he’s over 20 pounds heavier.

You are an inspiration to millions of your countrymen. Your words carry more weight than the President. The women want you. The men want to be like you. You are Michael Jordan part deux.

You are Manny Pacquiao. And you just might be getting too cocky.

Too many distractions

From a comical attempt at a singing career, to an embarassing “autobiogrphical” movie, to cockfighting, Paquiao may just have fallen to the Oscar dela Hoya curse of trying to do too many things at the same time, spreading himself thin. Add to that the pressure of in-fighting in his camp and what would have been minor things my prove to be too distracting. And it’s showing, sparring poorly with Rustam Nugaev.

It’s axiomtic in basketball: let your main thing be your main thing, or things won’t work out. Case in point the Detroit Pistons. Their main thing was defense, but under Flip Saunders they became a motion-offense running team, and failed to go back to the Finals. It’s the same in boxing. Winky Wright is so good because he never forgets what his main things are: jabs and defense. Pacquiao, in trying to live up to the Everyman image he’s been forced to assume, may just be letting go of his main thing, and it might just be the kind of opening Larios needs to win.

Being a former champion himself, Larios is not someone you want to fight when there are other things in your mind. He has, on several occasions, given Morales all his fellow Mexican could handle.

Paquiao is still the better fighter, with superior handspeed, technique and power. Both are as tough as nails, but Larios has the better training mentality: by all accounts the guy never stops. Larios is a teriffic in-fighter, easily able to throw a thousand punches in the course of a match, but often the shots go wild and don’t pack much strength. Is Manny ripe for an upset? Or is he going to open up a can of whoop-ass on Larios?

I’d like to predict, but I don’t have a clear picture on this one. If - and it’s a very big if mind you - the rumors about Manny’s drinking and management issues are false, he should be able to take Larios down easily. If not, Larios is tenacious enough to know how to exploit an opening when he sees one.

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A preview on the Mano-a-Mano fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios at the historic Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, Sunday, July 2, 2006.

Oscar “Chololo” Larios

Tall and lanky, with brutal power in both hands, former WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios now faces the daunting task of taking on Manny Pacquiao, the one boxer even the Mexican big three of Morales, Marquez and Barrera have to respect. Or respetc. Booyakasha.

What makes a man hungry? To want something so bad he can almost taste it, hold it, feel it.

Try losing a championship match because of a controversial decision in 2001 to Willie Jorrin in Sacramento.

Try a 3rd round loss because of a cut to your nemesis, Israel Vasquez, last December. Remember him? It wasn’t a decade ago, when you were 20-0, and this same guy floored you in the first round, and you were unable to continue the fight. Also because of a cut.

Try being mentioned as one of the top ten best fighters from Mexico - but never being mentioned in the same breath as the top three, Morales, Marquez and Barrera. But a Filipino is. The same Filipino who just happens to be your next opponent. And it’s for a title.

Will that make you hungry? Angry?

You’ve had your share of the glory and gold, to be sure. You’ve proven yourself a worthy boxer, and a fighting champion. Your fans are legion, and you know what victory tastes like. You remember it like it was your mother’s milk: it fed you, it made you strong. It made you want for more. You more than made up for the loss to Jorrin by beating him up and knocking him out in single round to win the WBC crown outright, no more doubters. Up until losing your title to Vasquez last December, you went undefeated through 17 fights. You even went on HBO for Oscar dela Hoya’s Boxeo de Oro series in 2003. You gutted out a broken jaw to win a 12-round decision against Shigeru Nakazato to defend your title that same year. You undercarded the Marco Antonio Barrera - Eric Morales fight in 2004, defending your title against highly favored Nedal Hussein.

Oscar Larios
Sex: Male
Nationality: Mexican
Alias: Chololo
Global ID: 014030
Federal ID: CA014482
Hometown: Guadalajara, JA, Mexico
Birthplace: Zapopán, JA, Mexico
Rated at: Super Bantamweight
World Rank: 2 / 734
Date of Birth: 1976-11-01
Age: 29
Reach: 67″
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 8″
Trainer: Edison Reynoso
Manager: José Reynoso
56 (36 ko’s) - 4 - 1 (Total 61)

But you were the undercard. You’ve never been in a high-profile bout. You fought as well as anybody, and you won. But taking back seat to two of the three best fighters of Mexico has got to sting. Because the third one isn’t you. Marquez, the third on that top-three list (in no particular order), fought your next opponent, Manny Pacquiao, to a draw - even after being knocked down three times in the opening rounds. Many say you aren’t even close to Marquez. Pacquiao is using you as a tune-up fight for his real match against Marquez. As good as you are, as hard as you work, they don’t see you in the same level. You don’t get no respect. They don’t fear you. On July 2, you’re not even the undercard. You’re the warm up.

Hungry enough? Angry enough? Focused enough to win your sixth fight in nine tries against reigning or former world champions? Determined enough to put your “Road Warrior” street-cred to the ultimate test, battling a consensus top-three pound-for-pound fighter in his home court?

It’s your shot at immortality, and your fight to lose. You’d better be hungry.

Observations

Going up in weight may not be the best idea for Larios, with his swarm punching style, because of his lack of power. He doesn’t throw many power punches, but rather tries to overwhelm his opponent with volume punching. He usually is able to pull it off and maintain the intensity because Larios is always in good shape and trains well. Pacquiao’s conditioning and defense has improved since his early years, and has faced off against stronger opponents and won. Also, Larios likes to brawl too much, which plays in Pacquiao’s favor, because no one goes toe-to-toe with Manny and walks away intact. The quick and easy solution for Larios would be to box with Pacquiao; Manny’s had problems with counter punchers in the past, although he did beat Morales earlier this January.

Background

Coming tomorrow: Profile on Manny Pacquiao

technorati tags:Boxing, Paquiao, Larios, Sports

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