ALMOST exactly a year ago today (December 5), the Azkals scored a sensational quarterfinal victory over Vietnam in the 2010 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, 2-0. That started a tsunami of overwhelming football fascination in the Philippines that hasn’t subsided since.
In a span of one year, there has been a quantum leap of football consciousness never before seen in the local sports scene. Not even during the football heydays of the early 1900s down to the ’70s has football created such a national storm. Skeptics blame it on the extraordinary glamour lent by the Younghusband brothers and their equally charming band of football teammates to this sleeping sport. Maybe yes, but no—the love affair with football is genuine. Thanks to the extraordinary passion and dedication that today’s football heroes—Manager Dan Palami included—have shown for their sport. And the fever continues to grow.
Philippine football continues to receive adulation, support, big breaks and world recognition. As groovy daddy-o’s would say it: Way to go!
Then just last week Philippine football received its biggest exclamation point so far: the visit to the country by the LA Galaxy, led by football icon and poster boy David Beckham. Filipinos fell in love with the English football star who had also played for Real Madrid and Inter Milan. They were awed when they actually saw—in person—his legendary curved ball kick that inspired the 2002 movie Bend It Like Beckham. And from reports, Beckham and his teammates—in particular, Landon Donovan—fell in love with Manila, as well.
Beckham thrilled Pinoy fans at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday night when he scored the first goal of the match at the 20th minute, showing one and all what it is that has made him a legend in the sport. And may I add, Beckham touched Pinoy fans right in their loving hearts when he visited the children of the Village for Youth supported by Unicef and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The front-page pictures of him playing football with the kids—some of them with oversized tees and jerseys—was sweet as sweet could be.
Which brings me to the realization that, hey! The Philippines is becoming a key sports destination of late. As it has been in its glorious sports past. Why, the marker still stands in the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium of the legendary Babe Ruth playing here. And Lou Gehrig, too!
The Philippines also used to be the kick-off leg of the Asian Tour in golf which offered one of the largest prizes among the Asian national opens. Legendary golfers walked our Wack Wack and Valley Golf greens, too, among others. The late Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson, the late Payne Stuart, Dave Hill, Rodger Davis and yes, Greg Norman, used to play here too.
And well, didn’t Muhammad Ali meet Smokin’ Joe Frazier in Manila for the Thrilla? We were some sports scene back then. And are we getting to be so again?
Still can’t get over the fact that we had a National Basketball Association invasion back in June with no less than the reigning superstars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derick Rose, James Harden, Derick Williams, Chris Paul, Derek Fisher, Tyreke Evans and Javale McGee creating an unprecedented NBA frenzy in the islands.
Or that the NBA has practically established a colony of sorts in the country with its continuing NBA programs here like the Jr. NBA, NBA Fit, NBA Madness, NBA Coors Pop-A-Shot and this year’s newest endeavor: NBA 3-on-3 which recognizes the attention and fascination with this new variant of Naismith’s game. This year alone three NBA legends AC Green, Horace Grant and Clyde Drexler came to town. And let’s not forget the second visit in the country of homecoming son Coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat.
Last March baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. came to Manila courtesy of the US Embassy. According to Baseball Philippines, this is the second time that a current ex-Major League Player visited the country in a span of three years.
In 2008 former San Francisco Giant Gino Espinelli was here, too, and even threw the ceremonial first pitch in Game Two of the Baseball Philippines Series 4 finals between the Cebu Dolphins and the Dumaguete Uni-Bikers.
But hey, let’s not forget that we’ve got something that sports superstars of the world are awed about as well, and come here to see—our very own Manny Pacquiao. “I’m a huge fan,” confessed David Beckham, and acknowledged that even while he was on the field, he had taken notice of the Pacman’s entry into the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, proof indeed of his great admiration. Count him in among the many sports and entertainment idols who also regard Pacquiao as their idol and inspiration.
And so, if you ask me, this has been a blessed and most amusing year for sports for Filipinos overall. And I’d like to look at it as a mixed bag of Christmas treats. There truly is a lot to lament about the state of our Philippine sports. But let’s revel in our blessings, as well.
