They Forgot the Philippines

From Jen Hubley, your About Today Editor

The World Cup tends to sneak up on me. My friend Luke blames this on my country. As an Englishman, he feels offended at what he perceives to be a relative lack of enthusiasm about soccer in the US: "You're a backward nation. The whole world is excited for the World Cup, except for the States." (taken from the newsletter About.com)
http://specials.about.com/service/newsletters/todaysl/1276189200.htm

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World Cup. Filipinos don't even care enough about the World Cup to ask the question "what about us?" The Summer Olympics they do. Even if for the most part they are nowhere near a medal in almost any event. They feel really left out from the Olympics. All that pansin going to other nations in the World Cup and the Philippines is a non factor. I have no shortage of Philippines and their lack of relevance in the Olympics blogs. You can read them here:


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/263/The_Filipino_Olympic_Effort_and_Results_my_reaction_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/266/The_Mentality_that_leads_to_Zero_Medals_for_the_Philippines_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/267/Reality_of_why_the_Philippines_is_nowhere_near_a_medal_as_of_now




Much is also made of the US and how they don't care about soccer. My answer is so what? They love football. They love baseball and basketball. Some cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia really love their hockey. Not one major U.S. city loves their soccer. Not one. Despite all the immigrants from Europe and Africa soccer is irrelevant? Why? When you have the best football, hockey, baseball and basketball in the world there is only enough fans, money and TV to go around. I just want to tell you that I am not really coming from a position of ignorance here. Here are my previous musings about soccer in North America.


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/597/Beckham_is_Back._Ho_Hum._


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/614/Timing_is_Kind_of_Weird_Isnt_it_


Here are some third party links:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/americans_not_interested_in_th.html

http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/columnists/x1834549114/For-Americans-World-Cup-runneth-over-with-apathy

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31493-the-state-of-united-states-soccer-top-athletes-just-arent-interested

Offside: soccer and American exceptionalism
By Andrei S. Markovits, Steven L. Hellerman

Soccer has officially struck out in the US.

• Strike One: In the 70s the North American Soccer League tried star power: Pele, George Best, Johan Cruyff, and Franz Beckenbauer. By the mid 80's there was no more league.
• Strike Two: 1994 The World Cup is hosted by the US. The World Cup is well received but local soccer did not experience any kind of momentum,
• Strike Three: David Beckham. It got them more publicity but did not manifest in any league wide boost. In 2009 local soccer came in last in terms of TV ratings. 21 out of 21 different sports leagues. Proof that many pinoys migrated to the US, the NBA came in 4th.
• 
  

What does the World Cup have to do with the Philippines? I truly believe that one should like what they like and not worry about emulating anyone else. Don't like something because _______ likes something. Like something because it appeals to you. You may notice the quote I lead off this blog with. Taken from the newsletter About.Com. Everybody says the US is behind for being like the rest of the world in appreciating the World Cup. They forgot the Philippines. Granted a lot of people forget the Philippines when it comes to anything relevant world wide. I don't count any pugilistic endeavors. Someone who does not care about education and deprives another man of brain cells is not heroic in my eyes. My point is that the rest of the world is soccer crazy. For most of the world, soccer is not the dominant sport. It's the only sport. For the Philippines, basketball is not the favorite team sport, it's the only team sport. The Philippines is the only country where basketball easily dominates the attention of athletes, fans and coaches. Yet we beat no one. Every country that beats us, their best athletes go to soccer or some other sport, the left overs play basketball. In this country basketball competes with the couch and we can not be internationally relevant.The one thing we care about above all else and we are not even competent competitively.


The Filipino only loves basketball. That's a fact. But they get beat at their dominant sport by countries that prioritize soccer and baseball over basketball. What glory is there in being the only basketball myopic country in the world when you other countries left overs beat you ? None really. Just remember that if you think PBA is quality basketball. Besides one of the most prominent PBA players is married to Kris Aquino. Shows you how little prestige there is in being a professional athlete in this country. Kris Aquino is your wife. Some honor.








Ed



http://www.soccer-training-info.com/why_did_the_nasl_fail.asp

http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/mls-unpopularity-a-scientific-sampling/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/americans_not_interested_in_th.html

http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/columnists/x1834549114/For-Americans-World-Cup-runneth-over-with-apathy

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31493-the-state-of-united-states-soccer-top-athletes-just-arent-interested

Offside: soccer and American exceptionalism
By Andrei S. Markovits, Steven L. Hellerman

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1142/Pinoys_Only_Dig_The_BBall_

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs/664/59969/World+Cup+2010+Fever%3A+Is+the+Philippines+Ready+to+Catch+It%3F?destId=357304

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/294/Who_Thinks_Basketball_Rules_The_U.S.

Pinoys Only Dig The BBall

For a better look at pic, Click it twice.

The NBA Finals are on. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but that is the only sporting event that does not involve Filipinos playing that Filipinos care about. This year like last year the official international team of the masa is involved: The L.A. Lakers. It's not Manchester United or The Boston Red Sox or the Montreal Canadiens or even the Washington Wizards. It's the Lakers. The team every jeepney driver who can't even comprehend a red light can tell you a handful of players. Hence that spoof I found in Facebook. It would not work for anything else. There will not be an online depiction in Tagalog of any other team anywhere in the world. It works fine for the Lakers since that is where the baduy convene.


There is nothing wrong with the Tagalog text. It's just that I doubt you will see that in any kind of sports context except for basketball and some sort of Floyd Mayweather bashing.What I am trying to say the presence of Tagalog signifies it's something Tagalog viewers can relate to. You were not going to see Tagalog in a picture taken during the Stanley Cup final between Philadelphia and Chicago. Besides Chris Pronger would have a hard time looking like Allen Iverson.

It's an indicator of what pinoys relate to. Basketball and that's it. At least with the PBA the baduyness is spread out over all the teams owned by the Cojuangcos . In the NBA the baduy quotient centers on the Lakers. Maybe 15 years ago it was centered on the Bulls. Moral of the story? Phil Jackson is a baduy magnet. Which is ironic considering I really enjoyed his book The Last Season: A Team In Search of Its Soul and one day I hope to read Sacred Hoops. By the way, true anecdote. Back when Scott Skiles was coach of the Bulls (Maybe 4 years ago) I asked a guy at work who watches the NBA who the coach of the Bulls was and he said without hesitation Phil Jackson. They only have to pay attention to one sport and they can't get the coaches right.

I am not giving away all my thoughts on Pinoys and basketball since I am also planning a blog contextualizing the World Cup and how that affects Pinoys. Believe me, in it's own twisted way it does.



Culture is culture. Filipinos only relate to team sports with an orange ball (see mock interview below) and the net is circular. Now here is where I will make an out of left field speculation. You squeamish sensitive types leave now. You have been warned. I think our being only able to digest basketball says a lot about our culture. The fact that the man on the street only comprehends basketball and he only relates to dominant teams. Basketball is essentially a low concept sport. You can explain most of it in one sentence. All 5 guys can pass, dribble and shoot the ball into that hoop. There is more to it than that but that is all a spectator needs to understand the game. Because the game does not demand much more than for the spectator and street ball player, that is where pinoys are comfortable. Hence you don't see any thinking from the people in arenas that don't matter like tele novellas and noon time shows. You also do not see much thinking in arenas that do matter like the ballot box and the consumption of news.

Another manifestation of the game of basketball in the culture is basketball is the easiest team game to be selfish in. Any one of the 5 positions can be " swapang " and just hoist up shots for their own vanity eschewing the pass to a teammate in a a better position. Hockey and soccer have their share of "goal sucks" but those sports by definition have one player on the ice or field whose role is to stop scoring as opposed to engaging in it. That is a critical and unselfish role. There is no such equivalent in play in this culture. I am merely suggesting when this unselfish role of teamwork is not enforced in your play and in entertainment that you value, just maybe it does not manifest itself as much in daily life. I am talking about the mayhem with jeepney drivers, or people that butt in line in the MRT or people that throw cigarette butts in the pavement expecting them to be absorbed there.

You could not begin to explain the concept of an offensive lineman to your typical jologs that only appreciates scoring in basketball. It is the most thankless job in team sports. At least goalies have stats attributed to them . An offensive lineman's job is to help his glamor teammates accumulate stats and to prevent his opponents from accumulating stats. Yet they are essential to the success of any football (NFL type) team. But the baduy do not see beyond the surface in anything so they will never appreciate subtlety. Just like they will not vote for somebody who was not a former champion in the box office or someone whose mother's funeral and history was not shown on TV.

As for me, I am not too worried about the baduy flaming me, they tuned me out a long time ago. Unlike the Lakers.



Ed

World Wide Scope of Sports

Interviewer: Can I ask you some questions about sports?

Typical Pinoy: Sige.

Interviewer: What is the fastest sport?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the roughest sport?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the game of inches?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the sport of Kings ?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the most physical sport?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the thinking man's sport?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the coolest sport on ice?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : Name an indoor sport?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : Name an outdoor sport?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is the sport known as "The Beautiful Game" ?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What is America's pastime?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport consistently draws the highest TV ratings in the US?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport consistently draws the highest TV ratings in Canada?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport consistently draws the highest TV ratings in Ireland?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport consistently draws the highest TV ratings in Jamaica?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport is played outdoors that requires 22 players on a field all wearing helmets?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport is played outdoors that requires 22 players on a field all not wearing helmets and only one person per side can legally touch the ball with their hands ?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : What sport uses a ball that is not round and is thrown forward?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : Name a sport where the defense has the ball ?

Typical Pinoy: basketball

Interviewer : Thank you for your time.

Typical Pinoy: Anong thank you?? Madali naman yung tanong mo!!!

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1142/Pinoys_Only_Dig_The_BBall_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/740/Carabao_NBA

Tags: baduy, pinoy culture, sociology, subtlety, basketball, pinoy sports, culture, selfish

Reason #1642 Why We Don't Subscribe To The Inquirer

to get a better look, double click the photo

I have been very critical of our newspapers in general before. Of course if I learned anything by living here the last 10 years: no matter how moronic things get, they can get even more moronic. A newspaper is supposed to inform you of the world. It is not supposed to be a cheerleader. But with a headline like this, no wonder this nation can not think critically. We are "hailing " somebody who has done nothing except pick the right parents and who is a beneficiary of favorable treatment by ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

And on cue if you see the main story, it's flanked by pictures and stories of Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino. Not sure about you but I am ashamed of a country whose voters respond to emotional pleas about a candidates parents as a well a man who was pardoned of crime normally punishable by death. Wherever critical thinking dwells in this country, it's not in the ballot box.

Also the Inquirer's main attraction in the editorial section is a man by the name of Conrado De Quiros. Never has one man said so many so words so eloquently that somehow dance around the fact Noynoy has never done anything practical to be worthy of being a leader of a country. Hey Connie!! With all the money you made whoring out your column and your newspaper and your words and your name to help elect this bum the least you can do for me is buy me an iPhone 4. Mr. De Quiros' history is here.

The guy won the election, fine. Just don't make it out as he cured cancer or a conquering hero. He is the beneficiary of an electorate that decides purely on name recognition and sentiment. You are in essence hailing a 50 year old man for having famous parents.


Ed


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/688/Why_Are_Our_Filipino_Newspapers_So_Dumb

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/423/Anyone_Else_Find_this_Disturbing_-_again_Pinoys_lack_of_perspective_Thank_You_Inquirer


http://antipinoy.com/conrado-de-quiros-says-noynoy-can-stop-corruption-because-he-is-like-aragorn/

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1118/Noynoy_By_The_Book_Again

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1116/Noynoy_Fantasy_or_Reality

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1114/You_Mean_We_Have_To_Elect_A_Leader_

http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-philippines/headlines/5210-the-aquino-factor-time-magazine-writes-about-noynoy.html

http://thenutbox.i.ph/blogs/thenutbox/2010/04/22/and-why-the-fuck-would-the-world-endorse-noynoy/

http://antipinoy.com/a-noynoy-presidency-comes-with-a-lot-of-surprises/

@ConanOBrien, 6/9/10 6:22 AM

Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) 6/9/10 6:22 AM I'm in Washington DC tonight - both to do a show and to testify about my affair with a congressional page. Lucas, I'm so sorry.

Sent with Twitter for iPhone

Sent from my iPod

Why I Choose To Dwell With The Shadows

I truly love music as some of you know. Two vastly underrated methods of broadening your music horizons are a) reading b) word of mouth. Two of my favorites that I discovered solely by reading and without hearing a note are Randy Newman ( Rolling Stone Record Guide) and Lyle Lovett (Musician Magazine) .



Let's see if the following makes any sense. In 2010 I was introduced to a band that was recording 6 years before I was born. The person doing the introduction was my cousin who is 18 years younger than I am. The band I am talking about are the English legends The Shadows.


If you recall not too long ago I mentioned them in a previous post about live albums. This Shadows 50th Reunion Concert epitomizes the sheer joy of rock and roll live. No pyrotechnics, no dancing girls on stage just guys and their instruments interacting with each other and enjoyable to listen to with video or without. I keep joking in my personal life that I am a fossil but these guys are about late 60s and they rock!!


I am not really a guitarist but listening to a whole concert of the Shadows and I realized how much distortion (the guitar effect) is in the normal live stuff I listen to. As a guitar outsider it seems to me the Shadows don't know the meaning of the word and I for one am glad. They did not compromise the sound that works for them.


Instead of me giving their history, you are better off getting it at the source:


http://www.amazon.com/Final-Reunion-Cliff-Richard-Shadows/dp/B002ZG4QB6


http://www.cliffrichardshadows.com/

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-dvd-review-cliff-and-the1/


I included two songs. The boogie woogie Shadoogie which only now I realize is Shadows + Boogie. Also F.B.I. which has of all things a polka intro.

I will include in a future post songs where the Shadows are joined by Cliff Richard but for now enjoy this band as they are. Brian on drums, Mark on bass,Warren on keyboards, Bruce on rhythm guitar and Hank Marvin on lead guitar.

Kanye West can't do this. Justin Pipsqueak can't do this. Britney Spears can't do this. Neyo can't do this. It takes talent to do this.

Ed





http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1128/Is_It_Live_Or_Is_It_Memorex

I Hope We All Act Out What John Wooden Taught

“It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”


From the beginning of Chapter 15 They Call Me Coach John Wooden




A good man died today. Billy Joel once sang Only The Good Die Young. If that's true then young must be 99. Because John Wooden is definitely good. He may not be as perfect as some set him out to be but he is definitely good. I wrote about him in the past dreading the day he would leave us and that day is here. In the future I will write more about what John Wooden has taught but I will today reprint the opening of Chapter 15 of his book. Which you can see below in blue . Also read the previous John Wooden blog entries.

Here is a guy who had the best mens college basketball team in the US 10 years out of 12. Winning just one is extremely hard considering there are more than a hundred eligible teams in Division I NCAA. What does he talk about in his book? Leaving the showers clean, being considerate of the custodians, courtesy and politeness. All of that put together is supposed to make your unit be more effective. Concern for others make your team more effective. What a novel concept.

Unselfishness is truly rare in society. I spoke many times about how you never see that in politicians. Today I will talk about how you don't even see that trait in the streets we walk in. I won't insult your intelligence giving you links how bad smoking is. So first of all it's stupid to be even smoking. OK not stupid, idiotic. If I just insulted you I really don't care. My name is not John Wooden. Second of all, if you are going to smoke please don't inflict it on a person who is just going from point A to point B. Don't do it while walking a public street. I just might extend my middle finger. If you think that's rude again I don't care. My name is not John Wooden. That person is forcing carcinogens on my lungs and you are upset about the configuration of the digits in my hand? What that guy is doing to me is scientifically proven to be bad. I am just playing with symbolism. Where are your priorities?

Lastly while we are on the topic of morons who smoke I can not understand for the life of me someone who smokes in the presence of their young child. Even while carrying them. When I say carry I mean both in your arms and in the womb. Like I said in a previous "tweet" that explains why people in this country voted for Erap in the millions. I may not know much in life but smoking is a manifestation of stupidity and inconsideration. Anthony Boulton once said smokers are the bane of society.

All you smokers can kill yourselves in some airtight container and that is fine with me. When you force me even for a nano second into your moronic habit then don't be surprised at my resentment. You should all be unselfish and courteous like John Wooden teaches. Me, I will work on my smokers rage.


Ed






UNSELFISHNESS is A TRAIT I always insisted upon. I believed that every basketball team is a unit, and I didn't separate my players as to starters and subs. I tried to make it clear that every man plays a role, including the coach, the assistants, the trainer and the managers. My managers were always considered part of our team. They were not the team's servants. Rather, they worked for the team, and the team had to work for them. One of my demand rules had to do with the way we left our dressing room, either at Pauley Pavilion or on the road. Many building custodians across the country would tell you that UCLA left the shower and dressing room the cleanest of any team. We picked up all the tape, never threw soap on the shower floor for someone to slip on, made sure all showers were turned off and all towels were accounted for The towels were always deposited in a receptacle if there was one, or stacked neatly near the door. It seems to me that this is everyone's responsibility— not just the manager's. Furthermore, I believe it is a form of discipline that should be a way of life, not to please some building custodian, but as an expression of courtesy and politeness that each of us owes to his fellow man. These little things establish a spirit of togetherness and consideration and help unite the team into a solid unit.




Links

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1136/I_Hope_We_All_Act_Out_What_John_Wooden_Taught


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/962/Happy_99th_Birthday_John_Wooden_The_Pyramid_of_Success

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1126/They_Ask_Me_Why_I_Teach

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=dw-uclalegacy040206

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/909/Pedestrian_Rage

http://cancer.about.com/od/smokingandcancer/a/carcinogencancr.htm

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/978/I_Am_Pro_Smoking_Pro_Tobacco_Pro_Nicotine...

http://vbulletin.thesite.org/showthread.php?t=45746

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/708/Speak_Up_Sonny_-_a_recollection_of_an_amusing_tale._

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ys-woodenobit060410

Tipper Gore Took On Zappa and Prince

I see Tipper Gore is in the news. As some of you remember I am a frequent Democrat basher but not here and not now. I am sad when any marriage dissolves. Tipper and Al were only celebrating their 40th anniversary two weeks ago. I found out my parents marriage was over one month before their 30th anniversary.

You may not know too many people like me but I heard of Tipper Gore before I heard of Al. In the mid 80's in a day when the phrase "gangsta rap " did not exist. People like Judas Priest , Ozzy Osborne and Prince were controversial for the words in their songs. The weird thing is in Canada we had Maclean and Maclean who were pretty much under the radar. Maybe because they were too Canadian to ever cross the 49th parallel culturally. What I mean by that is they were obscene but their jokes were really meant for Canadians so Americans had no idea who they were.

Tipper's story is that she was appalled by the lyrics in a song called Darling Nikki. I will not quote them here but the audio is below courtesy of Youtube. Prince I have known of since I first heard the hit "I Wanna Be Your Lover" back in 1980. Even back then this guy was genius. Playing almost all the instruments in his record. Let's forward five years later to 1985 when Prince was at his commercial peak. Tipper's 11 year old daughter had the Purple Rain record. Things are different now in 2010 with digital technology but back then you had to be 18 to rent Quest for Fire or any other R Rated movie in the video store. But there were no such measures for records and cassette tapes.

Here is where it starts to get dicey. I completely understand a mother of an 11 year old being alarmed by what her daughter was in possession of. Tipper had no intention of telling Prince what to sing about. What she wanted was a ratings system and for all lyrics to be printed on the back cover of all records. So that a parent could make a quick assessment what their child could be listening to. So calling what she wanted to do censorship would not be accurate in my book. Prince can be Prince. She just felt parents had the right to make an informed decision on what words were going into their kids' ears. Ironically the album Purple Rain is a powerful work of music. A truly magnificent listen from start to finish. Mixture of funk, soul, rock. I can not recommend it enough. Unless of course you are Tipper Gore's daughter. Who would be about 36 now.

Count Youtube as one thing where first impressions do not count. I was not a fan at first then the more I blogged and the more I had to reference things, Youtube became among other things a very important historical tool. For those of you interested in this 25 year old debate I included Dee Snider and the very articulate Frank Zappa making their points. Ironically the guy who started all this (Prince) renounced his raunchy behavior and became a Jehovah's Witness.

I think this topic is worth looking at from the opposing views. Although I want to end it like this. People have the right to listen to rap music. People have the right to perform rap music. But I have a right to declare that rap lyrics are worth less than a balance statement of a Bernie Madoff investment. It's all about bragging , violence, misogyny, and the whole notion that to make ones self feel better the other side has to be degraded.

I don't believe in Pravda type censorship even if morons have greater access to the public.





Ed

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/01/al-and-tipper-gore-split-after-40-years-of-marriage/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4279560

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/349977/frank_zappa_vs_tipper_gore.html?cat=33

http://www.freemuse.org/sw4213.asp



http://www.macleanandmaclean.com/bio.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YNzNyNpAsM

http://www.artistfacts.com/detail.php?id=300

http://www.nndb.com/people/836/000023767/

http://www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2007/10/10/frank-zappa-frank-generation/

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/tag/rap

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/921/All_You_People_Whining_About_Kanye_West

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Madoff