Of icons and heroes

29 07 2010

Twenty-four years of The Philippine Star

THINKING OF what-might-have-beens is a bitch.  And it doesn’t help that I have Lou Pardini on heavy rotation in my head, provoking me with the line that says I could very well be the “fool wondering what might have been.”

In early April, I seriously considered joining The Philippine Star’s “Star Lifestyle Journalism Contest 2010” with the theme:  My Icon, My Hero.  It was a no-brainer who I wanted to write about – Mr. Teodoro “Teddyboy” L. Locsin, Jr.

Mechanics to the Star Lifestyle Journalism Contest 2010

 

Not only have I admired the man for so many years now.  Not only did his then column “Free Fire” serve as a formative influence to my own principles.  Not only do I unequivocally declare his “Assignment” to have given us some of the finest hours on Philippine television.

I have actually written about him here already, that I felt I had a good start for a contest piece.  But I had a swamped schedule (right now, I’m culling from memory a defining moment that happened to me last June 12.  It was punctuated by the line, “But Tim, he has a full-time job!”).  And I eventually yielded to self-doubt.

Finally, the 10 winning pieces were published in yesterday’s 24th anniversary edition, easily The Philippine Star’s thickest ever, together with features on 24 luminaries from diverse fields of specialization or calling.  I believe it’s going to be a collector’s item so my propensity for contingencies kicked in – I asked my brother to get me another copy.  Besides, I’m so looking forward to the weekend to work on clipping my favorites and putting them in an album.  (I have a modest collection of clippings of Mr. Locsin, Jr.’s “Free Fire” from over a decade ago.)

From the 24 icons and heroes written about by 24 of the paper’s columnists, I have two favorites – Erwin Romulo’s piece on Kris Aquino, and Jessica Zafra’s on the Roger Federer.

Erwin Romulo wrote about Kris Aquino.

 

Jessica Zafra on Roger Federer.

 

Copyright © 2010 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MunchTime™©.  All rights reserved.


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Kaput

2 06 2010

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (Photo: gototennisblog.com)

 

Superman's text from sometime last week

PLANS FOR a second-year-in-a-row/back-to-back party, and the purchase of a Lacoste Roland Garros polo shirt to celebrate…  just went kaput.  I woke up this morning to news of Roger Federer getting eliminated in the quarter finals of the French Open.

After getting beaten last year by the same person who just beat Roger Federer hours ago, could Rafa be bracing for a re-match with Soderling?  Stay tuned!

[Photos taken from the web.  I have to say that Rafa looks like one of my best friends, Superman!]

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the Madrid Masters final. (In his good photos, Rafa looks like one of my best friends, Superman. Photo: thetennistimes.com)

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the Madrid Masters final. (Photo: newsballs.wordpress.com)

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the Madrid Masters final. (Photo: wecanbeserious.wordpress.com)

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the Madrid Masters final. (Photo: gototennisblog.com)

Superman's text from this morning

 

Copyright © 2010 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MunchTime™©.  All rights reserved.


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A shoutout to Superman – 16!

1 02 2010

I've yet to snap a photo of the 16th. This was from his 15th just last year! I love this photo, the same one that made it to the cover of TENNIS magazine.

WHAT THE ROGER FEDERER said to the tournament referee – “That was sweet” – couldn’t be any more apropos to describe his victory at the Australian Open.  This one is Grand Slam title number 16.  S-W-E-E-T.

In three straight sets.  Again, S-W-E-E-T.

I know only one person in this whole wide world who couldn’t be any happier over Roger’s triumph!  “Here’s looking at you, Superman.”

Copyright © 2010 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.


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Fed Rafa

26 01 2010

Rafael and Roger

SAY WHAT you will about books – even your brother (hahaha!) – but I firmly believe that people do judge a magazine by its cover.  Even a local glossy shares what it calls as “what we didn’t choose for our cover,” or something.  Why?  Specifically because they know their newstand sales depend much on what people first see.

As the gruelling matches at the 2010 Australian Open are going on, I thought to post two of the best magazine covers in 2009 – as far as I’m concerned.  A tight shot of a brooding Rafa.  And a dynamic full body shot of a flying Fed.

Note:  Yes, after over a week, I’m back.  As blogging just happens to be my past time, it had to take the backseat when work ate up even after-office hours last week.  Just got so swamped with a major project.

Copyright © 2010 by eNTeNG  c”,)™©’s  MuchTime™©.  All rights reserved.


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And I want both Roger and Superman to be happy redux

15 09 2009
Superman - Roger Federer US Open Rev02

Superman is the true sportsman himself. His message reads, "Federer lost. Hehe. It's okay. I'll just sleep through this. Hehe."

QUITE OBVIOUSLY – though painfully – time, destiny, and history are not on Roger Federer’s or our side.

So, is it time now to join a fan group therapy session?  I guess not.  If Superman, the true lover of the sport and loyal follower of the great Swiss can fathom the wisdom behind an idol’s slip from the pedestal, so should I.

But still, insert expletives here…


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And I want both Roger and Superman to be happy

15 09 2009

AS I write, Roger Federer is leading Juan Martin Del Potro two sets to one in the US Open finals.  I do hope that the Swiss wins his sixth consecutive at this grandslam title that closes the season.  With or without any more outbursts, I do hope he wins.

If he does, Superman will be so happy!

Superman - Roger Federer US Open Rev01

The US Open finals started at 4:00 A.M. Far East Time!


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Hail to the master!

6 07 2009

SUPERMAN MUST be so happy right now.  That – and most likely – still sound asleep as he and millions of viewers around the world tuned in to the gruelling four-hour match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick for the Wimbledon 2009 men’s singles championship.

Roger Federer 01

The Philippine Star (July 5, 2009) captures Roger Federer's winning "smashing" form against Germany's Tommy Haas.

As a matter of fact, the tennis non-fan that I am, the very moment I snapped out of catching zzz’s – right around 4:45 A.M. earlier today – I googled the results of the match and found a NY Times article heralding Roger’s triumph on “the most famous patch of grass” in tennis history.

I was so ecstatic that I had to text message the one person I know would definitely love to hear the news, despite the fact that I knew he already had learned about it, having watched the game himself.  But I still sent the text message just the same.  Superman happens to be the most intellectual kind of fan that I have ever met.  While he has sworn loyal support to Roger Federer for the longest time, he hasn’t been blind to acknowledging the merits of the Swiss’s greatest nemesis – the Spaniard Rafael Nadal.  Unlike many “fanatics”, he did lick his wounds when Roger sustained one loss after another against Rafa.  But at the same time has remained steadfast in the hope that Roger, arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, will soon come back to regain his glory and rightful place in history.

I’m starting to make Roger sound like the protagonist in some hit action movie.  But he did come back in top form and as of about eight hours ago, must have been catapulted back to the top of the world tennis ranking.  No wonder that best friend Superman has been a fan of his all this time.  He has stuck it out with his idol, not seeing the need to even join in on the group therapy session Jessica Zafra proposed the last time Roger lost to Rafa.

With this grand slam title, Roger Federer has surpassed his record-tying 14 titles (the most in history then) that he has shared with Pete Sampras, who by the way, was so gracious enough to watch Roger’s record-breaking performance.

Congratulations, Roger Federer!

I have to say that Andy Roddick wasn’t able to hold off Roger Federer from snatching that title that has now put the Swiss in a league ALL HIS OWN.


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All things amazing… definitely Swiss!

8 06 2009
I AM going against the theme of my blog to make this special shoutout.  The “definitely Swiss” on this post is neither chocolate nor wristwatch.

CONGRATULATIONS to THE Roger Federer for winning his first French Open.  I’m not a tennis fanatic. But having sort of “followed” Roger’s journey this past year – leading to his triumph on clay last Sunday – speaks volumes of just how charismatic this legendary athlete is.

Truly, for everything there is a season.  And there was no giving up on THE Roger Federer, even after Jessica Zafra proposed a group therapy session for all his fans after his loss in Australia.  I’m not going to go into the details of his track record.  That’s not my thing.  Besides, I don’t want to end up just printing here “research” material.  I’m leaving that to the real “vanguards” of the sport.  Superman being foremost of them.

Anything and everything I know about tennis, I learned from Superman.  Anything and everything I appreciate about THE Roger Federer, I got from Superman.

Which makes me think – why not get a Lacoste Roland Garros 2009 shirt for someone special?


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