====================================================================
by PAM
I think I might be juggling just about too many things these days. It's either that, or I haven't really gotten 'my groove' back after 'slowing down' for a few months. How do I know? Well, because I missed this - the first El Clásico of the La Liga 2012-2013 season...
...and I'm only writing about it, three days after the fact! Right, right, and right again, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid faced off, with the Los Blancos looking to chip the 8-point lead of the Blaugranas who now sit on top of the Primera División Table of La Liga with Atlético Madrid - ouch, for Los Blancos! The current La Liga title holders, Los Blancos, are currently in #5 but, of course, that doesn't put a dent on José Mourinho's Jupiter-esque ego... at least, from his outward posturing in his press conferences.
Anyway, it would've been awesome to have seen Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exchange fire power in Camp Nou live, but the match aired in Manila at 2:30 in the morning of Monday... and I had to work early in the morning. The main men of Barça and Los Blancos brought the 'surprisingly calm' match to a 2-2 draw... keeping Barça's lead at 8 points. Crissy looked in the zone, opening the display of goal-making mastery between the two closest rivals in this generation of football greats with a powerful kick that Victor Valdes had no hope of stopping... and then closing it, too, with another fine finishing despite injured shoulder. But it has to be said, Barça's incredible "little magician" kicked the best goal of the match via that blistering free kick that made Spain's #1, Iker Casillas, looking less than the best goalkeeper in the world that he is... but it's Messi - awesomeness in its purest form.
As for individual supremacy on the pitch this season, right now, Leo and Crissy share the lead with Radamel Falcao of Atlético Madrid in the Pichichi top goal scorer race with eight goals each. Leo won the award last year, and Crissy the year before. So, this season is going to be tough... and with Falcao making it a three-man race... well, it looks like I need to work hard to make my sked open up for some La Liga time.
I need to check out the next El Clásico sked, and mark my calendar accordingly. :)
***
A menacing growl to ruffle feathers
Speaking of clásico in sports, let me mention something extremely important in this part of the planet while we're at it. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers are looking to stop the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles from claiming a 5-peat in tomorrow's second match of the best-of-three series in the 75th UAAP Men's Basketball Championship. The Eagles have a one-game win advantage to spring from after holding off the Tigers in an exciting 83-78 first match last weekend... but the 'wounded' Tigers are looking ready to tear down the score board with big shots to go even, and bring the duel to a third game. Uhm-hmmm... looks like the Smart-Araneta Coliseum will be a roaring 'jungle' of gold and blue tomorrow.
Let's enjoy the match... but let's keep the spirit of sportsmanship alive and well, people. So, while my color is gold and white... may the best squad win!
Go, USTe, Go USTe! Raar....
***
Yep, I just turned in my very first basketball-related post when I thought I was ready to write about golf after watching Bubba Watson win the right to wear the green jacket in Augusta, Georgia last season, and after seeing the highlights of the Ryder Cup just a couple of days ago where Europe beat USA with an epic comeback. I'm sure my students are snickering behind my back after witnessing my resistance to acknowledge basketball as a "beautiful game", too. Nope, not giving in just yet. I maintain that basketball can be exciting... but "beautiful"? Nah. :) And yet, yeah, I just started using a "Basketball" tag in my blog! Oh, well... there's always a first, ya know! ;)
***
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
