When it rains, it pours...

...would that be the winning scenario for Real Madrid within the next two weeks?
================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


It's extremely annoying - it is!

Yes, it is annoying that none of the FOUR sports channels in my local cable TV subscription covers the Spanish La Liga and the Copa del Rey! Sure, between the four of them, they cover the UEFA Champions League, the Barclays Premier League and the FA Cup, and even the AFC Premier League, but why they wouldn't cover La Liga or some of Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A is beyond me! While one channel covers all those boring(est) golf tournaments in the most(est) remote(st) places on the face of the earth, it wouldn't cover the matches of among the BIGGEST football clubs with the BIGGEST and BRIGHTEST football superstars on the planet... and in the whole universe! Where is justice in that? Please tell me 'cause I don't see it! Do they even realize that football is the MOST WATCHED sport on planet earth and that La Liga's giants - FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF - are two of the BIGGEST clubs that are playing football today??? And here we are in Manila so deprived of the juiciest of all matches eversince football was played in this universe - El Clásico!! Aaaarrrgh....

Anyway, I'm "too poor" to keep paying to watch the live streaming of the matches on internet, so I have been relying on BBC's and guardian.com.uk's "as it happened" blog coverage and on YouTube, of course, to follow La Liga's El Clásico last April 16 (the 17th here in Manila, actually) and the Copa del Rey finals just a few hours back, also between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona - the second of the El Clásico quartet within three weeks.

***
El Clásico Uno

The April 16 El Clásico in Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for La Liga, I gathered, was a bomb constantly ticking from the opening whistle to the final whistle. Of course, the whole world now knows that it ended in a draw, 1-1, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo providing a goal each for the Catalans and Los Blancos, respectively - via penalty kick. With the divided opinions among experts and former greats from the two clubs, it seems that the Catalans had the upperhand all throughout the match, with more than 70% of ball possession... and the Merengues resorted to rough play, with even the usually venerable San Iker Casillas bringing down David Villa on one occasion, which was "missed" by the referee. In the second-half of the duel, Raul Albiol brought down David Villa, earning the Catalans a penalty kick and Albiol a red card. Lionel Messi's spot kick on 53' sent the ball to the ceiling of the net, which Iker Casillas couldn't stop, putting Barҫa in front. It all looked like Barcelona are on their way back to Camp Nou with a 1-0 win, but Dani Alves chased a speeding Marcelo towards the goal, Alves flew with an outstretched leg, Marcelo fell - penalty kick for Real Madrid! CR7 took the kick on the 82' successfully, not giving Victor Valdes a chance to have a hold on the ball, rekindling hope in Bernabéu. The Merengues held on to the draw with 10 men until the final whistle. The duel closed with the 10-man Real Madrid squad feeling like the winner, leaving the Catalans wondering about what just happened in Bernabéu.

Now, here's what happened... Pep Guardiola chose to stick to their beautiful tiki-taka-based attacking game plan that powered them to success against the Merengues in their previous five meetings - the last of which ending in a sweet 5-0 win for the Catalans. The "Special One" countered with a solid-as-a-rock defense at the back and hardened defensive midfield. Mou's approach left a scoring impaired midfield - impotent in launching attacks that will allow its strikers to penetrate the Catalan goal - making Los Blancos resort to long passes on their few attacks. While Mou's plan left Real Madrid making very few chances to score, it also almost "killed" the Barҫa offense, preventing them from doing another 5-0 massacre. Clearly, Mou forced the Catalans out of their comfort zone, and made them play in Real Madrid's terms... actually, Mourinho's terms! Who says that can't be done anyway? Who says that all clubs that play Barҫa should play the Catalan game? "Not my Club - no way," was what Mou seemed to have drawled in his usual self-assured tone between pursed lips. If that didn't stop Guardiola on his tracks to frown at the Special One's "special treatment" for Barҫa, then he isn't as sharp as I thought he was. It's either that, or he is in denial... that Mourinho actually has just managed to transform the three-year-win-comatose Real Madrid into a mightily monstrous force! No, that wasn't meant to flatter Real Madrid! What is clear, however, is that Mou's success with Inter in the previous term in dismantling Barҫa's game in the Champions League semi-final was no hoax.

Obviously, Mou is in it to win it! No frills, no "beautiful football", no entertaining football dances in the field... dang, he even grew the grass taller and left the field dry to make sure no Barҫa dances took place in Bernabéu! No spectacular goals from a spectacular playmaking - thus, the preference for Xabi Alonso over the playmaking rising superstar Mesut Özil in the starting 11. He planned to use muscle and height over the Catalans's quick but of diminutive stature frontline and midfield. He wanted to scare them off... he wanted to destroy their usual courage as they penetrate even the tightest of all defensive walls via speed and tiki-taka. He wanted to give them something to think about: get a goal, lose a limb. He wanted to render tiki-taka useless and obsolete by using what he had - physically dominant players who could lord over Barҫa's brilliant "midgets" who joyfully fire at will when tied together in a hunt-in-pack formation. He wanted to scatter that formation. He wanted to feed the Madridistas' thirst for Barcelona blood and crazed obssession to see a silverware in their three-year empty shelves. Mou just wanted to win the freaking League title, and any title that's there for the taking for that matter, that's all!

The "Special One" doesn't care about entertaining football. He is a business man... he was hired by Madrid to take care of business - to put silverwares in the Bernabéu shelves. He is only doing what he was hired for. Those who are expecting football of classical beauty, they should just go get a DVD of old Clásicos and soak themselves in 'em 'cause that's not what Mourinho signed up for! As Mou's mouth foamed whenever a flash of silver caught his peripheral vision, Pep Guardiola should take heed... he has a silverware-obssessed man opposite him. If he dared to donate one, it wouldn't stop Mou - he'd want 'em all! Therefore, Guardiola should proceed with caution. This is no time for playing sentimental and romantic football. Clearly, Mourinho has no respect for the El Clásico tradition that old greats like Alfredo di Stefano and Johan Cruyff are keen of preserving. He has no respect for any football tradition for that matter! He just wants to win! Period. That's all the football tradition he cared about. And, he has managed to turn his Real Madrid charge and most Madridistas to silverware-crazed lot, too. Now, they rally behind him! But is that bad? I'd say it's a legitimate cause - no matter how frustratingly cheap! After all, it's football - it's still a sport, where winning is still the simplest acceptable measure of greatness. And the "Special One", for all his self-declared "specialness" is of "simple mind" - the "win-it mind". Now, the rest of the Merengues are most willing to follow him to the pits of hell for HIS quest for silverwares! Ask Sergio Ramos... and even San Iker! Mou has effectively used their hunger for winning to resurrect them from their winless coma and fired them up with his nothing-else-matters-but-winning venom!

So, what to do, Pep?

***
El Clásico Dos

Hala, Madrid! 1-0, finally a silverware for Los Blancos! They won the Copa del Rey title after... uhmmm, what, 2,354 years? =) I can imagine how the Madridistas are spitting in front of any Barҫa fan in sight now! And why not? They just found their mojo, and it's pretty "Special", too! But yeah, after that three-year title drought, they deserve a great celebration - I'll give that to them. Never mind that it was a lame tournament and that the officiating was absolutely horrific! That's all they can afford right now... so, I'll let them be happy. The winning goal - an admittedly teriffic bullet header at 103rd minute during extra time - came from CR7... of all muscles, er, people! :) Yeah, that Marcelo and Ángel di Maria's beautiful 1-2 pass that got the ball to Ronaldo, which he finished beautifully as well - I give that to him, was indeed wonderful playmaking! Perfect timing, wondeful height, accurate as a laser - beautiful!

I have been wishing to see the coverage of this match while reading the blow-by-blow account on-line as it happened! I wanted to see how Mou did it. As I read news stories on-line minutes after the match, it made me wonder how even the supercool Lionel Messi got really "frustrated" that his talents were rendered nearly insignificant in the match, if that was at all possible. Thanks to Sky Sports and their analyses of the match, I got to see the highlights - via YouTube, of course! :) Thanks, thanks! Needless to say, my heart was pumping like mad... and what I saw left me breathless. Yeah, I can totally see how Mou's tactic was so effective in derailing the mostly incredible purist footballers of Catalonia! The Azulgranas were so spread out, with lots of big white figures all around them that won't allow them to gel into a cohesive force - effective defensive strategy there by Real Madrid. They took it to the Catalans in the midfield. While Los Blancos were also spread out to block the Catalans from forming into a pack, their very long strides easily allow them to gel into a massive spear on attack when the Catalans defense falter a bit, always ready to pounce - so menacing! Well, at least, in the first half.

So that's how Leo Messi got totally frustrated - they actually built a massive wall around him, he could barely move more than a few meters. Here, you see Mou proving Harry Redknapp (Tottenham Hotspurs manager) wrong when HR said that Messi is so amazing, he's almost "unplayable". I can imagine that Mou assigned the little man to about six of his towering men with clear instructions, "when he moves, all six of you move! He is not to play beautiful football! And, he is not to get anywhere close to the goal - by ALL means. Track him. I don't care if it's 'til the pits of Timbuktu. Track him... or I'd track you!" =) Seriously, if you were of Messi's physical stature, how do you deal with a makeshift wall composed of the scary and terribly unethical player Pepe, the physically able but lame head who should know better Xabi Alonso and the the very-willing-to-engage-because-Mou-said-so Sami Khedira, with the menacing and horrible as the devil himself Sergio Ramos together with his evil brother Alvaro Arbeola and, uhm, Armani model Cristiano Ronaldo waiting in the offing to join in? How do you escape when they gang up on you when you're dribbling to complete a play, especially when your pack are so far spread out and everyone seemingly trapped like that? How do you deal with rough players like these who are bent to break your leg and refuse to play football? I can almost hear Mourinho saying, "let Pep Guardiola figure it out... if he can! Mmwah-hahahaha (lightning, thurderbolts...)!" There you go, Harry - that's how you play Lionel Messi! While it's frustrating, I have to say it's fair enough! Once again, it's all about winning - Mourinho style!

That's Mou for you... he is not shy about doing "whetever it takes", pushing it even to the grey areas of football rules, if it meant securing a silverware for his team, and him being hailed as the "Most(est) Special One" - by himself. Perhaps, to him, Messi is just this "unspecial" little (non)man who kept stealing his thunder in those Awards Gala! :) Messi, in Mou's little black book, should be stopped by all means! While Cristiano Ronaldo would love very much to be in Messi's little shoes during those gala, he wouldn't risk getting scathed - so, no chance there. And, if Xabi Alonso is too soft to bear seeing the little phenomenon writhing in pain, Mou would get the deranged and devil-possessed Sergio Ramos to do the job. If Ramos was unavailable due to red card, he knew he could always rely on Pepe, Arbeola and Carvalho... and even Khedira. But yeah, seriously, why is Sergio Ramos so keen on hurting Messi physically, he'd elbow him or gets in front of him and then steps on the brakes all of a sudden so Messi's face collides with his elbow or massive shoulder - so subtle that the referee wouldn't notice it? Sure he's a defender... but shouldn't he be defending the Los Blancos goal by stopping the ball, and not the striker dead on his tracks or with a broken bone? Even the ever patient Leo appeared to have had it with the devil in Ramos, even showing Ramos "the fist" at some point, like he was 6 feet tall! Very cute! :) Seriously, what's up with Ramos? Has he gone mad? And why is he so "kissy-kissy" with Mou? Did Mou used his voodoo doll on him? Okay, I should really stop, I'm being silly! :)

But, yeah... oh, Pep, how do you solve a "Special Problem" like Mourinho? Should you turn yourself into a "Special Someone" now? No? Not your cup of tea? That's fine, being "Special" doesn't always equate to being "Beloved", anyway... especially if one was a self-declared "special"! Aw, gosh, do I sound bitter!! :)

See, this is why I've resisted for the longest time to write a sports blog - I could be really horrible and biased! =D

***
Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from Zimbio - thanks!

What's up, fam?

Family milestones = bonding time + relaxation time
=============================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


Milestones were reached by two family members within the past month or so. And, being among those exhausted big city dwellers with stressful careers, my sisters and I turned the important events to an "excuse" to take our minds from work and relax. I guess when you are in the peripheries of midlife, "frenzied celebrations" that are sometimes "soaked in alcohol" and deafening noise become obsolete! And you tend to equate celebration with relaxation... some quiet downtime and catching-up time with family, or alone time highlighted by some personal pampering. Well, at least, that has become my celebration philosophy lately, which my sisters share. :) And so, last weekend, together with two sisters and our sister-in-law, we took the kids to a weekend of laid-back fun at the historical Manila Hotel in the heart of the storied Intramuros area - the famous old Walled City of Manila. Our youngest sister and her fiancé also dropped by to join the "fun", and then took-off for some work-related stuff. You can tell, they are young! :)

Our Manila Hotel weekend was a time spent beautifully with the most beautiful people in my life. I'm sure that it will all go into that "box" of beautiful memories in my heart. :)


***
Moving up, one bracket up

My nephew, Juan Paulo Miguel - my brother's son - completed his elementary education last March and is now preparing for High School. While, indeed a milestone, it was extra-special for us because Migs is only eleven years old! While he didn't bring home one of those "round metal pieces" they give out for outstanding achievements, we take pride in knowing that he has been growing up responsibly, converting most of his little boy's "play time" to valuable education time. This, while being such a funny person with a kind heart - so lovable! :) This early, he understands the importance of good education and having good aspirations for the future. While he is still debating between becoming an excellent international chef and a good medical doctor... with the former gaining greater grounds lately, he is certain that he would like to be "something" and "someone" when the time comes. And so, he prays for it. :) We don't push him to dream of anything, but we do motivate him to push himself. We are careful not to take away the joy of childhood from him by letting him mature naturally, at a pace he is comfortable with. So far, we are happy with his progress. He does falter once in a while, succumbing to his "little boy's" curiousity - what-if-I-did-that-what-will-happen naughtiness - but nothing that provokes serious anger. If anything, it only renders us "useful" as a source of invaluable advice and moral support, and to always strive to be good role models to him and his siblings.

I know that Migs is fast becoming a resposible young man despite his young age. He is fast showing his admirable character as a person, especially in the way he's dealt with a supposed counter-productive experience he's had recently. He took the entrance exam at the very good High School, which is the alma mater of both his older siblings. He wanted to get into this School's Program because he has been impressed by his siblings's training, and he has been keen to receive the same training. What was really heartwarming about it is his consciousness of their mother's wish for very good education for him and his siblings. He understood the importance of fulfilling such wish, not only to bring happiness to their mother, but more importantly, to ensure a stable future for themselves. Unfortunately, he took the entrance exam in the same stressful and hectic week in his elementary school, where the added pressure of graduation was taking a toll on him. And so, he didn't make the first cut in the entrance exam.

Instead of sulking about it and being demoralized, he allowed himself to be sad for a little bit and then sat with us and asked our opinions - like an adult. While he knew that there was still a chance to salvage his exam results in his dream High School, he wanted to make sure that he had options. And so, he asked about other Schools with similar Programs. He then proceeded researching about the schools... mainly, about their alumni. Judging, mostly from the character of the alumni of the schools we suggested, he made his shortlist of three schools. He then asked his parents and siblings, and us - his aunts - if we could help arrange for him to take the entrance examinations in those schools. He prepared for the exams doubly hard, and because his elementary school graduation already passed, he was able to focus. On the day of the exams, he asked to be accompanied to the church to pray first, and then marched on to his exams. To our pride and happiness, he passed all the entrance exams! :) And so, we had a reason to celebrate! :)

More than passing the entrance exams, we were all very pleased at the way he handled his first "adult problem". He recognized his mistake, he righted it. He accepted his weakness but he didn't cry... he drew courage from our faith in him and our good wishes for him, and tried again valiantly. While he asked for divine intervention, he was very practical about it, too - he knew he had to work hard. When he finally did it, he owned up to his success but was still humble enough to say, "Hmmm, that was good. I should've prepared like that in my first exam." Yes, he is only eleven years old! :) Which aunt would not be proud of a boy like Miggy, I don't know! I just know that I am proud of him - certainly, totally! And I so love him to pieces, too! :)


***
Moving up, one age group up

"Life begins at forty"... isn't that what most people say? Two years ago, when I was about to cross "that" boundary, I was skeptical about this saying, mostly because I didn't know what it really meant. But I completely subscribe to it now! :)

A younger sibling began her journey into the "beginning of life" last weekend! No, she's not forty yet... 'cause if she was, then what would that make me???? :) But, yeah, she's moving to another "age group" - quite fast. Not yet forty, but definitely no longer young either... at least, in the book of cosmetics experts. :) It's that "Turkey phase" in one's life: not really Europe, not exactly Asia either! :) As she contemplated on the wonders of being in a "Turkey phase", like me, she was skeptical. While she enjoys having enough "dough to roll" these days - one of the ultimate markers of getting into the forty something zone - she still thinks it's not flattering, in fact quite awful, to be ticking a different box in the "age group" section in those cosmetic surveys! =) So, she opted to have her approaching "hello forties" stage celebrated - properly! :) I wasn't about to "spoil" her "skepticism", which I thought was normal, so I joined her celebration - happily, of course! Besides, I needed some downtime, too! :)

My sister has always been about downtime, even when she was still a teenager. She preferred to read, listen to music and watch movies than to go, say, hiking for example! While she loves nature... she prefers spending her downtime communing with nature rather than conquering it. So, the best vacation for her wouod be reading by the beach on a sunny and breezy day, or sleeping under a tree with slow music in the background, or taking a nap on a grass or smooth rock by a sparkling spring water on a lazy, lazy day, or simply relaxing in a hammock or a rocking chair somewhere quiet and peaceful. And she is practical, too... the only thing that would make her spend money on her vacation in a big city would be a guarantee that there would be a decent museum or art gallery to explore, some architectural wonders to marvel on, or some cultural features to wonder and be fascinated about. Blame it on her training as a Philosopher. Her inclination towards Arts and Humanities and contemplative activities is bordering addiction! While I share all her Arts and Humanities idiocentric tendencies, I could also be coaxed to go hiking, or rock climbing - only if there is no game of football or tennis in play, that is! :) And so, when "Manila Hotel" was in the same sentence as "birthday celebration" for her, I knew it was because of the historical reputation of the hotel and that it was in the vicinity of Intramuros, Malate - the historical municipality of Manila, and Manila Bay, where the sunset is spectacular.

While we were in the heart of the hustle-bustle of the tourist center of Manila, at the intersection of historical streets that define Manila's cultural landscape, the birthday girl still managed to find her downtime! While the rest of us went for a night swim in the hotel's pool after strolling with her at the Luneta Park, she went on a bubble bath "date" with the bathtub! :) Hmmm, some things never changed... even at the brink of "life's beginning"! :)


***
Moving up, five stars up

I have been thinking about celebrating Miggy's accomplishments and my sister's "Turkey phase". I was hoping that the celebration would be a little extra-ordinary, too - quite special, something that would give Migs a sense of accomplishment and give my sis a symbolic celebration for slowly moving from one tick box to another. And so, when Migs's sister mentioned "Manila Hotel", I was all for it! :)

What is there not to like about Manila Hotel? First of all, it's a five star hotel. :) While my family and I do not mind spending vacation in three star hotels or eating buffet in restaurants even on special occasions, we do not mind splurging on five star hotels either... especially when the reason is right. Therefore, we were excited at the idea of spending the weekend at the Manila Hotel! :) But for people like us in my family, who value substance and meaning over glitz and glamour, the real appeal of Manila Hotel is its place in our historical and cultural consciousness as Filipinos. It is beautiful - in a modest, yet very elegant way. Its simple - close to unimpressive - architecture outside, but with a surprisingly multitude of historical treasures inside is very appealing to me. It's a perfect symbol of a Filipina - a woman of substance - simple in appearance and stance, but of admirable qualities when put to the test.

The hotel is about a century old now, having started operation in 1912. And, with its old wooden and rustic muebles together with countless pieces of old artworks, mostly by Filipino greats, meticulously polished to retain their classy beauty in a carefully updated suroundings, the hotel welcomes its visitors with real Filipino warmth. Truly, age has only enhanced its elegant beauty - a true Muse of Manila Bay and a worthy mistress of the dramatic, and oh, so romantic Manila sunset!

I think that Manila Hotel best symbolizes the milestones that Migs and my sister were celebrating. Like the Manila Hotel in its young days where heroes and prominent figures took abode, Migs has proven his worth as a person of admirable character - even at a young age. Aging has proven to be a preserving potion rather than a source of rot for Manila Hotel... a transformation that best describes my sister's passing through the "Turkey phase". And so, we packed our bags for the weekend and opened ourselves to the delightful wonders of the Muse! She didn't disappoint!


***
Photo credits: I own all photos.

Getting closer to "La Decima"...

...but, will it happen?
================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


After that goal by Cristiano Ronaldo... uhm, more correctly, after that mistake by Heurelho Gomes - the embattled goal keeper of Tottenham Hotspur FC - any hope for Tottenham to make good of the "nothing is impossible" remark by their coach, Harry Redknapp, alluding to their hope for a 2nd leg quarter-final come back from their 4-0 first leg murder by Real Madrid CF in Santiago Bernabéu, had become nothing but impossible! Football fans in White Hart Lane tried - very hard - to launch a great wave of cheers that the Hotspur could ride to erase their four-goal deficit against the Meringues... to no avail! José Mourinho's men went for the kill in London!

***
The Road to 'La Decima'...

If the Hotspur's spirited first-half attempts at the goal in White Hart Lane made the Merengues gasped a little, Iker Casillas stayed focused about not conceding a goal - and he succeeded, too. Just an illustration of why he is the best goalkeeper in the world! But what really foiled Redknapp and his charge's hopes was a CR7 kick that sent the ball straight into Gomes's arms, and Gomes fumbling awkwardly, sending the ball to his own goal! It was truly unforgettable - all for its sheer absurdity... and, yeah, bad luck, too.

To me, however, Gomes's fumble was not the main Tottenham blooper in their Champions League quarter-final run. It was the idiotic action of their striker, Peter Crouch in the first leg encounter with the Merengues - and only 15 minutes from the first-half whistle blow as well. With a heroic Emmanuel Adebayor goal for the Merengues on the 4th minute of the opening half, Tottenham was on the run for an equalizer. Possessed by some gods of stupidity, Crouch tackled Marcelo needlessly after previously bringing down Sergio Ramos on the 11th minute (but, yeah, thanks for that one, lad)that booked him on the second leg of the quarter-final. The Marcelo tackle sent Crouch out with a red card! That left his side limping all throughout the match, and sending their chances to advance to the semi-finals spiraling downward into the drain. What was he thinking? While Real Madrid is no FC Barcelona, no side could win a match against the Mourinho-managed side with only 10 men... and in a most important quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League, too... and at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu even! Aaargh, Peter Crouch, shame on you!

While Real Madrid could not take advantage of the limping Tottenham squad in the first-half of the first leg match, thanks to the spirited attempts of Gareth Bale, the second-half was a different story. The Merengues finally realized Peter Crouch's gift to them... and they took advantage with wild pace that the 10-man Tottenham cannot keep up to. Emmanuel Adebayor then headed the ball to the goal very nicely from a Marcelo corner - his second in the match - and Ángel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo contributing a piece to complete nice playmaking from Xabi Alonso and Mesut Özil, and Kaka, respectively.

And so, the Merengues headed for the second leg of their quarter-final match with Tottenham in London with some swagger to their walk - and quite reasonably, too. But I have to say, they had a lot of help from Peter Crouch! The Tottenham striker helped the Merengues build a hill too steep to climb for his side in the second leg, while he probably watched the second leg of the QF from the comforts of his living room with his feet on a mantel. I wish I could say, "but that's football...," but that would sound too kind for Peter Crouch! And I choose not to be kind to him. So, yeah, shame on you, Peter Crouch!

In the end, not only did Tottenham's efforts looked pathetic (pardon me, Gareth Bale) in the second leg of their QF with Real Madrid, it was also quite painful for football fans to watch! Real Madrid wasn't even playing great... they were just being their usual selves - brilliant players (and coach?) whose talents just don't gel to make a brilliant team. I swear I tried to pay close attention, but the match was just too boring that it can't compete with my book on Albert Einstein! :) I have to confess though that everytime the White Hart Lane crowd does a chorus for a resounding "booooooo" and a mocking snicker, it made me look up... even when I already knew it was all for Cristiano Ronaldo! =) Why do I get the feeling that, at some point, football fans around the world would find it "fun" to do the same to "The Special One"? :) Hmmm... maybe he should make a bigger effort to hide his "special weapon", huh? Hey, Mou, don't tell me I didn't warn you, eh!! =)

***
Smelling like 'La Decima'?

Going to London for their away game with Tottenham on the 13th of April 2011, obviously, Real Madrid had only one thing in mind - the mouthwatering sweetness of "La Decima"! With nine UEFA Champions League title to their name, the last one won back in 2002 when CR7 was still wondering about his growing muscles, Mourinho and his men want a tenth! And if CR7's attempt to seal the deal in London was the lamest of all attempts, it was enough to have them thinking about going up against FC Barcelona for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals... in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, of all places! With the amazing chain of "good luck" they've had on their way to the semi-finals, it makes me nervous to think about their chances against Barҫa. Oh, please, I don't want to imagine José Mourinho walking around with a voodoo doll, so, please don't make me! :) Dang, I can't shake it off my head now!

Whatever it was that brought them to where they are now, hopefully, it was brilliance... Real Madrid is through to the semi-finals! And closer to achieving La Decima at the UEFA Champions League, too. There is only one, uh, not so little problem along the remaining stretch of the road to La Decima: FC Barcelona! Or, should I say "Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona"? May Leo pardon me if that sounded like he's not a huge team player, because he is! And what did Sir Alex Ferguson of Machester United FC call him again? "Magician"? Sir Alex even admitted that watching FC Barcelona in action in the field is "a joy"! In that case, make that a GIANT problem, notwithstanding Messi's physical stature, of course! :) Therefore, the more interesting question is... "is the problem surmountable... at all"? I hope Mourinho wouldn't answer "nothing is impossible"! =)

Make no mistake though... Victor Valdes is no Heurelho Gomes - whether that's good or bad, only time will tell! And, definitely, none of the Catalan strikers is a Peter Crouch! Hmmm, oh, gosh, I really hope so! But Real Madrid has Mourinho, of course... but then, hasn't Mourinho's nine-year "zero home loss" streak recently ended when the Merengues lost to Sporting Gijon in La Liga at Bernabéu? Hmmm... the "Special One" (and "his voodoo doll"?) is not invincible afterall, huh? Of course, he could always reason that his injury-plagued side had Kaka, Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo all missing in that match. Sure, but isn't a "healthy and competitive bench" also a part of Football Tactics 101? He should know... afterall, isn't he the famed "tactician" of two winning sides in the UEFA Champions League? In case he's in doubt, he could ask Pep Guardiola, too - he knows. :) And, yeah, I'm pretty sure Mirceu Lucesco can vouch for Guardiola's opinion, too! :)

No, I won't even start talking about the Azulgrana's Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and the comebacking team captain, the injury-free-at-last Carles Puyol. Uhm, what do Real Madrid's fanatics call Xavi and Iniesta again, "midgets"? :) As for "the other midget", I don't think it would be kind to talk about the little man with giant talents, Leo Messi, either... especially, not when "Cristiano Ronaldo" is in the same sentence, nah-uh. And, hey, if the "Special One" himself refuses to talk about the impending El Clásico this weekend in Bernabéu, how could a lowly little amateur like me even make an attempt? So, let's just say, yes... Real Madrid could go on dreaming about La Decima, why not? But they should also keep in mind, and this isn't an amateurish comment this time either, that a strong sweet smell doesn't guarantee that the food is within reach! I'm a food scientist, I should know.... =)


***
Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from Zimbio - thanks!

All business...

...as usual!
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


And so the illustrious Kings of Donbass Arena fell in the hands of their hesitant conquerors from Catalonia in the second leg of their quarter-final UEFA Champions League tie. 1-0 in Donbass, 6-1 on aggregate... the Catalans did what no other European side have managed to do over the past couple of years now: beat Shakhtar Donetsk FC in Donbass Arena in a European competition... and in a fashion most awesome, worthy of mention in football records, too. The Catalans received nothing but respect and admiration from the Donbass miners led by their brilliant head coach, Mircea Lucesco. Even the Pitmen fanatics in Donbass were happy to see the best football player in the world today - Lionel Messi - re-write the football book of records in their very own oh, so daunting football field.

***
Serious business for the 'big boys'

No, Barҫa wasn't looking to bring the Pitmen on their knees. After that 5-1 first leg quarter-final win in Camp Nou six days earlier, they were simply "taking care of business" in Donbass. The business was to secure a slot in the "last four" of the UEFA Champions League, and to augment their confidence going into the Spanish La Liga's 'El Clásico' on the weekend at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. And so, the Catalans tried to dictate the pace of the game from the very start, and it was a blindingly fast-paced game, too! Josep Guardiola's and Lucesco's men took off - full throttle - as soon as the referee blew his whistle. They left no chance whatsoever for restroom breaks! The Pitmen obviously loved that pace, and they totally stepped on the gas - matching Barҫa every exciting step of the way, reiterating their ownership of Donbass. Soon, they appeared to be in the driver's seat. Their game plan was clear: get into the goalmaking business the soonest possible time, and try to force a miracle of making five goals in 90 minutes, with Barҫa remaining without a goal all night! They made it appear like it was doable by creating a dizzying slew of chances for themselves to score early on in the match! If the Catalan defenders appeared to have had a momentary dizzy spell care of Shakhtar's inspired aggression, Victor Valdes was not one to get dizzy though. Valdes protected the Barcelona goal with speed, agility and ferocity like he was the best goalie in the history of football, constantly forcing a frustrated shake-of-the-head from Lucesco! Valdes's beautiful but I'm-on-my-limit-here-guys-so-please-let's-get-our-defensive-act-together moves and Pep Guardiola's to-the-rescue instructions urgently yelled from the sidelines, sent a strong message to the rest of Azulgrana's first 11 to tighten the defensive wall. Quickly, Barҫa was on it, with Xavi Hernandez - the team captain - taking charge...a change in tactic: defend from the front.

As the early Shakhtar storm of goal attempts started to wear down, thanks to the very consistent Valdes and the go-ahead-try-us-it's-your-shin tough stance of the defence crew, which was reinforced by a menacing midfield, Catalonia's first 11 resumed business. They slowly rotated in front, converting defense-up-front to ferocious attacks. Soon the Catalans were firing at will! Lionel Messi was at the point of the spear, David Villa at his wing, and Ibrahim Affelay serving as "the other" surprising triggerman. Affelay, of course, was one of Pep Guardiola's yet-another-ace-up-my-sleeve-because-I-can-afford-it winks at the 'old wily cat' Lucesco. Sweet! And Lucesco probably thought Andres Iniesta's yellow card in the first leg would hurt the Catalans's chances in Donbass. Nope! Even without Iniesta, the Catalan attacks were solid and ferocious that Shakhtar was forced to slowly back off, feeling the heat. The pace went from blinding to are-you-guys-for-real blinding, and the excitement level went from whoa! to a killer, killer, killer pounds on the chest! At some point, even the referee who had all his instruments out to follow the incredibly fast-paced action took a tumble! The Donbass crowd, feeling the pressure on the Pitmen, also stepped up - cheering from the depth of their passion and lust for football! Shakhtar was willed by their fans to response to Barҫa's tough attacks, and they did so with raw adrenalin rush.

The rest of the first half of the match was a pull-push in the tie, with the young Shakhtar crew pushed to their limit and the Catalans having their hands full containing the fast-and-furious bullish Pitmen. Both Lucesco and Guardiola were on their feet - designing strategies on-the-spot to outdo the other side. And, so the two sides were engaged in "dynamic" strategy making, sending the players flying, and it was absolutely exciting! And then, in a moment of frenzied attack-defend, push-pull between the two sides, about two minutes before half-time, that "tricky" little genius from Argentina slipped through a trio of markers. While all was busy containing one another's marked men, Messi received a beautiful pass from a sprinting Dani Alves. He then went zigzagging around busy thoroughfare towards the Shakhtar goal. After breathtaking seconds of beautiful Messi moves, he slotted his 48th goal of the season against the dumbfounded Andriy Pyatov and a band of Shakhtar defender - to the dismay of the rest of the struggling Pitmen! While Shakhtar reeled from the sting of Messi's strike, knowing that their quest for a first UEFA Champions League title just slipped their precarious grasp for sure, the rest of the Catalan warriors knew they have moved to the semi-finals. The business deal sealed! And they celebrated like they have, indeed, moved to the semis! :)

The Catalan's first-half goal was extra-sweet in that Lionel Messi, who is this season's UEFA Champions League highest scorer so far with 9 goals, just surpassed a Club record for the most number of goals in one season. The Barcelona "talisman" has also equaled the global record for the most number of goals in one season. Even Pep Guardiola, aware of the significance of that goal, saluted Messi - pointing to him with a nod and a knowing smile. Even the Donbass crowd also showed appreciation, and understandably so! While Messi may have soured their team's Champions League aspirations, they were a part of football history unfolding right in their very own hallowed football ground. I was glad that from thousands of miles away, I was a part of it, too! :)

***
Little boys at play

When it was clear that all sorts of danger to unhinge the Barcelona hold on one of the four UEFA Champions League semi-final slots have been taken care of, Pep Guardiola started pulling out his first eleven from the Donbass field. Obviously, he was saving them for the big task come weekend in Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - the clash with Real Madrid CF in the first of four El Clásicos within three weeks. Shortly, with about 25 more minutes to play, the Barcelona side was dominated by substitutes. It was interesting though that Guardiola retained Dani Alves, Ibrahim Afellay and Lionel Messi in the field. Later, it became apparent to me what his intentions may have been. He was trying to help Lionel Messi thoroughly re-write history by surpassing even the global record of most goals in one season, and perhaps, reaching his half-century of goals in the season - all in the same match. And if Leo was to do that, Guardiola was wishing he'd do it in Donbass... not to spite the Pitmen, but to honor the hallowed grounds of Donbass - home of the next best squad in European football today, in my opinion - as a venue for such an awesome feat! But if he were to retain Messi in that dangerous field where Lucesco's men were still hotly gunning to, at least, retain their kingship in their home stadium notwithstanding the sweetness of a Messi record, Messi would need reliable wing men. Thus, Dani Alves and Ibrahim Afellay's extended stay in the field.

If Guardiola thought Lionel Messi had the smallest ounce of selfishness in his footballer's blood to use the energy and aggression of his peppered-with-substitute-and-therefore-have-nothing-to-lose side though, he was wrong! Lionel Messi, didn't own up to his stardom - once again. He chose to be a playmaker for Barcelona instead, stealing balls even from the fingertips of Pyatov and passing it to an open teammate for a goal. At one point, he went for an assist for Ibrahim Afellay in the latter's what could have been a moment of greatness. He stole the ball from a crowd of hungry boys and sped towards the goal, leaving a number of Pitmen struggling to catch up behind him to no avail. He aimed at Afellay, who matched his speed a few meters up front. As Adriy Pyatov went low to spring at Messi's strike, Messi passed the ball to Afellay who knew exactly what to do. Unfortunately, Pyatov have learned his lesson from Messi already and was quite ready for a shift to stop Afellay's assault. He stretched to prevent Guardiola's third trigger from causing a 2-0 Barcelona domination in Donbass, only to give Dani Alves a chance to kick the loose ball with brute force towards the goal from the midfield - he missed. It was a beautiful playmaking that even Pep Guardiola gave his men two thumbs up. While it didn't complete to a goal, the Catalans didn't even show disappoinment. They knew what business they came to accomplish, and they also knew that, at that point, the business deal was all wrapped up and in the bag... and they were ready to head back to Barcelona... and on to Bernabéu in the weekend with a 6-1 win on them against Ukraine's best! :) In the meantime, they were treating themselves to the sweetness of little boys' play - they deserved it, too! Even Pep Guardiola was indulging them. :)

***
Girls just wanna have fun

Oh, by the way, this may be unrelated, but I love the Catalans's away jersey! They look lovely in them, too - soft color over tough muscles! Aaaaw... :) Well, what can I say... hmmm, "while the boys took care of business, the girls were having fun"? :) That's just the way it goes, I think... and it feels just right as well! ;)

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Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from Zimbio - thanks! :)

FOOTIE, FOOTIE...

...and more footie!
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


Yep, the world is round... indeed, it is! And it has stars all over it... that one kicked around by those oh, so lovely, lovely men as they ran and tried to outmaneuver one another in that most beautiful green field amidst the roar of the incredible crowd around the field in the most sensational fashion... and passion! Football! The world is a football... my world is round - and it's football! :)

Aaaah, I have been raring to write a sports blog for the LONGEST time now. I have so many materials about tennis and Roger Federer, and football and Lionel Messi, and FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF... the list goes on and on - all in my head. Year after year, Grand Slam after Grand Slam, Season after Season in football leagues, my Facebook Wall is "littered" with so many tennis and football stuff... and how I wished I had the time to sit down and organize them on a blog. But the wish had never came to fruition... until now! I thought I was too passionate and "fanatic" to be writing objectively about tennis and football when Roger Federer, or Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona, or Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid CF for that matter, were involved. So, I've been letting my Facebook Wall as the venue for letting loose my passion for tennis and football, and write bits and pieces about them here. But that unbelievable UEFA Champions League quater-final first leg tie between FC Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk FC at the fabulous Camp Nou yesterday, April 6, 2011, did it for me... and here I am "sports blogging"! Well... sort of! :)

After that awesome World Cup Season last year, which had me staggering from lack of sleep to work for a couple of months, my addiction to football reached the critical level that, uh... well, I've been talking to Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez in my sleep! Dang! Xavi's voice is so sexy... in my sleep, that is. And Messi's is heartwarming as a lovable child's - yes, in my sleep, too! I know, this is quite alarming in its weirdness! :) It has gone so bad, that lately, I've been exchanging cusses with Daniel Alves (in a funny way) - yes, in my sleep, too! =) If anything, sleep has never been this exciting for me lately. So, nah, I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm kinda waiting for David Villa to grace my dreams with his presence as well! ;) When he does, I hope he'd bring Sergio Ramos with him so I could slap him for hurting Leo Messi in their El Clásico clash in November last year... or, Mesut Özil so I could try convincing him that he's better suited for Barcelona. But, hmmm... I wonder, would they need permission from José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola if they were to come together? Aaargh... even logistics in my dreams have become so complicated! :|

***
UEFA Champions League is champion!

Honor Roll: The two Spanish La Liga giants, three-time winners FC Barcelona with Josep Guardiola at the helm, and nine-time winners Real Madrid CF with their master tactician, José Mourinho, who had guided Real to book a slot in the last 8 to revive their quest for the Champions League title for the first time since 2002; English Premier League's brightest superstars, led by the three-time winners Manchester United FC, and the hungry-for-the-title, Chelsea FC and the Tottenham Hotspur FC; FC Schalke of the going-strong German Bundesliga; the current Cup Holders, led to victory in the previous term by Mourinho himself, FC Internazionale Milano of the Italian Serie A; and first-time quarter-finalist FC Shakhtar Donetsk - the best of the Ukrainian Premier League.

With the biggest and the best sides in the European football all gaining a place in the last eight slots, the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal is exactly what it should be - the "Clash of the European Champions"!! And it's hot, hot, hot!!

***
The side where my 'round heart' belongs

I have been following the UEFA Champions League this season, and I have been rooting for FC Barcelona, of course... part of it is because of the 23 yr-old Lionel Messi - the best football player in the world today. I just love him! Leo's brand of football is beautiful as it is skillful - genius. It is defined by speed, agility and a sharp sense for the goal. Sometimes, he seems like a computer-guided rocket when he approaches the goal... once set on target and locked, all there is left to do is to kiss the target goodbye! However, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, or "CR7" - Real Madrid's famed "complete player" because of his heavy artillery of talents as a footballer - Messi ties himself to his team as "just another finger" in that big hand that crawled the football field. When he is not striking to complete a beautifully orchestrated play, set up by either the suave Xavi Hernandez, the brilliant Andres Iniesta, or the fearless Dani Alves, Leo himself is dribbling ably and sharply passing the ball to the open teammate, as dictated by the playmaker. Therefore, he is always an integral part of every single goal in Barҫa's score card. As Pep Guardiola himself said, "he can win us games in many varied ways." On the other hand, CR7 is widely criticized for "playing for himself", just because his tremendous speed, strength, and incredible dribbling and striking talents allow him to be a one-man demolition crew... that is, if his side is faced with a decidedly weaker side! He rarely passes the ball... when he does, it's only to direct a teammate to set up a goal for himself, or to get out of trouble! Therefore, if he makes a goal, it's his victory... if he doesn't, it's because his teammate didn't deliver! And since football is really a team sport - it is played and watched not because of one player but because of the whole team, in my book, Leo's great ability to gel his talents with those of his teammates for a truly engaging play makes him by far the better player between the two... and that makes FC Barcelona a more exciting side to watch in the field, too!

Having said that, while I admire Leo, the bigger reason why I'm rooting for Barҫa is their hunt-in-a-pack style of play that I so love - awesome teamwork all the time! It's like, once they set foot on the field, their minds were connected via that crest on their chest, and that they could hear Pep Guardiola in their head as he guided them with his sharp mind and authoritative voice. It's incredible how each one of them seems to have an extra-sensory feel for the ball... and for each other. Moving like fingers in the same hand as they ease the ball towards the goal, slipping through narrow cracks in the other side's wall of defense via their signature tiki-taka method of passing. They are very much "in the same wavelength" that pack-style communication seems so clear. It's mesmerizing how they pass the ball with just the right touch and speed, at exactly the right time, and to the right person, that they rarely lose the ball and that a play almost always ends up with an awesome goal. It's just beautiful to watch - absolutely addictive! :) This is the superb brand of football that they played against Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday, which they won, 5-1.

***
A quarterfinal sweetness at Camp Nou

The first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie between FC Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk FC at Camp Nou opened with Lionel Messi setting the pace of the match, and Shakhtar showing they've got what it took to keep up! The goalmaking started early with the brilliant Andres Iniesta banging the ball, World Cup style, into Shakhtar's goal within the first two minutes of the match, stunning Andriy Pyatov - Shakhtar's goalie. The goal-in-a-hurry sent an electric shock to Mircea Lucescu's men! The message was clear: if the Pitmen were still getting into the rhythm, they'd better do it quick because Barҫa was on an attack and that they have no intention of conceding Camp Nou to the visitors.

Accepting the challenge, the Pitmen regrouped quickly and tightened their defense right away... I have to say, they were a very good defensive team, too - if I understood anything about defense at all! And then, the Pitmen went for a counterattack aggressively, even showing willingness to pick up yellow cards if that's what it took to throw Barҫa's game to a disarray. But the Catalans weren't about to be derailed. If Dani Alves's obvious agression everytime the ball was in his posession didn't show that, I guess Xavi's silent menacing focus - all shown in his dark eyes and firmly pressed lips, Iniesta's fakes with quick back passes and steals that must've been really frustrating for the other side, and David Villa's greased, slippery moves as he forced himself through narrow cracks on the Pitmen's defense should've done the job. No, we are not even talking about Messi yet, who, sensing his teammates heightened intention to dominate the tie and the Pitmen's watchful eyes on him, changed gear from striker to playmaker. Obviously, the Pitmen didn't expect that, so that when Iniesta made a long pass, everybody, including the goalie, was looking to bar the speeding Messi, and the marked #2 finisher - David Villa - from getting near the ball... and the path went wide open for the unmarked Dani Alves on the opposite wing. Iniesta, Messi and Villa seemed to understand one another, and Dani Alves seemed to pick up his teammates intentions from across the field, and went sprinting unchallenged through a path that intersected Iniesta's long pass. Andriy Pyatov saw Alves just in time and rushed towards the ball for a save, but Dani Alves, without any hesitation to rise to the occasion, broke the ball's flight and changed its course tangent to Pyatov's approach. He then followed it past Pyatov and pushed the ball to the net with a clinically clean, simple-as-ABC kick! 2-0! Sweet! :) Camp Nou errupted as they celebrated the simplest yet the awesomest of goals with Dani Alves! Another electric shock for the Pitmen.

And so, the first half of the match saw Ukraine's best down by two goals.

Obviously pepped up by Lucescu during half-time, the Pitmen came back with a stronger resolve to narrow their goal deficit. The fast-paced game continued, with the electrified but undeterred Pitmen matching the Catalans - speed por blistering speed, kick por ferocious kick. Messi still sensing that the Pitmen marked him as the triggerman, used that to Barҫa's advantage by pulling the Shakhtar's defenders toward himself, cracking up the Shakhtar defense. In one of those many brilliant moments, he forced a breach on the Shakhtar defense by magneting the Pitmen defenders towards himself and David Villa, who seemed to understand Messi's intentions. That left the masterful Xavi Hernandez, backed by Andres Iniesta, to have an open field to set up a game for the unmarked Gerard Piqué, who guilely approahed and guided the ball to the goal with not as much as a thud! 3-0! Sweeter than sweet! :) Camp Nou joined Piqué and Xavi in their goal celebration - too beautiful!

A few minutes after Piqué's goal, Iniesta was booked for the second leg of the tie with a yellow card. That shook Barҫa and the Camp Nou crowd momentarily, allowing a persistent Rakitskiy of the Ukraine side to slip the ball through the distracted Victor Valdes and into the goal, following a free kick. That narrowed the hosts's lead to just two goals! 3-1! There was hush, hush in Camp Nou....

Unperturbed, Lionel Messi went back to business quickly, resuming the upbeat tempo. Eyeing Seydou Keita who was positioning himself on the left wing for a possible assist, Messi picked up the ball while Camp Nou was still in a daze and sprinted away in a blinding speed towards the center of the Shakhtar goal. The Pitmen, keen on protecting their newly found capacity to get closer to Barҫa's goal haul, snapped out of the dizzying rate at which things were unfolding and all sped to hunt Messi. And just before three Pitmen could catch him, he suavely directed the ball to the expecting Seydou Keita, a good eight to ten meters ahead and closer to the goal at the left wing. Keita took Messi's cue and brought the ball home from the left wing without a challenge because the Shakhtar goalie and the other defenders were poised to stop Messi from the center of the goal! 4-1! And so, they went back to their comfortable three-goal advantage in a snap - taking the momentum back from Shakhtar! Sweet, sweet, sweet! And the Camp Nou crowd's energy was renewed, the stadium shook in the Catalan fans' frenzied excitement.

The next minutes were speed match between the two sides, each side testing the other's ability to keep up and to keep ball possession. Knowing that they had the speed and the feel for the goal that matched the Catalans', the Pitmen pushed harder! They knew that all they had to do was to make another goal, or to prevent Barҫa from making another one. With only a three-goal deficit, they knew it might not be impossible to turn that around to their favor in the second leg of the tie when they host Barҫa in the Donbass Arena, where they remain undefeated. All the reasons to hope fell to the Camp Nou ground, however, when Dani Alves, with his usual menacing agression, slipped the ball through a two-man challenge and passed it with his eyes to Lionel Messi, who had Xavi Hernandez a few feet in front of him. The sharp Pitmen defenders anticipated the move, and so, they turned towards Messi behind them who rushed and looked like he was going to intercept the ball and make the shot. Alves, for all the ferocity in his bullish charge, cunningly controlled his pass that the ball slowed as it approached Messi, bringing it at a point close enough for Xavi to reach out, who was momentarily unmarked. Xavi wasted no time. As the Pitmen aimed at Messi, Xavi quickly but very smoothly reached for the ball and touched it gently towards the goal, with the goalie still waiting for the strike from Messi!! 5-1! Aaaaaah, sweet, sweet, so sweet!!! Of course, Pep Guardiola almost did a sommersault if he didn't have a bad back, and the Camp Nou crowd went on a mighty roar - and that's just about right! Woohoo!!

***
'El Clásico' in the offing?

Everyone, myself included, is of course wishing for an El Clásico at the UEFA Champions League. With the Catalans and the Meringues both in the QF, and on colllision path, too, that wish is likely to come true. The day before the Barҫa-Shakhtar match, Real Madrid CF won the first leg of their own QF tie with Tottenham Hotspur at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The Merengues hammered the "limping" visitors, hauling 4 goals to nil, after striker Peter Crouch was booked early in the match with a red card. And so, with their 5-1 win over Ukraine's best, pundits say that Barҫa is sending a message to Real Madrid: "anything you can do, we can do better." Whether that is true or not, I'm not sure. But I know that Barҫa is playing absolutely hot football, they even made me write this entry in my blog - my first full-length entry on football. No other football club made me do this notwithstanding my passion for football! Woot-woot!


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Photo credit: All photos were grabbed from the UEFA website, Zimbio and the FC Barcelona website - thanks.

Aargh, leave me alone...

...please!!
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


Yes, I should actually be somewhere else doing something fatally boring rather than writing this entry in my blog. And what else could be more "fatally boring" than work - an imposed work, that is!

No, I'm not against work. In fact, I work very hard and I try to inspire others to work as hard. In fact, I am just a few shoves away from being a slave driver - close to being a workmaniac! I just despise being told what to do - how I should do my work to fit some egomaniac's taste! Or, worse, being told what to do by someone who has no clue, as in no comprehension at all, of the complexities and the rigorous nature of my work and my passion for what I do. I have no patience for this kind of people whose minds are of one-size-fits-all design.

Just because every one of us is on a push doesn't necessarily mean that we all walk with our arms outstreched in front of us bearing most of our body's power and walk in a straight line... because some might be pushing a light wheeled cart on a smooth surface while others are pushing decades old rusty truck with flat tires - uphill! And still, some maybe maneouvering the stupidest donkey on the face of the earth! Why others should be pushing a stupid donkey like that, while sad and incomprehensible, is sometimes necessary. Therefore, I refuse to speak with people who talk as if they understand a stupid donkey's mind when all they've ever pushed all their boring lives is a light wheeled cart!!

Call me smug, go ahead... I'm not about to deny it! I'd rather be called smug than be an audience to egomaniacs - that's for sure! My own ego is big enough to be a considerable burden! Ugh! And yet, this is the sad part about working in this part of the world... superiors expect you to conform - to the sick images of you in their unimaginative minds! And they cloak those sick images in their heads as you adopting to, in their sick words, "the realities of a Third World" - realities defined by submission to defeat, mediocrity and suffering! Imagine? If people "in the Third World" conform to those images and live those realities as if they were the only realities, then how... how do we progress?????? How do we move forward? How do we get ourselves out of this dinky ditch? If they've learned to embrace life in this ditch, then, I'm sorry, I refuse to close my eyes to this ugliness! I want to stare it down cold until it shivers to its knees... and be out of its grip! Because it's possible, because it is DOABLE!

What I don't get is why... why do superiors hold us back? What are they afraid of? Just because they were not able to make things work does not necessarily mean that things will never ever work! And even if it's hard to make things work, wouldn't it be worth it to, at least, TRY??? Therefore, there is no way - and, I mean, NO WAY - that I'd ever work with short-sighted, insecure people like them! I'd rather work with a stupid donkey if that was all the choice I had!

Uhmm-hmmm... I see you nodding your head... or, are you shaking your head? Are you shivering... with fright? Gotcha!! Late April fools!! Aah-hahaha... all is well! :)

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Photo credit: The comic strip was grabbed from phdcomics.com - thanks.

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