Football madness about to ensue

Photograph taken by Ms. Araceli Socorro Estose

To borrow Hank Williams, jr...


ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!!! I hope you are, as well.

Blog Outsourcing - 6/27 edition

Welcome to today's edition of The Victory Formation.

First of all, thanks to P@ and Jen for the message they left on Facebook. Much appreciated.

I read here that someone was whining about the rain they had during the weekend. Well, the past few days have been a little rough on my end. I even got a case of the sniffles right now. But I need to remain healthy and stay the course. I have to focus because I need to be in tip-top shape for the week ahead. On Wednesday, the Philippines will be facing off in the 2014 World Cup Qualifier against Sri Lanka. Me and my friends will go to a sports bar to watch this in the afternoon. This Sunday, we will be hosting them and hopefully, I can secure media accreditation to cover this event.

Here forth are the links you requested after the jump.

Dissecting the 2011 NBA Draft (Lottery Portion)

The NBA draft is coming in a few days, so let's dissect the lottery-bound draft selections after the jump.

Blog Outsourcing 6/20/11 edition

Welcome to the latest edition of The Victory Formation.

I hope everyone enjoyed Father's Day yesterday. It's a nice opportunity to go out and bond with your family. Some might say, baseball is the best sport to bring your kid along to, like a legendary mythos commemorating and celebrating it.

The logo below is the reason why today is a holiday in the Philippines. It is hoped that my fellow Filipinos who will stumble into this will understand the reason why it's a holiday and value him and his contributions.

Here forth are the links after the jump:

Revisitng the factors of the title run

Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks. They win their first NBA Title by beating the Miami Heat. I wrote about how the Finals is to take place. Time to revisit and reflect. And I seem to remember someone predicting Mavs in 6.

Precautionary Measures for FIFA Qualification in home games.

It's important that we act responsibly in what do as fans of the sport, especially since are riding the crest of an early wave of popularity of football. As such, we ought to not devolve into acts of hooliganism and rioting, something that was recently seen in a tranquil and lovely place named Vancouver just days ago.

As such, here are eh FIFA guidelines that are to be followed on the home games, starting in July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

If you are a Kaholero, just watch out for a guide on how to do the chants and / or drums. Don't worry on the aquadrums just yet, let someone else instead do the worrying for you. Focus on how to get the beats and chants down pat.

Most of all, #WeBelieve.

We Believe Campaign

What is the WE BELIEVE (#webelieve) campaign?

Remember that LOVE and LOYALTY we have for our favorite football club, whether it be Liverpool or Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, etc... You know when you feel so excited for each win or agonize over each loss? The paranoia that comes with the suspense of a free kick or a corner, or a call gone awry... That is precisely what that kind of fervor and emotion should be the mindset of every Pinoy whenever our national team plays. As such, it is important that everyone should believe that our National Football Team, the Azkals, can bring more pride and honor to our country. That they can carry our flag high and mighty.. That every Filipino would feel that we are all PART OF THE TEAM, that we are all AZKALS and that we can ALL be proud of who we are! That is why on June 10, at the Trinoma Activity Center, that campaign will be launched.

There will be 9x12ft LED screens, Banners, Registration Area, Sponsors’ & activity booths, confetti blasts, face paintings, photo walls, & a fireworks display later in the evening!

More details after the jump.

The Azkals 23-man roster as I broke it

It has been determined that the PFF has released the roster that will going to Germany. Click after the jump to know the final list.

Blog Outsourcing - 6/6 edition

Hello everyone! Welcome to the latest edition of The Victory Formation.

That billboard right there is on a main thoroughfare around the corner and round the bend.

As this is the first Monday of June, most of the kids consider this as the first day of school. A new dawn as they return to the books and the classrooms. In fact, hashtag themes (because we're part of the regional trending groups that you can check on Twitter) that trended included #tipsfor(insertyouralmamater) freshies. It's nice to look back and see some good memories and then realize you are really that old.

Some schools, though would rather have their opening after the Philippine Independence Day holiday. Makes things easier.

P.S. It's the end of summer but we had the second hottest day in Imperial Manila yesterday. Sheesh.

Here forth are the links after the jump:

A New Quirk in the World Baseball Classic

Yes, I know most people don't like the idea of the World Baseball Classic. The event that will make its third iteration a couple of years from now in 2013.

This event introduced us to the wonder of Dice-K, before the Red Sox got "suckered in" and you saw the result of that ever since. Matzusaka has been the best player on the WBC in its two previous editions, both won by the Japanese. On the other hand, the United States finished fourth in 2009.

For the 2013 WBC, the organizers have decided to expand the field. From the original 16, 28 teams will get a chance to compete, with a qualifying round later this year to add spice. Based on the current rankings, the following countries will join Canada, Chinese-Taipei, Panama and South Africa (these 4 countries were winless in 2009 WBC):

Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, The Philippines, Spain, Thailand

Out of that clutter, four teams will get the chance to join Australia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela are already seeded into the main field.

It's great that the WBC and MLB is allowing more teams to get the chance of competing against the big boys of the sport, that their dreams for some to be on even the same baseball field as their idols that they could only watch on their televisions or listen to on their radios.

P.S. You know which team might be a sneaky sneaky bet for this? Israel, thanks to the Diaspora.

TWTWTNBA: Deconstructing The NBA Finals - Focusing on the Immediate Future

The Finals beckons. Now that we have gone back to the way past, time to focus on the here and now.