Blog Outsourcing - January 30

Welcome to The Victory Formation.

Whilst most of you were asleep when the 2012 Australian Open Final took place, the most fascinating of a final happened. 5 hours and 53 minutes of serves, strokes, grunts, shouts between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. The top two players in the world in a showdown that enthralled all who watched.

I was actually on the road when the conclusion happened, but was kept updated on Twitter, because everyone else on my timeline was talking about it. Still, it was almost 6 hours of competitive tennis. That is incredible. Can't doubt their endurance and skill.

Here forth are the links after the jump:

5-Hour Energy and the PBA's Powerade Tigers

H/T to Brosi Gonzales for this celebratory photo of the Tigers

I finally got the opportunity to watch the PBA Finals live for the first time last night. It was Game Three of the Best of Seven PBA All-Filipino Finals involving the defending champions a.k.a Heavyweights Talk N' Text Tropang Texters and the 8th-seed a.k.a. Underdogs Powerade Tigers. TNT had a 2-0 lead over Powerade and no PBA or even a NBA team has escaped from a 3-0 deficit.

The Wiz picked the Wrong Guy

The Washington Wizards are a sad sack of a franchise as of the moment. They are at 2-15, which is the worst record in the NBA. They finally made the inevitable move to fire Flip Saunders after an embarrassing loss against Philadelphia and after team captain Andray Blatche pretty much threw him under the bus with his comments.

Sure, they selected Randy Wittman to replace him, probably because he already had previous head coaching stops, but that is the a "meh" hire. Ted Leonsis wanted to make a splash and make sure Washington is relevant in the Association. This move won't allow you to do that.

What would? Having Sam Cassell coach the team would. The 42-yr old two-time NBA Champion is currently an assistant with the team. Besides, he would be a quote machine given his reputation during his playing days.

The Wizards need a total shakeup. The team is young. Maurice Evans is the oldest guy on the team. And he's 33. Your next oldest guy is Rashard Lewis, who is 32 and spent 13 years in the NBA, the most in the team. Only four guys (Evans, Lewis, Ronny Turiaf,  Roger Mason) are over the age of 26. Its lottery pick, Jan Vesely, has played in only 10 games, averaging under 12 minutes, not reflecting the reputation that precedes him. Your key players have somewhat regressed. It's really a mess.

Leonsis preaches on the nation's capital becoming a destination. I don't think Randy Wittman would make people want to go there. It might be if Sam I Am was, and if he could run the team the way the team had been constructed.

Blog Outsourcing - January 23, 2012

Welcome to The Morning After.

Today marks the Lunar a.k.a. Chinese New Year, where 2012 marks the Year of the Dragon.

The Chinese calendar has an animal for the 12 years that comprise the cycle, as seen below:

The Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012  
The Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

The Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
The Sheep: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
The Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
The Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
The Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
The Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
The Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
The Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
The Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
The Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

You can go here to check what this year lies ahead for you.

Here forth are the links to keep you busy after the jump.

Could Pacquiao-Mayweather finally happen?

All we need is for Floyd's camp to confirm this conversation. This match needs to happen.

(h/t to @tigastorres for theYouTube clip)

Just do it, Bob Arum, Leonard Ellerbe. Do it. For the sake of the sport.

Update: it has been confirmed. Now the world awaits.

The USA Basketball Shortlist

The finalists as to who will be comprising the Olympic Team competing in London has been named. Here are their names in alphabetical order:

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)
Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers)
Chris Bosh (Miami Heat)
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies)
Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets)
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers)
LeBron James (Miami Heat)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks)
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets)

Blog Outsourcing - 1/16/12 edition

Greetings and welcome to the weekly Morning After, where someone tries to remind you what you could have missed.

The iconic boxer of his generation, and probably most of ours, Muhammad Ali, will be celebrating his 70th birthday this week. The heavyweight champion attended an advanced birthday party for him in his hometown in Louisville. That party also served as a fund raiser for the Ali Center, a educational and cultural complex, where it will be an illustration of his legacy both inside and outside of the squared circle.

He may have been ravaged by Parkinson's, but he is still an inspiration and a legend.

Here forth are the links after the jump and staring at another meme pic from me:

The King has returned.

He's back. Albeit for a short while, but it's quite magical to see his return to the stadium he helped build.

Blog Outsourcing - January 9, 2011 edition

Welcome to the latest edition of The Morning After on The Victory Formation.

So, later today, the BBWAA will be announcing who will make it to the Hall of Fame. Rules are quite simple. You only have a limit of 10 people to select.

Who would I vote? The pool to select can be seen here.

I would vote the DH's: Raines and Edgar. The latter was THE name when it came to the Designated Hitter pre-Papi.

I would vote Larkin, Bagwell, Bernie and Larry Walker in. Veterans who defined themselves with their respectives franchises (Reds, Astros, Yankees, Rockies)

I would vote McGwire, Palmeiro in, because you saw for yourself in his playing career that they warrant it, in spite of the allegations.

Who is in yours, then?

Here forth are the links to catch you up after the jump.

Twitter and the Student-Athlete

I always believed in the context of free speech and its expressive nature. So the recent move by newly-minted Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer to bar his student athletes from using social media is eyebrow-raising.

I understand the premise and the need for the move. After all, we have seen too many scenarios where these student-athletes get into trouble because of what he said and all. In fact, it's not just on social media. Remember when the brawl at the Crosstown Shootout took place, when after the game, Tu Holloway decided to use his "gangsta" bit in the post-game press conference? It illustrates that there is a dire need instead of banning the tool, one should instead educate them on the use and its repercussions, because after all, they are representing the institution that they play for, no matter if they put a disclaimer on the top.

I love tweeting, and so do most of the writers here at TVF. We enjoy how helpful this tool has been for everyone. Some more than others. (You probably know who that particular person is already) As always, one should always be prepared to handle the responsibility of wielding this instrument. As such, I leave you with this reminder.

Think Before You Click.

More Details on the #SendongCharityGame

On January 7, 2011 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium and televised on Studio 23, the Dili kamo nag-iisa charity football match will take place. It will involve Tercera Division side CF Internacional de Madrid, a club that is currently twelth in their table.

The lineup for the locals, dubbed as Azkals Alyansa for this match, which is an mix of players from the national side and from the United Football League are as follows:

Goalkeepers: Eduard Sacapaño (Army Fritz & Maciol), Edmundo Mercado, Jr. (Philippine Air Force Phoenix FC), Paolo Pascual (Global FC)

Defenders: Roel Gener (Army Fritz & Maciol), Roxy Dorlas (Loyola Meralco Sparks FC), Ange Tressor-Guisso (Global FC), Yves Ashime (Pachanga FC), Martin Doctora (Philippine Air Force Phoenix FC), Anton del Rosario (Kaya Cignal FC), Jerry Barbaso (Global FC)

Midfielders: Emelio Caligdong (Philippine Air Force Phoenix FC), Misagh Bahadoran (Global FC), Valentine Kama (Global FC), Angel Guirado (Global FC), Carli de Murga (Racing Club Portuense), Lexton Moy (Kaya Cignal FC), James Younghusband (Loyola Meralco Sparks FC)

Attackers: Phil Younghusband (Loyola Meralco Sparks FC), Ian Araneta (Philippine Air Force Phoenix FC), Nate Burkey (Kaya Cignal FC), Ojay Clariño(University of Santo Tomas)

Philippine Air Force Phoenix head man Edward Cabalida will be handling the squad, whose UFL Cup Winning Squad will be having a separate friendly with the Spaniards at a yet to be determined date and time. The Spaniards also are scheduled to have a friendly with the senior women's national side on January 6, from 7-9pm at the newly built Bonifacio Global City turf field. That info came from Malditas captain Marielle Benitez.

Prohibited items for the charity match are as follows:

Cigarettes and lighters
Laser pens and pointers
Weapons and/or sharp objects
Candles, fireworks, or any type of pyrotechnics
Glass bottles, PET bottles, cans, and hard plastic containers
Posters, banners, and signage with any politics slogans or advertising without explicit Local Organizing Committee approval
Alcoholic beverages
Illegal drugs
Large chains, spike bracelets, wallet chains, metal belt buckles
Balloons Chairs

Waivers needed for Pregnant women and for Parents of children below 12 years old

As part of the activity, the classic chant of Liverpool FC supporters and other clubs, Gerry and the Peacemakers' You'll Never Walk Alone, will be sung. Here's the actual song with lyrics so that you can sing along.

Tickets for friendly are already available. Kindly check your nearest Ticketworld outlet.

Soccer Central Philippines will let you know more details when we have the information available.

Blog Outsourcing - 1/2/12 edition

Welcome to the New Year. Welcome to The Victory Formation in 2012.

A new year brings optimism and positivity. Such is needed when you have been challenged. Whether through serious matters to frivolous ones, or from pertinent issues or trivial campaigns, the new year allows us to reset and start again from scratch. If you have been through a great moment, it's an opportunity to exceed it or at least maintain the level. Otherwise, it is a means to forget about the frustrations and leave them all behind. So go forth and make the year yours.

Here forth are the posts to make your day: