Blog Outsourcing - 7/25/11 edition

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

The past weekend was a great sporting spectacle. I wrote about it here. It's heartwarming and enlightening on how they somehow pulled it off, but they did, and the result is amazing. Once I am done with the pictures from the press conference I attended, I will shed some more tales.

Here are the collation of stories from The Ultimate All-Star Weekend. Thanks to @firequinito for compiling them into one group.

Here forth are the links after the jump.

The Great Filipino Sporting Weekend

It is already Friday, June 22 as I am writing this. Today is the beginning of the weekend, the huge weekend for all sporting fanatics in the Philippines. Whether it will be basketball or football or whatever, it's going to be a great great day to be either a couch potato or an avid venue-hopper.

Here goes nothing...

The UAAP 2011 mini-preview

Thanks to PhilStar for this picture

Another year has passed and the collegiate scene beckons again. And again I am late in posting the UAAP preview for the upcoming season. The first playdate has been completed and the four remaining teams will get got theirs in last Thursday.

Here lies my brief thoughts on the upcoming ongoing UAAP Season.

Blog Outsourcing - 7/11 edition

Welcome to today's edition of The Victory Formation.

Earlier this week, there was a retirement that was announced. It was that of Yao Ming , the Chinese center who played his entire NBA career with the Houston Rockets. Injuries plagued the former number one overall draft pick in 2002 all throughout his tenure, especially on his foot. He's just 30 years old, with a multitude of possible greatness ahead of him, but like Bill Walton, his feet denied him of it.

The frustrating thing about this is, that the Houston Rockets themselves cannot make a statement on this. The decision of Yao to retire had to be coursed through the NBA's offices in New York. Yup, this is a direct result of the NBA lockout. You see, the teams cannot say anything regarding players. In fact, these teams cannot even retweet or mention the players when they do use the social media. The NBA probably would not even give the Rockets a one-off for this, which is a damn shame. But then again, these are some bitter times, and as long as the lockout is on, this is the norm.

However, if you have NBA TV, you must be enjoying the trips down memory lane with all the stuff they're putting up.

On other Motherland news, Hey, it's collegiate basketball time again here at home. My alma mater is gearing up for its title defense, and boy, I am so giddy about it. In addition, some guy also complained about this particular billboard that is located near a main thoroughfare, and managed to successfully take it down.



Here is a much closer look.



Here forth are the links after the jump.

Blog Outsourcing 7/4 edition

Welcome to the latest edition of The Victory Formation.

I want to wish every single American I know a happy Independence Day. Remember this line:


Just when you think about the Fourth of July, you think about fireworks and similar stuff like that. Then again, in Ohio, there is a new way to celebrate in the clubs. This comes too late for Plaxico Burress, as it would have better for him to have played with the Cleveland Browns or the Cincinnati Bengals instead of the Giants.

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.

Got Clover?

 

 

This is what we need.

If you see that picture, that is a flat-bottomed water container that you use in your water dispensers.

The Kaholeros, also known as the Booster Squad for the Azkals' home game against Sri Lanka on July 3, need these specific kind of containers, as they will use them as drums to amplify the homecourt advantage against the South Asians.

These containers are manufactured by Clover, and the name will be mentioned on the container.

If you have those items, you can drop off these containers at the PFF office in Pasig (make sure you label them as The Blue Haired Fanatic c/o Ms. Maja). See picture below.

27 Danny Floro cor. Henry Javier Sts., Oranbo 1600 Pasig City

 

Blog Outsourcing - 5/30 edition

Welcome to the special Memorial Day edition to The Victory Formation.

Just to remind everyone, Memorial Day is an American Federal Holiday that they observe yearly at the last Monday of May, in which this year falls on the 30th. This commemorates all those who died while serving in the United States military.

Like most of the people in the United States, I am also getting the day off. To all my Stateside friends, I hope you get to do the right thing and honor the ones who gave their lives to defend your country from threats known or unknown.

It has been a while since I got the weekend off, and I really need it to get some rest, relaxation and time to stay at home. Unfortunately, most of my family got the chance to go out and frolic. At least, I get to do some more editing of photos and finish some blogs that I really need to go and write about, I hope.

How does the U.S. Embassy here honor Memorial Day? Recently, the U.S.S. Carl Vinson docked in our shores for a routine port call and then some. That aircraft carrier is the so-called funeral hearse for Osama Bin Laden. Some of my blogger friends luckily were able to go on-board and check the dock out.

Here is a nice picture of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in Manila before we give way to the links.

Et tu, Scottie Pippen?

So, Scottie Pippen said that LeBron James is a better player than Michael Jordan. Interesting to note that it was Chris Broussard, the guy other than Brian Windhorst on ESPN that is thought to be the closest to James, who asked the question. Chris was guy who insisted that the James is going to Miami just before "The Decision" took place.


Feel free to compare His Airness to the King. Restrict yourself up to Jordan's first threepeat, if you want. Lebron has a long way to go. Will he get there, it's up to him and what does he want to do with what lies ahead for his future. He has to answer the question: What do I definitely want to accomplish, really?

In addition, it's hard for us to judge legacies when one has not yet finished his and is still in the midst of carving what his true legacy is, was and will be. We still do it because it makes good conversation and debate.

All I know is, we will have an idea on how things might just turn into when the games tip off American Airlines Arena / Center.

Update: Just as I am writing this, Pip tweets his explanations.

TWTWTNBA: Deconstructing The NBA Finals - Revisiting the Past

Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. They made it to the NBA Finals. Just like what they did 5 years ago. It would be remiss to look back then as a means of revisiting the situation that is about to unfold.