By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

IT is written in the Holy Bible that God said, “For the love of money is a root of all of evil.” (1Timothy 6: 10) Yes, vey true. This world-famous excerpt cropped up when one of Jesus Christ’s disciples named Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of monetary silvers. It happened then and the love for money is becoming the most horrible habit of mankind during these days. Kidnapping, extortion, killing, bribery, kickback, scamming, overpricing, money laundering, cheating, to name some, are today’s dirty methods how to earn money the easiest and fastest ways to make a living out of miseries of people. It doesn’t surprise many that these characters are in the business sector.

This undying love for money also already infected the sports communities, chiefly in basketball, boxing, lawn tennis, pool (better known as billiards), chess, cycling, to name some. I was not born yesterday not to know of insatiable greed of sportsmen, not only being a former athlete but an avid reader everyday of our national dailies.

As might be expected, all the athletes involved deny the allegations, still many were found guilty and were fined, suspended (some for life), and revocation of their licenses.

The athlete who topped them all was the seven-time consecutive Tour de France (TDF) champion (1999-2005) US cyclist Lance Armstrong who was found guilty of using performing-enhancing drugs over the course of his cycling career. Although maintaining his innocence, Armstrong preferred not to contest the verdict citing the potential toll on his family and finally received a lifetime ban on his chosen career and was stripped of his seven TDF titles by the world governing cycling body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). I guess that also bothered his conscience, Armstrong publicly acknowledged his wrongdoings and officially ended his colorful and blotted career. I guess because prestige paved the way to earn money through world commercial advertisements after his triumphs.

We heard about Michael Jordan father’s death issue in the NBA during Michael’s prime time, (that’s long and confusing story), the PBA’s game fixing brouhaha exposed by Barako Bull center Don Allado in July 2012, the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley’s first fight which you and I watched on TV. Even the wife of Bradley could not believe that her husband won the match. There were other verdicts in boxing fights that were questionable especially if a title was at stake and many say (as usual) involved Mafia. Take the Foreman-Schultz and Julio Cesar Chavez vs Pernell Whitaker bouts, to name some. If I mention them all (allegations) here, for sure this space cannot accommodate them all.

The newest alleged game-fixing in the country was the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Basketball League held just weeks ago.

The teams of Siquijor Mystics and ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu Heroes did not have the wickedness which supposed not to be done. In video clips that circulated in social media after the game in Alcantara, Cebu, one player even failed to convert an unmolested easy layup plus dubiously missing two free throws which are obviously are easy shots. For these shenanigans, the Siquijor five suffered the severe punishment for showing disgraceful acts with no remorse and eventually expelled from the league, while the Lapu-Lapu squad who were very regretful, sad and apologetic, prompted them to receive lighter retribution and were just fined and suspended.

Yes, all these happened because for the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evil.

****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1TIMOTHY 6: 10

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments