Proud to be a Heat fan

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.                                                                        

IN the last two months, we lost two of three very important and prestigious international distinctions which were supposed to be ours. These were the ‘American Idol’ plum and the latest title fight of world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

You might say I’m biased but I’m not a hypocrite to say and believe that the Filipino-Mexican songstress Jessica Sanchez really won the 2012 American Idol title, not Phillip Phillips. If Phillips was the real winner, why was he not chosen to sing the American national anthem at the NBA Finals since he’s the champion and a Caucasian. Instead, the organizers chose Sanchez to do the job. I guess the NBA executives also believe that Sanchez is a much better singer than the fellow Yankee Phillips. Then, although Pacquiao lost in the eyes of those two (blind) judges, the review of the fight conducted by the World Boxing Organization’s five appointed licensed boxing judges declared that Pacquiao handily and clearly won the battle. Unfortunately, the rules say WBO cannot reverse the verdict and can only order a mandatory rematch against Tim Bradley.

But after the two debacles, at least we won one in the person of Fil-Am Erik Spoelstra who guided the Miami Heat to victory in the NBA championship this year against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-1. Unknown perhaps to many, Speolstra’s mother is a Filipina named Elisa Celino from San Pablo City, Laguna while his father is a Dutch-Irish American named Jon Spoelstra. He frequently visited the Philippines as a young boy and today he comes after every NBA season to promote healthy lifestyles, hosting basketball clinics and supporting grassroots programs under the NBA Cares Foundation. Born on November 1,1970, the 41 year-old Spoelstra nicknamed “Spo” was born and raised in the U.S. and was educated at the University of Portland, graduating with a degree in communication in 1992. And before his heydays in NBA, he used to be a college player of the University of Portland as the starting point-guard for four years averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game. He said he was so anxious to play in the PBA during his prime years as a player but very regretful that no team in the PBA ever expressed intent to hire him.

His first job in the Heat staff was as the team’s video coordinator in 1995. Because of his vast knowledge in basketball not only as an ex-player, he was promoted to to assistant coach with famous tactician Pat Riley as the head mentor. He was also instrumental in the Heat’s first championship in 2006, beating archenemy Dallas Mavericks, 4-2, overcoming a 0-2 deficit. Even as Spo was considered young for the job, Riley saw him as innovative and technically skilled, bringing fresh ideas and eventually passed the baton to him in 2008. Spo succeeded in giving the Heat its first championship game last year, but failed to win the Finals, 2-4, against the Mavericks. This year, when the Heat finally entered anew the championship, Riley, who was promoted as the Heat’s franchising president, warned Spoelstra that in case he cannot make Heat as the champion this time, it would be his last and would be substituted for good. Spo redeemed himself this time and made Heat earned its second championship since joining the NBA in 1988. I believe they will be the early favorites to win again next year and hopefully I’m not wrong. The Heat has improved tremendously and I expect more from them next year. I’m proud to be a Heat fan, not only because of the ability of the players but chiefly because of Spoelstra, the first Filipino and the first Asian to win an NBA title as a headcoach. Let’s watch them again next year and pray for their triumph anew. You, too, must be proud of them.

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My big congrats to Supt. Mateo Casupang and his men for making my town Mangaldan bag the Best Municipal Police Station in Region 1. The sports fanatic Casupang, also the president of the Mangaldan Practical Shooters Association, is the only chief of police Mangaldan ever produced to apprehend 44 drug pushers plus other numerous criminal elements since January 2011 when he assumed his post as our police chief. Congrats also to our chief of intelligence officer Insp. Rizalino Suarez and his boys for a job well-done. You deserve a promotion.

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QUOTEOF THE WEEK: And Jesus said to them “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” LUKE 6: 36-38

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