Sports Eye
July is for Wimbledon, TdF and the Olympics
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
THE Wimbledon is acclaimed as the world’s oldest and most prestigious lawn tennis tournament participated in by the best players in the universe. The annual tourney had just concluded last week with Swiss player Roger Federer winning again, establishing a record-tying seventh individual title with American Pete Sampras. It’s Federer’s 17th Grand Slam victory as a professional player and put him back anew in the world’s number one ranking from third, replacing arch nemesis Rafael Nadal of Spain and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. Many say he’s the greatest of all tennis players of all time. Well, he could be but I have some reservations about him. Yes, maybe in this era but not all time. And yes, I can fondly call him now the Manny Pacquiao in tennis.
After the Wimbledon, the talk of the sporting world now (especially in Europe) is the 2012 Tour de France (TdF). The 21-day road saga that started last June 30, unequivocally considered as the world’s longest, richest, toughest, oldest and the most esteemed bicycle road race, is now on its 11th day as of this writing, Friday, with Briton feisty rider Bradley Wiggins leading the pack, just one minute 53seconds ahead of defending champion Cadel Evans of Australia.
TdF will be finished on July 22 in Paris and ten stages are still left to be battled on the French roads and big mountains are still to be conquered, and I guess that will decide the outcome of the big race, including the time-trial leg. Yes, it’s really premature to say but being an expert on this two-wheeled sport, I believe the men will be separated from the boys when the remaining 175 road players reach the big mountain stages, which is the forte of Wiggins and Evans. But let me clarify first that I’m not belittling the other contestants, but based on my analysis, one of these two will eventually win the Tour this year, principally because of their exceptional power and they are more skilled than the other competitors. That’s my fearless forecast and hopefully I’m not wrong. Let’s wait and see.
After the TdF, sports aficionados of the world will be focusing on the coming London Olympic Games that is ready to start on July 27. Yes, unlike the previous Olympics, we have a tiny contingent this year composed of only 11 athletes that passed the Olympic qualifying standard. They are Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Khing Lacuna in swimming, Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting, Paul Brian Rosario in skeet shooting, Danny Caluag in BMX cycling, Marestella Torres and Rene Herrera in athletics, Mark Anthony Barriga in boxing, Tomohiko Hoshina in judo and archers Mark Javier and Rachelle Ann Cabral.
We have not brought home any medal since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won silver during the 1996 Atlanta Games. That’s really humiliating but if you ask me I pin my hopes in boxing, on our pugilist Barriga to win a medal. And yes, I could be biased but I believe it will be in cycling, which is my sport, where we can win a medal, too. I’m confident that our Fil-Am cyclist Caluag will make a surprise and I base this on his sterling performances in the United States and in Europe. He’s now training in The Netherlands, measuring his capability against some of Europe’s best Olympians. I honestly believe that these two athletes of ours, Barriga and Caluag, have the brightest chances to lift the image of our country in this coming Olympiad, considered as the mother of all games. Hopefully my prognosis this time will become a reality. Let’s follow their events.
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I received an official invitation from my friend Joe Deresas asking our Pangasinan cycling team to participate in the Tour of Cebu slated August 8 to 12. If it pushes through, my selection to compose our local delegation will be spearheaded by 2003 Tour Pilipinas champ Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio, 2012 Tour de Filipinas winner Baler Ravina of Asingan, former nationals Renato Sambrano and Ericson Obosa of Mangaldan and Manaoag, respectively, and this year Ronda Pilipinas 7th placer Harvey Sicam of San Manuel. Deresas said the five-day bikefest will be principally sponsored by the Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, whom I believe is aiming for a senatorial seat in next year’s election. Honestly, I have no relation with her despite she and I having a similar (mestiza-mestizo) complexion, like also with my boss Ermin. We just have the same surnames. But candidly speaking, I will campaign for her when the right time comes. Purposely, I eagerly wish to have a Garcia in this country to have a name in the senate. Right, sir Ermin? Please say yes. Thanks.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher from the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” ISAIAH 55: 8-9
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