Sports Eye
NBA, TdF, U.S. Open defy COVID-19 pandemic
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AFTER a three-month lull due to the scary COVID-19 pandemic that already killed almost one million inhabitants of the globe, three of the top 20 well-known and prestigious sporting events in the world decided to defy the threat of the deadly disease.
First to proceed was the National Basketball Association (NBA) after four months of temporary suspension of its playoff games, followed by the U.S Open lawn tennis, and the 2020 Tour de France on its 107th season. (So far as of this writing, September 17, no COVID case among the contestants and game officials, and spectator has been reported. Our big thanks to God.
First to finish was the two-week hostilities of the U.S. Open that ended last September 13 won by 27 years old Dominic Thiem of Austria, the runner-up of this year’s Australian Open held last January. He emerges as the world’s new giant of lawn tennis tourney by orchestrating an unprecedented comeback rallying down from two sets, 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to victory against Alexander Zverev of Germany. We saw on TV how the flashy Thiem frustrated the 23-year-old Zverev, considered the youngest ever finalist at a major championship in lawn tennis tourney.
The NBA’s west and east conference finals are now in progress with the two-time champion Miami Heat being coached by Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra taking the first salvo over multi-champion Boston Celtics, 117-114, via overtime, in the best-of-seven series Eastern Conference finals. The initial match between the Lebron James-led Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets is slated on September 20 (PH time). Nuggets entered the West Finals by coming from 1-3 behind over the Kawhi Leonard-led Los Angeles Clippers. To me, that was really a shocking defeat by Clippers knowing that Leonard was the main orchestrator of the Toronto Raptors championship victory last year over defending champions Golden State Warriors, 4-2. I was surprised to see Leonard move to Clippers after the victory.
Spoelstra’s mother is a Filipina named Elisa Celino formerly from San Pablo City, Laguna. Yes, Spoelstra, is the first Asian-American head coach in NBA history to win the championship not only once, but twice and now on the verge again to win his third. Hopefully he will. That’s my fearless forecast.
The 2020 TdF that already saw defending champion Egan Bernal of Colombia leaving the 21-day race due to back pain. Fortunately, Bernal’s compatriot Miguel Angel Lopez won the tough mountain stage 17 to occupy the 3rd spot now in the overall individual standing, dislodging veteran and countrymate Rigoberto Uran. Lopez is behind by just one minute 26 seconds from current leader Slovenian Primoz Roglic and only 29 seconds after overall second placer Tadej Pogacar, also from Slovenia.
The 18th stage has four big mountains to climb and the highest and the last of the eight mountains of this year’s 3483 kilometers bikathon. Based on my experience as a former professional cyclist for three decades in the country and Guam, the 18th stage will be one of the two last decisive laps of TdF this year and I expect a major shakeup in the overall standing. The 36 kilometer-individual-time-trial 20th stage might also be a major factor among the top ten overall occupiers especially the top three rulers. Let’s just wait and see.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” MATTHEW: 19: 17
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