Recruitment gone bad

Many IBMers are dissatisfied with the recruitment team. I will not be surprised if heads roll. I don't think people will mind starting from the top too.

Two gamewinners. Two consecutive weeks.

Nearing full recovery.

Leap of faith

It's been one wild and puzzling week. I don't even know if it's a positive or negative one.

Happily shocked

I was pleasantly surprised by a colleague's comment. Never saw it coming at all. I must admit, it's best thing I've heard recently.

Thanks, Ate. Haha :)

Not so famous quote from His Airness

Michael Jordan was known for his uber-competitiveness. Some people think he went overboard in criticizing his teammates for their basketball skills and IQ (or lack thereof). Most famous among his tirades were to former Bulls Horace Grant, Will Purdue and Stacy King.

Michael had a knack for being selfish, believing that he can do it all.

When told that "there's no I in TEAM", do you know what MJ's response was?

"Yes, but there is one in WIN."

Awesome stuff.

Schadenfreude

Someone's in a shitload of trouble, and I don't know how he'll manage it. Hell, I doubt he can get out of it. Hate to say this, but you're on your own.

Beyond frustration

Now I understand how desperate some people can get. They stoop to levels I cannot even imagine.

A genuine Real Madrid fan

I grew up a Real Madrid fan, but not because of superstar names like Zidane, Figo and Beckham. There weren't any of these Galacticos back in the day.

It was because of my mom's older sister. Soon after graduating college in the late 60's, my aunt moved to Madrid. Apparently, it has been her dream to live and settle in Spain. She was your typical European football fanatic. She loved Real Madrid, and hated Barcelona. She'd show us photos of her in the famed Santiago de Bernabeu, Real's legendary homeground. She always made it a point to send us (well, me in particular cause I was the footballer in the family) Real Madrid kits - jerseys, shorts, socks, collectibles and memorabilia.

She loved Spain, she loved Real Madrid. She was your typical football fanatic, until the day she passed away, one morning in December of 1996.

With this latest Madrid triumph, their 30th Spanish league title, I'm sure she's delighted. With Barcelona finishing second, I'm certain it makes it all the more special.

Real Madrid, back on top of Spanish Football

Real Madrid completed an improbable season, by doing what it did best this year: coming from behind.

Falling behind 1-0 since 17th minute, the Galacticos intense offensive barrage led to three goals in the second half. Supersub Jose Antonio Reyes levelled for Madrid off some dazzling footwork by Robinho and a nifty assist from Higuain.

A Mahamadou Diarra header off a corner kick gave Madrid the lead after 79 minutes, though officially I believe they scored it as an own goal off a Mallorca defender.

A fantastic 25-yard strike from Reyes in the 83rd minute, his second of the game, iced the league championship for the 30th time in Real Madrid history. Seen celebrating with the team were Spanish tennis phenom Rafael Nadal and American celebrities Katie Holmes and husband Tom Cruise, accompanied by Victoria Beckham.

It was a splendid send-off for internationals David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, who both played their last game for the Galacticos.

There's going to be one helluva celebration in the Spanish capital.

Spurs, a dynasty?

No. Sorry. Despite winning three NBA titles in the past five years, and four of the last nine, the San Antonio Spurs shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the Bulls, Celtics and Lakers of decades past.

Try winning three consecutive championships and let's discuss again. The Houston Rockets won back-to-back in the middle of Jordan's two three-peats in the 90's yet they were never considered to be a dynasty. Rather, they were seen as a good team having a good run.

I say that the current Spurs are just having a good run too. And until they hit two, three consecutive chips, they shouldn't be on on anyone's dynasty lists.

The Spurs ain't no Bulls. Duncan ain't no MJ.

SWEEP!

Well, what do you know? The Spurs swept the Cavaliers in four games, just as most people predicted.

Right now, Dwyane Wade > Lebron James.

Enough said.

(Un)Fantastic

Saw the film, "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" last night. Not that nice in my opinion. The story was somewhat bland. It lacked the appeal of the previous one.

Nevertheless, seeing Jessica Alba and Vanessa Minnillo (despite the cameo role) were definitely eye candy. HOT HOT HOT! They more than made up for whatever was missing.

Rollin'

Let's keep this up.

Spurs 2, Cavs 0

As expected, the San Antonio Spurs romped to a quick two-games-to-none lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their best-of-seven NBA finals series. No one is giving Cleveland a chance. And I don't blame them.

The two games failed to draw a large television audience as people at home opted to watch other shows than boring finals matchup. Even the presence of phenom Lebron James wasn't enough to ignite fans across the world. Hell, I'd rather watch CSI than sleep through these games.

I'd say Spurs in four or five games, depending on how they feel.

Outrageous

Picked this up this morning at the Manila Standard Today.

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Greatest of all time?

By Anthony Suntay

NOBODY likes being wrong, but in this case, I was pleasantly surprised.

Before the National Basketball Association playoffs began, I predicted that the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs would meet in the finals, with the Spurs bagging another title for their trophy chest.

The Spurs made it, though the Phoenix Suns sure made it an interesting series.

The Pistons, on the other hand, were defeated by the upstart Cleveland Cavaliers, who I believed were a few years away from being a legitimate title contender.

And why not? This Cavs team is a group in transition.

Two years ago, they changed their majority owner, who then brought in a new and dynamic coach in Mike Brown. They then built around budding superstar LeBron James.

They have a pretty good mix in Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden, Anderson Varejao, Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, Alexander Pavlovic and rookie Daniel Gibson.

But I honestly felt that they still needed a couple of quality players to make it to the next level of the playoffs.

But who needs better players when you have King James?

LeBron played like royalty and made a believer out of me in this series. I always knew he was a special player, but to be this good, this early is amazing.

Just look at what he did in Game 5 alone: he scored 48 points—the team’s last 25, and 29 out of the last 30. This against one of the best defensive teams in the league. And he didn’t do it all in the paint. He mixed it up with jumpers from all over the court, going up against double and triple-teams. His final line was 9 rebounds and 7 assists, hitting 18-of-33 shots from the field and 10-of-14 free throws in 50 minutes of play.

Still not convinced?

He became the first player to score 25 straight points in the post season, his 48 were the most scored against the Pistons in over 590 games, that was back in Nov. 23, 2001. It was also the highest scoring game in Detroit by a playoff opponent since Elgin Baylor in 1961 and the most points against the Pistons in the playoffs since 1986 when Dominique Wilkins shot 50.

I believe it now when people say that we are fortunate to be able to watch all-time greats playing their sports during “our time.”

We had Michael Jordan in basketball and Pete Sampras in tennis recently. Now, we have Tiger Woods in golf and Roger Federer in tennis.

Now comes LeBron.

People keep talking about the heir apparent to Jordan. Kobe Bryant comes really close. His unbelievable skills, desire to win and tremendous effort on both ends of the court bring him so close to “His Airness.”

James has most of that, too, he just needs to be a bigger force on the defensive end, but he has made his teammates better and he has already carried them to greater heights.

And he just might lead them to the Promised Land, though I feel the Spurs should still be the favored team for the championship.

But with James in tow, the Cavs feel they can achieve anything.

And why not? After it’s all been said and done, LeBron just could be the greatest basketball player of all time.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports7_june9_2007

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You've gotta be kidding me. That's some strong shit your smoking to say this early that LeBron could possibly be the GOAT.

He's got a long way to go. He ain't even near Jordan territory. And unless he surpasses MJ's unearthly achievements. He'll never be The Next One.

Now, quit that shit and go get your ass off to rehab.

Outcast

Read this piece in PDI the other day and I found it interesting.

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YOUNGBLOOD

What for are schools?

By Karen Diane Sta. Maria
Inquirer
Last updated 01:50am (Mla time) 06/07/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Coeds equate school with wardrobe. More than on books, professors and the curriculum, students allot a lot of time researching on the latest back-to-school fashion and hairstyles. For them, the start of the school year is an opportunity to shop for new clothes -- lumped together with the usual school materials, of course, so that their parents will not notice the purchases.

On the first day of school, students sashay down hallways wearing new shoes, new socks, new blouses and, I bet you, new underwear, too. Each of them walks like a rich kid, even as their parents recoil at the sight of the deductions on their paychecks because of the loans they got for their children’s school expenses.

This is the problem with Filipino kids: They don’t know their parents’ money’s worth. Unlike in other cultures, Filipino parents place upon themselves the responsibility of paying for their children’s education. But even as parents go crazy looking for money for their children’s schooling, the kids go crazy thinking of what clothes to buy, which guy to hook or which girl to date.

These kids never learn to value their education because they do not know the real value of the money that goes into their tuition and other school expenses. They did not suffer high blood pressure or soak their feet in puddles of rain after work, so they don’t realize that they break their parents’ hearts with every subject they flunk.

Most kids see education as just a passing fancy and never realize how hard their parents work to earn the money to pay for their tuition. Have you noticed how fast teenybopper magazines sell in May? That is because May is the month when young girls forage for the latest fads and makeup tips so that come June, they can strut around campus carrying the latest bags or sporting the newest hairstyles. These kids go to school to parade their new stuff or their bodies.

Have you noticed how gym enrollment spikes during summer? Aside from getting flat tummies for summer outings, college kids “prepare” their bodies for the coming school year to elicit “oohs” and “aahs” and hopefully snag the man or woman of their dreams. These college kids go to school to date.

Elementary students have their own back-to-school agenda. Spiderman lunch boxes, Barbie stroller bags and Bratz pencil cases are just some of the reasons some kids want to go back to school. They go to school to play.

Come to think of it, nobody goes to school nowadays to learn. Kids have a hundred reasons for getting excited about going back to school, but they have nothing to do with enriching their minds and broadening their knowledge. And their poor parents often pass up a good meal for themselves so they can save money for their kids who will just play, brag and date in school.
Students never realize the importance of education as they go about their hedonistic ways while in school. For kids, school is time away from their parents and a time to try smoking, drinking, drugs and sex.

It would have been better if Filipino students were to fend for themselves. If they had callused hands or their blood pressure shot up while they were at work, maybe they wouldn’t spend that P100 on a pack of cigarettes and two bottles of beer while hanging out in a nearby pub instead of attending a Math class.

True, education is a combination of intellectual, mental and emotional learning. These experiences are essential for a person’s holistic growth. But students must always remember the principal purpose for which their parents send them to the best schools despite the skyrocketing tuition: so that they may enjoy a good life in the future.

Parents don’t send their kids to school for their own self-gratification. They would spend their money on weight-loss programs or on a new vehicle if that were what they wanted. They spend thousands when June comes for the love of their children and to make sure that when they’re gone, at least their kids have had a crack at success.

But many kids consider it more important than finding answers to their assignment to discover what matches the new blouses they bought at a European brand sale last summer.

It will be a continuing cycle if Filipino kids don’t realize soon to what lengths their parents go just so they may have a good education. Kids will continue going to school to date or to glam up. And parents will continue to break their backs to earn enough for the next year’s tuition while their kids cut classes and watch the latest movies.

Filipino parents will continue to sacrifice while kids keep up with their hedonistic ways. Because parents are too proud to admit to their kids how they cried at night, how they fell from the jeepney during a client call, how they skipped lunches, or how they almost stole some petty cash just to have money for their tuition.

It is high time parents and children discussed openly their family finances. Parents shouldn’t be embarrassed to show their kids their tuition receipts. It’s not like one is saying, “Hey, this is how much I spent for you, you brat,” but it is more like giving them an idea of how expensive education can be and how much it takes to show them one’s love and concern. The kids ought to know how much blood, sweat and tears parents shed to send them to school each year. Kids should know that each pack of cigarette they smoke or each bottle of beer they drink is probably one taxi ride their mothers had forgone during a stormy night so she can put the money aside for their allowance.

Some financial institutions offer wealth planning seminars for youngsters and teens, where experts give advice on how to manage even small amounts of money. If children attended these sessions, they would have a better grasp of the concept of money and perhaps appreciate how much a college course takes away from their parents’ bank accounts.

Then they will learn the real value of education.

Karen Diane Sta. Maria, 24, is a communications professional in one of the country’s leading private banks.

Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=69917

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The intentions were good but I think the delivery was awful. I smell fits of envy and jealousy. Makes me wonder what kind of school life she had. Seems to me she probably couldn't fit in and never had game.

It ain't easy but like what I always say, "you gotta do whatchu gotta do".

Rehabbed

Had my last rehab session last night. It was undoubtedly the most useless session as well. I'm not even sure if the therapist assigned to me was a real therapist to begin with. It seemed like he didn't know what he was doing. He was asking for guidance from the other people there.

If it weren't my last, I would've walked out or requested for a different therapist. I'm going back to my rehab doctor tomorrow. I hope he clears me and doesn't send me back for another leg of therapy. Chances are, I won't go back anyway.

Uncomfortably silent

I feel so uneasy participating in deliberations wherein the discussion is applicable to my own personal experience.

I can't make a stand because I will surely be biased. I obviously have to inhibit myself.

NBA Finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished off the perenial Eastern Conference contenders Detroit Pistons to enter the NBA Finals for the first time ever. I know Lebron's been playing magnificent basketball as of late, but I don't know how they'll match up against the seasoned San Antonio Spurs.

One thing's for sure, it's going to be one boring NBA Finals series. NBA rating haven't been good lately. So it's gonna take another steep drop. I'd rather watch the slumping Yankees than see this one through.

C'mon, who'd ever thought of a Cavs-Spurs final?

I just realized that my surgically-repaired knee is far from being 100%. I experienced some discomfort earlier as I played more games that I intended to. There's this sharp pain just above my patella and it's annoying as hell.

Need to get back the lift on both my legs. I have about four weeks to make sure I bridge the gap.

Beckham's back

David Beckham returned to rousing cheers as he was recalled to join the England squad after almost a year out. It can be remembered that he resigned as captain of the team after last year's World Cup in Germany. He was subsequently cut when Steve McLaren took over from Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach. Becks started in their international friendly against Brazil today.

He ignited the England crowd with a superb deadball assist to current England captain John Terry for the opening goal, and the first in the newly-refurbished Wembley stadium. Beckham was in fantastic form throughout the game, and amply received a standing ovation from the English faithful when he was substituted in the 77th minute.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw as Brazil scored the equalizer in injury time.