Boring?

To those, who would like to pay their last respects to Sir Eugene de la Cerna, the legendary volleyball coach of the University of San Carlos, his ashes will be interred at Golden Haven this 3 p.m.

The message was relayed to me by his sister and my former teacher, Prof. Madz de la Cerna. 

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Many say baseball is boring. Sometimes it’s only the pitcher and the catcher while the rest watch how batters are sent back to the dugout after a few pitches.

Others say it’s boring because of the lull in the action when teams switch from being at bat and going to the field and how batters and runners can be replaced.

Boring because they hate it when pitchers keep on throwing to the first baseman instead of hurling those fastballs to the batter, but the game is actually a lot more than you think it is if you are not a fan.

I thought I would see the New York Yankees win the American League pennant yesterday, but the Los Angeles Angels, yes the same team that was subject of a movie many years ago, Angels on the Outfield, pulled one over the Yankees.

The Angels led 4-0, but the Yankees erased that with six runs during the top of the seventh inning then came back on the ninth to send the series back to New York.

I would have wanted to write about something else more popular here, but I know I am not a lone voice and there are many out there, who are probably closet baseball fans, waiting for the right time to tell the world of their passion.

I’d like to say that the Yankees are surely making it to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but there is too much pressure going to the next games and one more, if necessary, in their ballpark.

This series is surely not boring, but I’d like it to end with the Yankees claiming victory number 4.

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From time to time, some people seem to pull out those old business cards that I gave and they’d ask me to do lectures on sportswriting during what they call presscons, which are actually competitions in journalism for campus journalists.

I was at the Cebu State College of Science and Technology Main Campus yesterday afternoon for the regional presscon of the Stare Colleges and Universities.

Next wekk, I’m off to Toledo City, like a dutiful son, visiting one of the places I once called home to share what little I know to some kids from one of the public schools.

I am surprised that I can still find time for such, but some invitations are just difficult to turn down. I hope that in my little way, I’ve been able to open the eyes of a young sportswriter wannabe to follow my career path.

It’s not a path that’s well laid out, but it is exciting nevertheless. That’s the reason why I’m still here.

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MILESTONES: I would like to greet a very special person a happy birthday, Madame Flordeliz Lualhati Abanto, my mentor in the field of communication arts. If not for her, I would have been doing something else and probably not enjoying it as much as what I am doing now.

Birthday greetings also go to Dr. Axel Sucalit, Ems Simpao, Ian Uy, Jun Barcenas and Cayoy Sagario.

Tomorrow’s greetings go to Luisito ‘Chito’ Ramos, Chari Benitez-Bieren, Mary Ann Galaura-Rafaeles, Rosario Amores-Hudson, Natasha Cang, Menchu Seno-Go, Ronald Tallo and Fatima ‘Petite’ Gaces-Gatela.

More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN