February 2011 | SYDRIFIEDBLOG | PHILIPPINE SPORTS BLOGGER

By Sydrified
On February 28, 2011
No Comment

I just grabbed this from her FB page!

Nice of you to check out my 1000th post!

I wanted to make a nice post. So I’m going to write about my girlfriend. Don’t worry... this post isn’t supposed to be cheesy. Actually It’s somewhat related to sports.

I was with my friends to celebrate my birthday. It was a joint celebration with me and Allan Canlas which was held in Geraldo’s Panay Avenue from 9pm to 3am. We wanted to shelve costs which prompted us to do a joint event.

I was with Cindy from 7pm when we met in SM Megamall until 11pm when she needed to go home.

You see, while I was expanding my stomach with liquor and unwanted fat, she was preparing for the EDSA Fun Run. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first EDSA Revolution, 5,000 hopefuls will burn their fats to raise awareness for education in the country. The People Power Revolution is one of the most awesome events in Philippine History. It was the starter of many peaceful democratic protests. It was the total opposite of what happened in Tiananmen Square (human corned beef) and kind of the same of what took place in Egypt. The ouster of the Egyptian dictator sparked a number of peaceful protests all over the Middle East, particularly Ethiopia, Bahrian, Yemen, and Iran. Up to this day, we still applaud the efforts of the “heroes” of EDSA like Cory Aquino, Ninoy Aquino, Jaime Cardinal Sin, Fidel Ramos, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gringo Honasan, June Keithley, Doy Laurel, among others as well as the perceived anti-heroes of the revolution like Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos, and Fabian Ver.

This is the first time Cindy will run since she participated in the Nike Fun Run (I am sure it’s for a shoe brand). This was when fun runs are still not expensive and Kenyans didn’t flock the event to show off their gazelle-like speed. Cindy and her friends woke up possibly around 4am (which was basically the time that I got to sleep) to race around the country's most popular and most historic highway. The starting point is at the People Power Monument and the runners will run inside the Corinthian Gardens, Medical City, and Robinson’s Galleria... to return to the People Power Monument which also serves as the run’s finish line.

Cindy took the 5k route. The 10k route spans as far as the highway en route to Eastwood.

While they were greeted by the occasional Metro Manila smog, she saw a bunch of Azkals joining them in their jog. Fans flocked the newest representation of Pinoy Pride in the country. They have been training for their upcoming match against the Blue Wolves of Mongolia and the rest of the nation is one in heart in pledging their support for the Azkals.

She said Phil Younghusband is cuter than James.

I think so too.

Ahurm.

Cindy is kind of addicted in getting fit. Whenever she eats something, she rarely eats plenty. And even with her thin frame I believe that she’s stronger than me.

She's also way, WAY faster than me!

I logged 54 minutes in my first and only 5k run!

I am totally supportive of her fat-burning hobby!

As long as she supports my body!

Anyway, what the run represented was the spirit of EDSA where men and women of walks of life flock to one place for one common goal. Sure, the cause isn’t as big as toppling a dictator, but nonetheless this is a mission to make the country’s future shine bright.

Game over!

By Sydrified
On February 27, 2011
No Comment

I was wasted the night before the PPV and I just woke up.

Luckily I woke up just in time for the BJ Penn versus Jon Fitch match held in the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.

BJ Penn is a “prodigy”. He is considered as one of the best pound-for-pound MMA fighters in the world today. Penn however enters the octagon with disadvantages in height and reach.

But does that matter?

On the other hand, I don’t want to have nightmares where Jon Fitch is mounting me and unleashing his vicious elbows. I am a Fitch mark ever since I saw him smother Ben Saunders in UFC 111.

Now let’s check out the match.

ROUND 1:

Penn and Fitch started the match trying to ram each other in the side of the octagon. It seems their defenses are on. Then both fighters throw bombs at each other. However Penn finally takes down Fitch and Fitch is locked in a body triangle. Fitch is in trouble but Penn is unable to clasp his arms on Fitch’s neck. Fitch then “monster’s up” and switches his position from prey to predator with a series of vicious elbows and fists which prompts Penn to try to put the match on a vertical base. The match ended with both fighters on a stand up position. Penn started the round strong but Fitch finished the match in his advantage but Penn was busier in this match.

ADVANTAGE: PENN

ROUND 2:

Fitch starts with a kick and Penn strikes with a knee. It seems Penn is overeager and Fitch makes him pay with a takedown. Penn manages to stand up and Fitch is pressing the issue to takedown Penn again. Blood is pouring in Fitch’s nose which happened because he is busy trying to drop Penn and that exposed his face. Penn again takes down Fitch and again Fitch finds himself inside a body triangle and again Fitch spins out to unload a series of insane blows. Penn desperately tries to get out of that predicament and again the round ends in a stand up. While it produced a fairly same outcome, it seems whatever Penn did, Fitch has a counter. It is too close to call so I’m giving this one to Penn.

ADVANTAGE: PENN

ROUND 3:

Fitch with a big right hand and he gets on top of Penn. Fitch is unloading elbows but Penn manages to stand up again. Fitch manages to be at Penn’s back. He takes down Penn again and he is on top and again he is unloading vicious blows to Penn’s head and side. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg are saying that this is Fitch’s style and Penn is trapped. Fitch is relentless as Penn squirms. Penn tried for a triangle choke when his legs are up but Fitch just eludes it and continues to pound his fist on The Prodigy’s body. With 35 seconds left, Fitch is embracing the grind! Fitch OWNED this round!

ADVANTAGE: FITCH

I think while BJ had the advantage in the first two rounds, I think Fitch seriously owned Penn in the third round so the majority draw decision sucks. Penn for one admits that this was a loss in his book. I agree with him. That third round destroys whatever advantage he had in the first two rounds. If this was a mediocre fighter, he could have been downed by Penn early or succumbed to the blows Fitch unleashed.

Anyway, as for the other matches, Michael “The Count” Bisping defeated Jorge Rivera via a second round TKO, hometown hero George Sotiropoulos unanimously decided Dennis Siver, another hometown hero Kyle Noke submitted Chris Camozzi via a rear naked choke, and Chris “Lights out” Lytle was defeated by Brian Ebersole.

I’m not too keen with this fight’s card. Aside from Bisping and Rivera... I'm not sure if this is the fight card you need to see. I’m off to get giddy with UFC 128 where Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will slug it out between “Elbow Machine” Jon “Bones” Jones!

Game over!

By Sydrified
On February 25, 2011
No Comment

So long Perk!

Just when you think, the Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony trades were awesome, the NBA all of a sudden unloaded a bunch of trades not meant for the weak of heart!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

No thanks to Boston’s weak shooting guard spot, awesome specimens Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson were traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for instrumental upstart Jeff Green, big man Nenad Krstic, a first round pick, and cash considerations.

This sucks because I like Perkins and off the bench, I like Robinson as well. Why can’t they just deal Jermaine O’Neal away and add Avery Bradley and Von Wafer for Green? I don’t really give a shit on Krstic but man, Green would certainly help the Celtics. Green is such an awesome player that now they have a good situation to rest Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in time for the playoffs. Boston also recruited Luke Harangody and Semih Erden for Cleveland’s 2013 second round pick. I’ll miss these guys but this a chance for them to grow.

Jeff Green by the way was the draft pick Boston traded away to acquire the services of Ray Allen.

That was a good deal for Boston and while I’ll miss Perk, this is another good trade for the Celtics.

By the way Marquis Daniels was traded to Sacramento for a future round pick.

Elsewhere in the NBA, G-Force Gerald Wallace was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers for Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, and two conditional first round picks in 2011 and 2013. This is a great trade for both squads because it solves Portland’s often-injured starting lineup. Also, it solves Charlotte’s financial woes as they are looking to unload either Wallace or Stephen Jackson before the trade happened. Jackson played better than Wallace this season but I would have stuck with Wallace a little bit more. Brandon Roy is healing and could re-appear during the playoffs while Greg Oden is well... a valuable player in the reserve list. Basically they need a tough bench and an able point guard for them to spell the difference in the Western Conference.

The Houston Rockets traded away Aaron Brooks to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragic and a future first round pick. They also traded long-time Rocket Shane Battier and Ish Smith to the Memphis Grizzlies for Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll, and a first round pick.

Baron Davis and Mo Williams switch allegiances with Jamario Moon to the Los Angeles Clippers and a first round pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

If you’re going to trade him, then don’t make him go in a car to give Blake Griffin that epic move!

Game over.

By Sydrified
On February 24, 2011
No Comment

Utah no more.

It all makes sense!

Dammit!

I should have seen this!

Deron Williams was hoisted to the spotlight after Jerry Sloan’s sudden resignation. All the while I thought, and pretty much the world thought that Sloan was eased out because he just couldn’t stand D-Will. However, with the way Utah owner Greg Miller handled Williams, fact is he was expendable.

As he should be!

Why the hell would team owners slave themselves for their players? Miller was right on the money when he said that players come and go, coaches come and go, but it’s hard to destroy a franchise. Utah will survive the loss of a top-tier star like Williams... especially with the talents that the New Jersey Nets shell out for D-Will’s entry.

After the Carmelo Anthony trade bogged down, Mikhail Prokhorov is humiliated. First he was defeated by Miami in the Lebron James Decision and now the New York Knicks just upskirted the Nets in the Melo trade. He has money and power... but his team is crap! So he pounced at his people and asked them to find a big-time player in his grasps or else heads will roll!

Ahem.

The Nets continued their search to find a suitable home for Devin Harris and in the coming days, they could be feeding Troy Murphy of to some team that wants him. They have been talking to several teams like Dallas and Portland but when the Williams-Sloan situation erupted, they zoned in on that option.

Oh news flash – Murphy and a second round choice was shipped to his original team Golden State for the expiring contracts of Brendan Wright and Dan Gadzuric. The Warriors however will not keep Murphy as they are expected to buy him out if they can’t trade him before the deadline.

Of course for New Jersey, Melo was the first option because he is a superstar scorer which the team desperately needs at the moment. However, Williams is an exceptional second option to have right now. D-Will could jumpstart Brook Lopez. Lopez was thought of by many as the stat-magnet that Kevin Love became and David Lee was once was. Harris tried but he failed to make his stock higher. And how about Kris Humphries? More than dating Kim Kardashian, he has been “mini-Love” for the Nets because of his knack for hounding putbacks and loose balls. Perhaps D-Will could make Humphries evolve to a la Paul Millsap?

(Although Humphries came from Utah and he was pretty much a benchwarmer during his stint there.)

Having Williams for Harris is an extreme level up. But the cost for his entry is radical, considering the Nets gave up an unprotected first round pick and another first round selection that came from the Golden State Warriors. The Nets and the Warriors are nothing but playoff dreamers. Utah will definitely enjoy these lottery draft picks. And not to mention Derrick Favors, a young big man that could be the league’s Vin Baker... when he was still in the Milwaukee Bucks (the better version).

And as for Harris and Favors, they are young and ready to prove themselves for new Utah coach Tyrone Corbin. Harris had a great last season while Favors is a kid that Utah wanted all along.

In a matter of weeks, Utah unloaded their franchise’s cornerstones. So in a span of six months, the second coming of Stockton and Malone was destroyed. So is the architect of their squad in Sloan. Fact is, Greg Miller checked out the state of his franchise and the last thing he wants to be in right now is to be like Cleveland, Denver, Phoenix or Orlando since Dwight Howard’s contract is also expiring. Asking Sloan to step down in his spat versus D-Will made D-Will an enemy of the state! Add the fact that he is allegedly a locker room cancer, Williams was sent away to lure potentially four young stars (adding the draft picks) that can help them in the future. Williams was going to go anyway... and they made sure that they get the better of the trade.

Greg Miller is a young owner who is also old school in thought. Even if he was bobbleheads of his players in his office, he will not be a slave to these superstars. Deron Williams and the rest of the best now are certainly superstar material but before them the league had Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Stephon Marbury, Ben Wallace, Shawn Marion, Baron Davis, Allen Iverson, and Steve Francis. All of these guys played for three or more teams in the span of their careers. These guys preferred superstar treatment, championship opportunities, more money, and some of the most ridiculous things rather than brand loyalty.

Look at what crap they are in right now? When they got injured... or when their game got goofy... because they are expensive journeymen, the owners found no love for their inflated egos, unmotivated gameplay, and their over-the-top contracts.

Miller did just that. Just when Deron thought he has the power, Miller makes him expendable. Everyone was taken aback and suddenly everyone's confused.

Getting rid of Jerry Sloan and Deron Williams... Greg Miller is the main man in Utah.

GAME OVER!

Postscript: Sacramento Kings dealt Carl Landry to the New Orleans Hornets for Marcus Thornton. This barely resembles news except for the fact that Dallas owner Mark Cuban is livid with the trade (contract issues). Perhaps the best news that’s in Atlanta at the moment is the acquisition of Kirk Hinrich. The Washington Wizards gave up Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong for the struggling Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, and Maurice Evans. Bibby has been producing much which is why the Hawks decided to infuse new blood in their backcourt.

GAME OVER AGAIN!

By Sydrified
On February 24, 2011
No Comment

I had a bad childhood.

If only I played Zelda... ever, then I wouldn’t have ended up screwy. Instead I played with my “sports entertainment” action figures and in terms of video games... I tried to master Battle City.

But fuck it right?

RIGHT???

Except for Zelda and Metroid (what the hell is a Metroid), I played the games listed here. Sure, I’m hoping to see a lot of those repetitive never-ending games that I usually own because back then, those things cost a sweet price of Php69.75.

Anyway, back then, if you own a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES or Family Computer) console, then you have a lot of friends. I remember having friends because I have a 64-in-1. Sure, I lost most of those so-called friends after I returned the cartridge to my classmate but hey, it was still an awesome Christmas vacation!

Did you have a game cartridge that didn’t have a protective cover? Did you fought with a person because he says you’re a pussy on (insert random game)? Was studying worth a weekend’s worth of insane gaming?

Then, crappy or not, you’re listed as a gamer.

Even if technology is bent on making super awesome games, nothing beats those linear, two-dimensional games of the 80’s and the early 90’s. I had a Simpsons game (Bart against the world)

that I couldn’t finish because I don’t want to play for more than five hours. The only time I finished a Mario game was a couple of years back when emulators existed.

I finished Contra, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, and After Burner.

That’s all... or maybe I’m wrong.

The awesome Screwattack made a list of the best 10 NES Games (subscribe to his Youtube account and his other endeavors).

Check these babies out!

I personally would like to see Castlevania on the list as well as those awesome eternal games like the original Mario Brothers, the other Mario Brothers game where Luigi floats like an idiot, Twin Bee, Kage, Punch Out, Bomber Man, Double Dribble, Ice Climber, Ducktales, Adventure Island, Urban Champion, Lode Runner, Excite Bike, Mappy, Circus Charlie, 1941, Mr. Merry, and others.

But still, you should be happy on how this list turned out.

Game over.

By Sydrified
On February 23, 2011
4 comments

Ask anyone – Land Before Time is the saddest cartoon ever. If you want your kid to experience anguish, then that film is for you! Not even those cute finger puppets at Pizza Hut can save the sadness caused by this movie. When Little Foot was crying as his Mom starts to fade after she protected him against the savage tyrannosaur, you are not human if you can’t feel despair. Add the fact the depressing Diana Ross song playing in the background...

Tears, prepare to be unleashed!

I had tears in my eyes when I saw Christopher Reeve’s Somewhere in Time. That movie is so traumatic that I don’t want to check my pockets to see if I have change.

A Walk To Remember... Rudy... Life is Beautiful... these are titles that can touch you in ways that aren’t pornographic.

While I was compelled with those films, I never shed a tear.

Which brings me to 127 Hours.

Aron Ralston is an adventurer. He likes to check out nature and the goodness it offers. However, a flawed attempt to look cool cost him an arm and his life.

Oops.

You see, this movie makes you feel for Aron. You envy his life when he tours a bunch of hot chicks to the most serene spot that technology has yet to touch. And yet, you hate to be in his place when he fell alongside a rock that instantly crushes his hand.

When you see him attempt to set himself free, you can’t help yourself but to root for him. When he his water is slowly running out, you find yourself wondering of how you’ll do in that predicament. When he drinks his urine... you find yourself telling the real-life Aron what an awesome person he is for not giving up.

And when he sacrificed his limb to live, you can hear people flinching with disapproval. When his crappy Swiss knife-like tool struck his skin people were looking elsewhere in disgust! When he was cutting his bone using pliers or some tool not meant on clipping bone... fuck it was brutal!

But what can you do? Really??? He was stuck in a rock with food and water rations out and with a raven circling above his head!

Even a mere ant is an enemy for him.

For some insane reason, I haven’t seen Slumdog Millionaire. I know the movie is good and I have a .MOV file of it my computer or in my USB but I don’t know why I don’t want to see it. This was before I saw this movie. The way Danny Boyle imagined this movie was epic. It wasn’t glamorous or tech-filled but it gives you a nice feel to capture the story. His camera angles were mind-blowing and how he envisioned the story made me realize that if I’m going to steal a concept, I’m going to check out his portfolio. Boyle was detailed in telling the story and I can’t really find flaws in this flick except when Aron was imitating a talk show host.

But you see, I think that part is integral to the story. He is trying to be funny even if he is not. Even when he is trying to be funny, the people inside the cinema is thinking that he is just doing this to forget the fact that he is about to die. The video cam is a powerful way to convey his feelings. You feel Aron’s anguish and James Franco did an awesome job portraying the character.

Hell, you gotta feel for him when he tried to jack off when he shot the boobies of the chick he recently met but he doesn’t have the strength to do it!

I have been a fan of James Franco ever since I saw him in Freaks and Geeks... which was unfortunately just two years ago. I know him before that as the guy that portrayed the Green Goblin’s son in the Spiderman franchise and the guy that acted alongside Cesar Montano in The Great Raid. Playing the James Dean-like rebel in the Judd Apatow series, he was awesome. Playing a stoner with a heart in Pineapple Express, it seems as if he is great in these kinds of stoner/hippie/adventurer role which was what Aron Ralston is all about.

You can’t help to enjoy him in this movie because he brings out the awesome. The emotions he unleashes are very real and whenever he tries to untangle himself... do something brave... to something disgusting... and do something bloody, we believe that his work is genuine.

Watching it on your laptop could be good... but watching it on the big screen is awesome. You can see and hear the reactions of the people inside the cinema. The character was seriously established in this movie and I would have given Franco the nod for Best Actor, except that it could have been ruled out since he is also the host of the event alongside Anne Hathaway.

This is such an inspiring tale that should compel people. The way he freed himself and the way he did things just to survive made me realize how important life is.

If Aron just said to his mom that he’s going to that place... or if he just took the normal route... or if he didn’t do things solo, things would have been different. But instead of blaming life, he continues to live it.

This is a beautiful film.

Land Before Time and Somewhere in Time... meet 127 Hours.

Now combine yourselves to have a perfect tear-infested moment!

Game over!

By Sydrified
On February 22, 2011
1 comment

Melo gets to play in front of his home crowd.

The Melo-drama is finally over.

Following The Decision, where Cleveland had to suffer the ordeal of losing their beloved Lebron James, in some ways, Denver followed suit with the loss of Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks.

However unlike the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nuggets assured themselves that they won’t experience the same fate as their Eastern counterparts.

I don’t how the Denver fans would react with the development but it is not as if they are kept in the dark. I can’t really see them burning their Melo jerseys. Sure, they’ll boo him when they see him don a different uniform but perhaps deep inside they want their superstar to retire with a championship ring. For seven months they have been booing Melo but they can’t really boo him much because in fairness to Melo, he is still trying to make this season for the Nuggets a winning one. It’s just unfortunate that Carmelo can’t see himself winning a championship at Denver.

After their trade with the New Jersey Nets failing, they tried to push for a Melo to Lakers route. Unfortunately, the Lakers don’t want to release Andrew Bynum. During the All-Star game, Melo has hinted that he wants to finish this Melodrama as quickly as possible. Only two teams mattered at this point – the New York Knicks... and the Nets who wanted back on the trading of Melo. The Nets were offering youth but if you ask Nuggets coach George Karl, he’ll rather trade with the Knicks than with the Nets.

His wishes were answered.

NEW YORK KNICKS:

KEY FINDS: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Corey Brewer, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman.

VERDICT: Fantasy-wise, this spells doom for Melo and Stat owners. I mean both guys are points/rebounds players and it’s not as if they are double-digit rebounders to being with. Real life-wise, New York gets the one-two punch they desperately wanted ever since Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell last played for the squad. With Billups orchestrating, expect a lot of oh’s and ah’s from the fans. However, I am not giddy of trading Raymond Felton. Sure, these three were on the Redeem Team... but Felton was instrumental in Stat’s 30+ game streaks. But if there is one thing Anthony can do... it’s that he can play well alongside other superstars. Didn’t he have a thing with Allen Iverson back when The Answer was still a superstar? At sixth place, it’s possible that the Knicks can have an outside chance at fourth place but this all depends on how these guys mesh.

DENVER NUGGETS:

KEY FINDS: Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, one first round choice, and two second round choices.

VERDICT: Actually if you think about it, Denver could have another playoff-bound season next year. This season is not a lost cause for them either. Denver is hanging by a thread in the seventh spot with Utah and Memphis breathing at their backs. They have a core of vets and youngsters who are hungry to prove a point that even a Melo-less Denver could still be a playoff contender. Felton will take Billups’ place with Ty Lawson hovering to snatch his spot while Chandler and Gallinari will try to get the plays previously designed for Melo. With them and old hands JR Smith and Aaron Afflalo, the SG and SF plays lost with the Anthony trade could still be salvaged. In case of emergency, the draft picks could be handy in the offseason. Denver is an automatic success story when they win the championship although I wouldn’t bet my whole life savings on it. When that happens, expect Melo to throw a fit!

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:

KEY FINDS: Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry.

VERDICT: They only proved that they are great conduits. If you think these players will help the team, then you must have your head checked. Curry is nothing more than an injured player with a huge paycheck and Randolph will be at the mercy of Kevin Love and Darko Milicic in terms of minutes.

In terms of merchandising, expect a lot of New York fans to grab a bunch of Melo jerseys. Unfortunately for Melo, he can’t use his number because Earl Monroe has already retired the Number 15 jersey. In terms of hype, yeah... bet that the New York faithful will have something to cheer at. But one thing about the Knick fans are they are brutally affected with the way their team plays. If you remember back in the day, these fans are notorious for booing their own team when they lose. Imagine that from the time of Walt Frazier and Willis Reed... to the time of Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and Charles Oakley... to the time of Marcus Camby, Houston, and Sprewell... to the time of David Lee and Nate Robinson.

But certainly this time it’s definitely the best for the Knicks. New York has finally rid itself of the monumental salary cap they amassed when they picked up the contracts of Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis, among others.

The only problem they need to defeat right now is losing.

With Stat and Melo on Mike D’Antoni’s roster, can the Knicks expect their losses to be scarce?

Game over.