Didn’t I just write “Hometown decisions are common” in my previous column?
You don’t have to be a boxing expert (and partisan) to know that our boy should have won his 80kg finals bout in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games Thursday.
Unfortunately, Eumir Marcial, the fighter Pinoys expected to most likely bring home a gold medal, fought a Chinaman who stayed on his feet until the final bell tolled.
As i have frightfully expected the ref raised the hand of the boxer in red instead of the fighter in blue (Marcial) who clearly was superior and landed the more telling punches.
Although he snatched just the silver, Marcial earned a trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics where he promised to give it all to secure an Olympic gold.
The Zambo lad KO’d all three of his previous foes who were taller and heftier on the way to the championship.
China put one over us after its basketball squad were earlier humiliated by the RP nationals, 77-76
Oh I don’t want you to miss this.
Yao Ming, he who made a name in the NBA playing all of his ten years as the Houston Rockets hoop swatter, did not congratulate Tim Cone and the Gilas team on his way out of the coliseum.
No one could have possibly missed that scene as the 7’4” NBA legend towered above everybody around him.
Must be a poor loser, I guess.
As president of the Chinese Basketball Federation, it would have been most appropriate to display grace but Yao avoided extending a congratulatory handshake to the winning ballclub.
Instead, Yao shook the hands of the FIBA officials manning the table and disappeared quickly, without even casting a curtly glance at Cone and company.
Of course, China vented its ire on Marcial.
I know I maybe raising quite a stir here but as i wrote, “hometown decisions are common.”
The boxing championships in the 1988 Seoul Olympics is a clear example.
If my memory serves me right, Roy Jones, Jr. the former world light heavyweight champion, pummeled and punished his Korean foe. To his consternation and big surprise, the ref raised the hand of his Korean opponent in victory.
The boxing event in Paris next year will not anymore be supervised and organized by the International Boxing Association because the IOC has suspended it for notorious partisan decisions and corruption.
I suppose this development will afford Eumir brighter chances of redeeming himself and realizing his life-long dream in Paris. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
