The legendary Bruce Lee said that teachers must never impose students to fit to their favorite pattern; a good teacher functions as a pointer, exposing his student’s vulnerability causing him to explore both internally and finally integrating himself with his being… Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao have gone a long way since they started way back on the Ledwaba fight. It took them time to be on top gradually developing Manny into a complete fighter. Freddie Roach transformed Manny from a one dimensional fighter to a technical boxer with power on both hands. Moving up in weight is definitely a need for Manny to change his ways because he can’t keep knocking people out while moving up in weight. Manny is a true student of the game as he continuously evolves into a well rounded fighter dissecting every opponent; studying his moves, weaknesses and mannerism and carefully making a fight plan like a hapless frog slowly being strip of his skin in a science laboratory.
They say the fight this coming March 13 with Joshua Clottey is a mismatch but I beg to disagree. Joshua fought Antonio Margarito, the late Diego Corrales, Zab Judah and Miguel Cotto and in all of his 39 fights he has never been knockout and Joshua so far is the biggest opponent Manny has ever face on his career. Clottey can go up to a bigger and much solid 160 lb. fighter in fight night and in a sport where one punch can make a difference Pacquiao is not exempted to that. Joshua is a vicious body puncher and has superb defense he handled Judah’s speed with his brute force and strength. Freddie Roach has already set a game plan for his number one student. The hours spent together practicing the mitts and orchestrating their offense is going into full fruition this Saturday all the videos they watch on Clottey meticulously making the detailed game plan to brought down the walls of Clottey.
Manny Pacquiao will all the accolades is still hungry and learning the craft more. His hungry for boxing knowledge transcend to expectations and resulted with good execution. Now Manny is slowly becoming like Freddie… Just like a Buddhist proverbs says “When the student is ready, the master appears…”

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The anticipated matchup between welterweight greats Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey.. All roads lead to Dallas.. download now in High Definition..

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A friend told me that the greatest pilots in the world are Filipinos because when in difficulty of landing other nationalities will go back and not risk the danger while Filipino pilots pushed their selves to land the plane even in zero visibility. It’s because going back would cost much and they cannot afford to lose that certain amount of money. I don’t know if this is really true but Filipinos are people who are known to overcome adversities in life.
I have nothing against Floyd Mayweather Jr. I have out most respect to his God given talents but I just had enough of his antics. The banning of Filipino journalist to interview Floyd Mayweather Jr. on his fight with Shane Mosley is an insult not only to all Filipinos but to the boxing world as well. You haven’t seen Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Robinson choosing people to interview them they treat every media as it is no race, no color and no prejudice. Dennis Guillermo first reported that veteran sports broadcasters Chino Trinidad and Joseph Pimentel who lined up for an interview with Floyd was denied entry by Kelly Swanson, Mayweather’s publicist saying Floyd refuses to talk about Pacquiao close to the fight.
First they accused of Pacquiao as a steroid user who refuses to go with their demand of blood testing without even one tiny proof. Second they accused the Philippines as a producer of the best performance enhancing drugs or steroids if it’s really true then how come there are still no Olympic golds in the Philippines? In fact our nation is not even on top of other Asian countries in sports. They accused of Pacquiao using an A side meth used to fight against US soldiers in the Philippine-American war dated way back in 1899 which Mayweather Sr. said that bullets will just jump off of the Pinoys bodies but can he also explain the 1.5 million casualties? The whole steroids story will always end up with a question mark there was no proof it’s just a product of Mayweather’s imagination.
I can’t believe people still support this egotistic maniac. He proclaims he is the best more than Ali and Robinson but he is nowhere close. He doesn’t respect people nor race or culture and would you believe he is an advocate for blood testing in boxing? He batters women and waves his gun to other people is that the work of a true best in boxing?
I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one. Mayweather can talk trash all he can but no matter how he claims to be the best ever boxer in the world he will never get my respect and to the 88 million Filipinos out there.

“So they’re making liars out of me and Joseph Pimentel. Maybe I can provide her with some video to show and get her saying very clearly to my face, we Filipinos can not interview Floyd Mayweather Jr. and she’s denying it right now. I’m willing to go to court here in the US to prove a point. I think right now she’s denying it right now because she’s getting all the flack for mishandling and treating Filipinos in such a bastardly manner.” – Chino Trinidad on Kelly Swanson’s denial (interview by Dennis Guillermo)

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Jermaine O’neal had to skip practice last Wednesday because of a sore hip and thigh. It has been like that with the 31 year old veteran. He was in and out because of injuries from back spasms to a hyper extended left knee but he always finds a way to comeback. Last Feb.20 in spite of his ailing back he played 35 minutes in a double-overtime victory against Memphis and scored 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blockshots. But Thursday is no ordinary season game for the Heat they are facing the NBA champion Lakers and they need every ounce of strength for O’neal to hold two behemoths in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. They are in the no.8 spot in the Eastern conference (30-31) and a loss could give the Charlotte Bobcats (28-31) a game closer to them.
The Lakers extended the game with Kobe’s fade away jump shot and just like that the Miami Heat are placed on an unfamiliar territory wherein the Lakers are 4-0 going to extra periods. Despite Kobe’s 39 points and 4 assists and Wade’s 27 points and 14 assists the game was not all about Bryant and Wade it was all decided on team defense. 19 ties and 31 lead changes that’s how close the game was and when Kobe and Wade took turns in scoring the backups take over thanks to Bynum’s greasy hands and Quentin Richardson’s three.
Jermaine O’neal was the x factor of the game. It wasn’t an offensive rebound or a perimeter shot it was O’neal’s defense taking a charge when Kobe Bryant was driving hard to the basket for a potential game tying layup. It wasn’t a coincidence that Bryant was dribbling all the way to his position it was just O’neal doing work, taking the charge for the 19th time this season.
Once again O’neal delivered with a sore hip and thigh and a bad back. Now that’s what we call dedication which brings me to one thought Jermaine O’neal is an unrestricted free agent this year if I own a team he would definitely be one of my top acquisition of course Lebron, Wade and Bosh comes first.

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Manny Pacquiao is training with conviction as one by one each of his sparring partners tasted Manny’s power. Roach was a happy camper seeing Manny went through the guys put in front of him from Brian Brooks, Ray Beltran, Dave Rodela, Mike Dallas, Abdulla Amidu, Jamie Kavanagh, Steve Forbes and Shawn Porter all of them coincide that Manny is playing on a different league. He was two to three steps faster and hits two times harder and if I were Joshua Clottey I would be very concerned. Manny is fed up and angry with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s continuous allegations even if there is already a defamation case filed by Manny’s camp. Floyd Sr. and his brother Roger continued to bash Pacquiao’s reputation with all the steroids and performance enhancing drugs accusations even to the extent of accusing Pacquiao using some mythical drug that the Filipinos allegedly used during World war. Golden Boy promotions are starting to distant themselves against the Mayweathers and it automatically backfire with people already calling them crazy. Everything adds up to Manny’s motivation. He wanted to fight Floyd right there and now and knock him out. He even said he want to fight Floyd for free with the winner takes it all. Floyd keeps on bringing up the issue about Manny walking away a $25 million fight for a blood test but why would Floyd insist on a blood testing for allegations without any proof? The irony is that Floyd is fighting this May 1 with a known steroids user in Shane Mosley. Manny is training mad and his focus is tremendous. After Clottey he wants Floyd’s head and Bob Arum and GBP needs that fight to be done… Floyd can talk all he wants but you can’t put a good man down especially if he is angry.

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Lebron James filed the paperwork to change his jersey number next season from no.23 to no.6. James told everybody that no one should wear that number in honor of the greatest player in basketball, Michael Jordan he will be the first one to give up and hope everybody follows but there is some deeper reason to that. This is what we call marketing strategy and a way of getting out of Jordan’s shadow and chasing his legacy. The NBA requires players who have intention of changing numbers should play at least for four years on the same team before he can change his jersey number. Kobe also had a change of jersey number back in 2006 but there wasn’t any fuss about it he was mainly honest about his reasons. James wanted a distinct identity which doesn’t label him as another Jordan heir. He wanted to surpass or not to duplicate Jordan’s achievements he wanted to be like Kobe who was distinct and breathe the same air as Jordan and jersey number 6 prove to be the right answer…
Jordan revolutionized basketball just like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 80’s but there was nobody calling an exodus of Jersey numbers 33 and 32 even the great Wilt Chamberlain’s jersey no.13.
Since then Kobe’s jersey was the number one most selling jersey globally but is slowly overtaken by James and with the new number the rise of jersey sales and some new Nike endorsements will certainly be insurmountable. James could likely surpass or get to where Kobe and Jordan’s level but what separates Kobe and Jordan from James is they both have championship rings in their fingers… Its one thing James dream of having and no amount of money and marketing can make that happen. Cleveland has surrounded James with pool of talents this season. They are no.1 in the NBA today and there won’t be any concrete reason if they don’t go all the way to the NBA finals this year… James might do it this year winning a championship but it’s still a far cry from Kobe’s 4 and Jordan’s 6 NBA titles. He should know that jersey or money are all numbers they don’t make legacies.

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Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona fought gallantly against a wily veteran in Jose”Carita” Lopez grabbing Lopez’s WBO super flyweight title and joined Morris East as one of the youngest Filipino fighter to win a world title. His first defense was against Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez which means little clown and turned out not little at all as he put Sonsona in deep trouble but came out short in the judges eyes as they scored the fight a draw. Even before Sonsona went to the ring he already lost his belt in the scales as he failed to tip the super flyweight limit of 115lbs. in fact he was two pounds and a half overweight in the weigh in. Many had surfaced about Marvin’s attitude taking his opponent lightly and not going to practice seriously. Success has gotten into him early and his confidence was riding high as people go to him saying how good he was and he was the next Pacquiao. It is every boxer’s duty to be in tiptop shape and to fight for the stipulated weight limit but Marvin refuses to go back to flyweight and instead went two divisions higher in the super bantamweight division. He was given a rare chance in fighting Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. Although this is a bit controversial with Sonsona who never fought in that division was rank no.3 by the WBO ahead of Super Bantam weight mainstay boxers such as Steve Molitor and Rogers Mtagwa that is boxing politics at its best. It is not only a golden opportunity but a chance to make history for Marvin by being the youngest Filipino boxer to win two divisional titles. Vasquez is not to be taken lightly with his 17-0 record and also a devastating boxer who trains with watchful eyes of his boxing legend father Wilfredo Vasquez Sr. who won three divisional titles. Two weeks prior to Sonsona’s training in the US he was never found. His promoter had to go to his hometown in Gensan to accompany him to Manila all the way to the US. He was five pounds overweight with 10 days to go for his title fight which is unlikely for a boxer who move up north two divisions higher.
He was acting like a spoiled brat and his making a lot of problems on his training camp and he is not listening to his coaches. He lacks the discipline and most of all his humility. Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. knocked Sonsona out in just four rounds and the lanky 19 year old boxer from General Santos Philippines is back to square one. The fight with Hernandez was an eye opener but Sonsona refused to acknowledge it until Vasquez woke him up.

“Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.”- Tryon Edwards

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Hasheem Thabeet never dreamed of becoming a basketball player and never did he imagined playing on the professional level but growing up in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Hasheem is always on the spotlight hovering among his peers with his 7-foot-3 height and his massive wingspan. An agent saw Thabeet competing in the East African games in Nairobi, Kenya and offered him a scholarship in the US and the rest was history.
He was the NABC defensive player of the year in 2008 and won the big East player of the year with DeJuan Blair in 2009 those accolades landed Thabeet the 2009 second overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. Many questioned the Memphis selection considering there are a lot of potential talents among the draft. Thabeet is such a raw player who doesn’t have the offensive arsenal compared to Blake Griffin, Jordan Hill or even DeJuan Blair he can rebound and block the ball well but still he is an unfinished project. Why would the Grizzlies pick Thabeet when they have a number of centers in their roster namely the 7-foot-1 starting center Marc Gasol, Steven Hunter (7-0) and second year center Hamed Haddadi (7-2), Thabeet who is the tallest player on the draft is hard to pass on he was a gamble and the Memphis are hoping there risk will pay off.
Thabeet intimidates driving players and can block with his outstretch arms but he was a foot slower to his counterparts and had limited offense. Haddadi is a much well rounded player and Hasheem who suffered a fractured jaw last November has to spend most of his time in the bench. He reminds me more of Dikembe Motumbo who is a solid defender but had only few offensive moves.
The Grizzlies decided to place Hasheem to the NBA developmental league this Feb. 25. It was a brave move by Memphis sending their no.2 overall pick to the NBDL. He needs to grow and play to his full potential and he could never do that in the bench.
Hasheem will eventually be back with the Grizzlies it’s just hard not to become aware of a 7-foot-3 center who has unlimited untapped potential. He might be a stone but he is a diamond in the making.

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Juan Vasquez wanted his son Wilfredo to be a boxer but it took him 18 years before starting to lace up the boxing gloves. Juan never saw his son soar to greatness as he died two weeks after Wilfredo started training. Wilfredo Vasquez retired with a record of 56 wins 41 by KO with only 9 losses, 2 draws and 1 no contest and won championships in three divisional weights in the Bantam, Super Bantam and Featherweight divisions.
Wilfredo Jr. Wanted to be like his father while growing up. He drop law studies for boxing and wanted to pursue the sport his father is known for. But the road was not laid with a bed of roses for Wilfredo Jr. He fought mostly in the US, Puerto Rico and Mexico before he was given a chance to fight for a world title.
This February 28 will be Jr.’s first ever title fight for the vacant WBO superbantamweight title against Marvin Sonsona; the same fighter who dethroned fellow Puerto Rican Jose Carita Lopez in Ontario Canada. Wilfredo Jr. Knows this is his time and this is his moment to make history. Sonsona is not an easy fight and the Filipino who emulates Nonito Donaire Jr’s style and movement packs a powerful punch that could really knock anybody down. But Sonsona who fights as a flyweight move up three division up in a span of 9 months taking Lopez’s crown along the way is a stranger in the 122lb division compared to Vasquez who fought most of his career as a super bantam even moving up to 128lbs. When he fought Juan Camacho. Sonsona who is only 19 years old is gunning for history wanting to become the youngest Filipino to win two world titles in two different weight divisions while Vasquez is aiming for his first ever title right infront of his own people and his Father’s appreciation… There are no guarantees, this is anybody’s ball game… but for sure this would be fireworks in the making…
Wilfredo Sr. Would be very proud to see his own son fight for a world he could have done it when his father was still alive…but no matter what the outcome Juan Vasquez would definitely be all smiles in heaven.

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2005 was Zydrunas Ilgauskas year when he played in the All-stars and have missed just 9 games throughout the season after being in and out of the Cavaliers roster for most of his career due to injuries on top of all that he was offered a $55 million 5 year contract to extend his stay in Cleveland. Z has been with the Cavaliers since they drafted him in 1996 as the 20th overall pick. He had been with them when they are riding a 66-16 in the 08-09 season and he played all 81 games when they are in the bottom standing 17-65 in the 02-03 season. 5 years later Z has been limited to a backup center with the signing of Shaquille O’neal his minutes became limited and his foot injuries are starting to take its toll. He still commands double teams but his offense are not needed when they have Lebron James, Anthony Parker, Mo Williams and Shaquille O’neal. Z got traded to the Wizards in a six-player trade involving three teams sending Jamison to the Cavaliers, Al thornton to the Wizards, Drew Gooden to the Clippers and Sebastian Telfair to Cleveland. Z will not be playing with the Wizards and will be waiting for the 30-day grace period before the Cavaliers would sign him back but any teams can sign him once his contract is bought.
The Atlanta Hawks showed interest in signing the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian this season. Z is a perfect fit on the Hawks roster aside from not having 7-footers in the line up they need someone who is a good post up player and can shoot the perimeter. He can really help the Hawks deep in the playoffs with Horford in the power forward position and Josh Smith going down to small forward. Z still wants to play with the sure shot Cavaliers who is on the top standings right now and could go down all the way to the finals with a lot of firepower on their roster but he will have to spend more minutes in the bench playing as a backup center for the 37 year old O’neal. The Hawks can give Z the minutes he wants, he can demand the amount of money he needs to be signed and most of all he would be the focal offense on the Hawks roster. He could play with the Cavaliers for one last time for glory or with the Hawks guiding young athletes to their top potential.
It’s been almost 5 years since Z got a fat $55 million contract and an All-star…Maybe this time would be some reminiscin of that year… Z deserves it.

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