The Construct

The Philippines hasn’t really been a football nation. Never mind if we used to be quite good at it and if Barcelona FC’s legend’s part Filipino. Only a few people would ever associate the town of Barotac Nuevo with football. Yet, for the past month, everyone’s into the sport thanks to the World Cup.

Who can blame people from showing interest? It’s suddenly fashionable.

And we can only expect it to be a flash in the pan in our consciousness. Much like pearl shakes, Havaianas, and badminton.

***

I wouldn’t say I hate people who suddenly found themselves interested in the game. I think it’s great that people suddenly find an interest in a team sport where our short stature are not necessarily liabilities unlike with basketball. The state of football locally is just plain dismal and a new interest in the sport might spark potential talent to explore it.

I just don’t like how some turn into soccer elitists despite being flash fans themselves. I don’t appreciate how they’d assert their new-found knowledge about the game as expert opinion and I don’t like how they berate others for not agreeing with them.

What do they really know anyway.

***

So Spain won and their run got a lot of Filipinos cheering for our former colonizers. Sense of history. Meh.

So you’ve always fantasized about being a pro-athlete. Perhaps you got a bit of game. The best kid in your neighborhood. School varsity. But somewhere along the way comes the realization that you’re just not good enough to make it. Crying shame. You put it past you and move on with your life, bitter that some of those who did make it are just making so much dough. And then you see them doing these.

Makes you wonder if they’re worth every cent they’re paid.

August is marked by health issues – clear signs that I have taken very little care of myself. I have gained back all the weight I’ve lost during those bouts of weight-loss regimens over the past couple of years. Thing is, I’m already in my mid-20s and that’s the age range where it’s critical to get fit.

For the past seven months, I’ve been immersing myself into the whole making money thing that I’ve entered another phase of sedentary living. I practically spend all my waking hours in front of a computer even eating breakfast, lunch and dinner in front of the monitor. Sure, the money’s good from all the projects but August served as yet another warning that earning big bucks is moot if you’re going to spend it all away on health care.

So here I am again trying to re-assess my short-term goals health-wise. My stepper machine and sit-up bench are both gathering dust particularly because I’ve grown bored with them. I used to play basketball but since I don’t live in a secluded neighborhood where I can use the community ballpark by myself anymore, that too isn’t a viable option.

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It’s so easy to make judgments when your in the outside looking in. Going by Bentham’s Panopticon, positioning oneself in a location where you can view people inside a confined space without them seeing you gives you a sense of omniscience. There is sense in stepping back and trying to look not only at the bigger picture but also from different perspectives and through different lenses.

However, it’s really quite hard to be objective and shift points of view when things are rather personal. Emotion and attachment does affect objectivity. But then again, who’s capable of objectivity anyway? Heck. Not even the half-Vulcan Spock was able to maintain his stoicism.

Just wondering how cautious are we when we express our opinions? Do we bask in the same omniscience (and perhaps, omnipotence) when we get to see issues and phenomena in which we really don’t have any personal stakes? And if we don’t, do we even consider the possible impact of what we express to those who do have stakes?

At least in my case, I find myself struggling to tread by both intellectual and moral high grounds.

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It’s such a bad thing that the NBA playoff games air during the mornings this side of the planet especially if you’re rooting for the Celtics (at least until they get swept by LBJ and the Cavs, then I’d start cheering for the East in the Finals). I have watched almost every single game the Celtics played and with their penchant for overtime games and late rallies, it has been a stressful stretch for me as a fan.

Since most of their games air 8 PM ET (8 AM Manila due to DST), that meant I have to work as I watch. While I do get the work done (master multi-tasker here), I just feel so tired after win or lose for the Cs.

Just last game, I was so relieved and yet so drained after Big Baby sank the game winner. Game 5 this morning, I turned the game off when the Cs were 14 down since I couldn’t bear to watch a blowout (and risk my mood dropping until I get into a condition where I can’t work). Even if I did keep the show on, I would’ve been so riled up by the late rally and win that adrenaline would’ve screwed my body up.

I just can’t wait for the Cs to be swept by the Cavs (I’m pegging Cs in 6 or 7 versus the Magic) so that I could only care less after. Still, I’d be cheering on LBJ against the Rapist.