to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
One of the unique adventures of my life. I walked right into a NPA camp with hundreds of armed rebels and supporters. For once in my life, I had managed to play the role of a staffer/news reporter – without anyone knowing that underneath those civilian clothes was an olive-drab heart of an Army officer.
The next Asian Games should not be another four-year wait followed by another medal count. It should be the result of four years of deliberate work. The medals we win in the next Asian Games will be determined, in large measure, by what we do with the athletes we have today – and by the urgency we demonstrate in dealing with it.
The country cannot build a strong internationally-competitive sports program simply by discovering a few exceptional athletes and supporting them heavily when they have reached the ‘elite’ level. We need to create a pipeline. And this pipeline has to discover, then develop, then compete, then specialize, in order to reach international standards.
Working with GMA was an intellectually challenging, yet fulfilling task. She could be demanding, impatient and occasionally intimidating, but she was always willing to listen. If a point raised made sense, she could certainly change her mind.
Here’s an intriguing question about team chemistry. Is it necessarily better to have twelve outstanding veteran players, with everyone expecting major minutes? Could the lack of playing time for some affect the team’s chemistry?
I’ve got Team USA and France battling it out in the Finals. I expect Team USA to reach the top and claim their fifth consecutive World Cup crown. But the gap has definitely shrunk. The lesson from the near-disaster against Italy is that raw talent is no longer a shield against cohesive, hungry international teams. A cohesive team with 3 to 4 WNBA players can take down a team of USA superstars if they don’t make good music together. If the US doesn’t sort out its internal flow, Spain, France, or a surging Germany will happily take the crown.
