Cebu Sports Blog by John Pages

Words of Wisdom from Ali, MJ, Lance, Tiger, Kareem…

I love quotations. Ever since I was in high school, I recall tearing out and compiling every single copy of Reader’s Digest’s ‘Quotable Quotes’ that I could find. Sports quotations? My favorite. Hope you enjoy these…

“I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.” – Shaquille O’Neal

“Whoever said, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,’ probably lost.” – Martina Navratilova

“I don’t watch movies a lot. I watch sporting events. Because you can never tell how they’re going to end.” – Michael Douglas

“If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That’s all I am. I live it.” – Marvin Hagler

More ‘Quotable Quotes’…

Last May 23, I wrote a similar list of 23 of my favorite sports quotations. Here are two samples…

“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot… and missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why…. I succeed.”

“When I was 40 my doctor advised me that a man in his forties shouldn’t play tennis. I heeded his advice carefully and could hardly wait until I reached 50 to start again.”

Who said those immortal words? Click here.

Finally, the U.S. wins the Davis Cup

(Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

After 12 years of waiting, one of the sporting world’s most popular prizes has returned to the United States of America. The Davis Cup, an annual tennis event that pits all the world’s countries against each other, was won last weekend by names you know well: Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan twins, Bob and Mike. Among the many articles written about their victory, I like best the following stories: the personal blog of the Bryan twins, Jon Wertheim’s “Davis Cup Notebook,” and Steve Tignor’s “DC Wrap.”

Donaire’s Power Drink?

Sexy girls aren’t only shown on FTV

Last week, when I switched on the cable TV, my eyes widened at the sight of two girls in bikinis. Across them stood another pair of ladies wearing nothing but bra and panties. The Fashion TV channel? Where they show the world’s top models in scantily-clad wear? An “R”-rated film on HBO? No, no, no. The four ladies were long-legged and muscular; they jumped, blocked, and spiked on a mound of white sand beach much like our Boracay.

Beach Volleyball. Yes, that’s what it’s called. And in Brazil—where football, obviously, is the No.1 sport—beach volleyball is the second most popular sport. The event was the Brazil Open and it attracted thousands of spectators who trooped to wear yellow, wave green flags and cheer for their native Brazilians.

M.O.V.E. 5K RUN… A Runaway Success

From Dr. Renald Ramiro, the organizer of yesterday’s run and the Visayas Chairman of PARM, sent me these details…

Cebu’s weather cooperated well with the launch of the PARM Visayas Advocacy on Exercise and the Plight of the PWDs today, Dec 2, 2007, Sunday. Despite an early morning downpour, the Steps of the Cebu Provincial Capitol, provided a fitting venue for the M.O.V.E. 5K RUN.

A total of around 480 runners registered, from Cebu’s topnotch road runners and athletes; PT-OT students, faculty and graduates of Cebu Doctors’ University, Southwestern University & Velez College; running & gym enthusiasts; Pharmaceutical representatives, and of course…PARM Visayas members!

Boom! Flash! Boxing exams answered today

Donaire (2nd from right) with (from right) Cholo Verches, Oliver Ko and Ed Dingal

He’s handsome, single, turned 25 years old when he celebrated his birthday in Cebu last Nov. 16, he’s world-famous, makes ladies swoon when they stare at his shiny left-ear stud, he weighs only 111 lbs. but can wrestle a 245-lb. gorilla, was born in Gen. Santos City—where his idol, whom you probably know, lives in a mansion today—but moved to California when he was eight years old, he’s met countless of celebrities before but recalls his meeting with President GMA as “an overwhelming feeling… indescribable.. a great honor,” and, best of all, he’s someone you’ll see on TV this morning.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. No kidding. Yes, if you watch the news, you’ll see the embattled senator. But, if you stay longer and watch TV the whole morning, you’ll see another type of fighter. One who, like Trillanes, also claims to “fight for his country.”

Nonito Donaire, Jr. No kidding: If you don’t watch long enough, you might not see Donaire. You see, his strength is his speed: “I can run one oval, the 400 meters, in 50-plus seconds,” he told me a few weeks back. That’s blistering fast. No wonder he’s called the “Filipino Flash.”

‘The Filipino Flash’ is ready

Donaire (right) with my “boss”… Sun.Star Cebu acting Sports Editor Mike Limpag

From Sun.Star Cebu, this story today: “NONITO “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, the Inter-natinal Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization flyweight champion, will defend his title against the Mexican Luis Maldonado in 12 rounds of boxing tomorrow at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

Not Arthur, but……. King Roger!

What do you think of this photo?

This is not a handcuff!

It’s the Baller ID to be given for free if you join this Sunday’s M.O.V.E. 5-K Run that starts and ends at the Cebu Capitol grounds. MOVE, of course, as aptly worded by Dr. Renald Ramiro, stands for Making Ourselves Vigilant to Exercise.