“What is it they
want from the man that they didn't get from the work? What do they expect? What
is there left when he's done with his work, what's any artist but the dregs of
his work, the human shambles that follows it around?”
WILLIAM GADDIS
By
Alex P. Vidal
In
1992 when I won the Nike Marathon Media Fun Run at the Iloilo Freedom
Grandstand in Iloilo City, there were two runners who actually finished ahead
of me: Erwin Chiongson and Julius Padilla.
Erwin,
who sprinted to the finish line like a zebra, breasted the tape unmolested
first. He was followed by Padilla, then utility personnel of DyRI Radyo Agong (now RMN Radyo Mo Nationwide). I was
satisfied with a third place.
But,
lo and behold, a commotion erupted in the finish line while we were clearing
the cobwebs. I saw our friend, event organizer and Cebu Freeman columnist Raffy Uytiepo, shaking his head while Erwin
was arguing with race organizers. Not far was Julius, who was a picture of
disbelief.
They
were disqualified. I was declared the winner!
WORKING MEDIA
Race
organizers asserted the fun run was for working media practitioners only and
Erwin, they insisted, was a bodybuilder and owner of Winner’s Gym. Julius
admitted he was not a full-fledged reporter but a “trainee” of the radio
station. “It’s OK importante naka
exercise ‘ta,” he gamely submitted.
Erwin
insisted he was also a journalist because he contributed sports columns in the
defunct Western Visayas Daily Times.
His assertions, however, fell on deaf ears.
In
fairness to our friend, Erwin, race organizers did not specify that sports
contributors were not qualified. They were guilty of estoppel for allowing
Erwin and Julius to sign up for the race only to disqualify them when they won.
But
that is already water under the bridge. Uytiepo, an amiable and
dyed-in-the-wool marathoner and sports scribe rolled into one, remained to be
our friend and is still active in sports until today.
I
admit I could never beat Erwin and Julius in any marathon again.
-o0o-
After
reviewing some journals and videos related to the FIFA World Cup, we stumbled
into a feature story about France’s Zinedine Zidane, author of soccer’s
dirtiest foul in history.
The
way soccer fans all over the globe ribbed Zidane for headbutting Italy’s Marco
Materazzi in the chest during 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin, Germany, can
be compared to the way fans denounced the act of cannibalism by Mike Tyson when
he bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear in their rematch billed “The Sound
and the Fury” on June 28, 1997 for the WBA heavyweight championship at the MGM
Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Zidane’s
widely-condemned foul on Materazzi was blamed for France’s failure to win the
World Cup in that year as he was sent off in the 110th minute of the game, thus
he wasn’t able to participate in the penalty shoot-out won by Italy, 5-3.
STOP
"Ladies
and gentlemen, this bout has been stopped at the end of round number three, the
referee in charge, Mills Lane, disqualifies Mike Tyson for biting Evander
Holyfield in both ears, the winner by way of disqualification and still the WBA
champion of the world, Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield!’ Holyfield won the
WBA's boxing championship, prize, money and trophy because of Tyson's
disqualification,” ring announcer Jimmy Lennon declared some 25 minutes after
the violent brawl.
Tyson,
who claimed he only retaliated after Holyfiled headbutted him, was obviously
frustrated that he could not nail down and intimidate Holyfield and was
believed to be himself scared enough that he deliberately got himself
disqualified.
Zidane’s
and Tyson’s bizarre attitudes shocked the world since they were considered to
be the greatest in their sports.
DREGS
If
they were notoriously labeled as “dregs in soccer and boxing”, Bruce Bowen of
NBA’s San Antonio Spurs also joined them in the rank in terms of infamy and
sports hooliganism.
Bowens,
42, was considered the dirtiest NBA player in league history. NBA writer Kelly
Scaletta described Bowens as “everything that Ron Artest was or Scottie Pippen
was with one twist that can only be described as malicious.”
He
first joined the Miami Heat in 1997 before going to Boston Celtics in 1999 and
Philadelphia 76ers in 2000 before returning to Miami Heat until 2001. He played
as small forward for the Spurs until 2009.
Scaletta
observed that Bowen had a tendency to slip his foot under opponents feet when
they went up for a jump shot. When the players came down they would ruin ankles
and knees.
“Such
a move can devastate a player's career and Bowen's habit resulted in several
players, including Steve Francis and Vince Carter, getting injured,” Scaletta
stressed.
“Even
when it's not resulting in injuries, the fear of an injury can throw a player
off his rhythm. Bowen, even without the move was one of the great defenders in
the leagues history and didn't need to resort to the habit.
That
tendency, along with the same kind of great but dirty play that the other great
defensive wings on here had, earned him the top spot on the list (of dirtiest
NBA player in league history).”
