While watching the recent Pinoyliga Cup, I felt two things I had not felt in some three years. I haven’t watched any collegiate sports in about three years.
First, there was a knot in my gut from anxiety and wondering if my team could come away with a win. I vacillated between, ‘I can’t do this anymore’ to ‘this is that familiar fire.’ But I came away with a ‘wow, that was great’ even after my team was eliminated.
I have not cheered for my alma mater or even the national team for 16 years now. The last time I cheered was when Ateneo surprised everyone by winning the 2010 UAAP championship when FEU was seeded to win it all. And that same year when the Philippines defeated Vietnam on their home soil during the Suzuki Cup, from high up in the press box in the My Dinh National Stadium, I just yelled, ‘yeah,’ pumped my fist, and gave a high five to a Filipino colleague. Then when I ran down to the pitch, I went bananas and that can be seen in the video that I took.
The funny thing about it is that a friend of mine who is also in the media (and is more senior than I am) reminded me not to cheer since I am there as a journalist. And I have kept that to heart come 2011 up to this day.
The ironic thing is she is the one wearing the colors and cheering for her alma mater. Hahahaha.
I remember during the 2013 Fiba Asia Championships after the Philippines defeated Korea to advance to the Fiba World Championships, everyone around me was going nuts. A colleague of mine, Aldo Avinante, was seated next to me, and he openly admired my restraint.
So, I recounted what my other colleague said to me during a UAAP match. Furthermore, being media officer for nine years for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, it didn’t look good for me to be partial to the Philippines. And the other foreign media officers were also like that.
Even if I have generally left sports coverage, I still remain like that-seated, quiet, observing, and taking down a lot of mental notes. It has become easier over time. I figure if I go there as a fan, then I might just cheer. But if I am writing about it, no.
As a former student-athlete and huge fan of sports, I had trouble taking in a loss. I couldn’t sleep and had a tough time letting go of losses. But now, I am over it in a matter of minutes or a few hours. And yes, I sleep much better.
I have become an expert at letting go.
The second thing that I felt was annoyance at boorish fans. I was annoyed at that person who heckled the coach of one team and that coach called him out to security.
There was a time that I heckled and was rather uncouth. Until an incident also made stop.
A friend of mine told me that over dinner after one game, his son uttered something unprintable here. Yes, it was a cuss and choice words. When asked where he heard that, he said, ‘from Tito Ricky.’
My friend told me about it and had quite a laugh. Me? I was mollified! I apologized profusely and stopped. I haven’t said anything untoward during a game since then.
And there was a time when I used to bash the fans of another school and someone wrote me a letter saying that people looked up to me, read me, and were heavily influenced by what I said. ‘Leave the bashing to the younger folk,’ he urged.
That was like getting punched in the gut-twice, if you add that incident concerning my friend’s son.
During the recent Pinoyliga games, I sat next to the crowd of another school, and they were loud, boisterous, crude, and well, funny at times. Art not time did I want to respond. I just sat that and later on during the halftime break, chatted up the supporters of that school. And it was a great chat if I am being honest about it.
I like the restraint and self-control. It has tremendously improved my emotional quotient while allowing me to take in more aspects of the games. But then again, it is also possible because I am getting old. Hahahaha.
You know that saying how sports is a great teacher that not only teaches fitness and sportsmanship, but also shapes character and teaches life skills? I can attest to that.
I am so looking forward to this upcoming collegiate sports season.