Just like many other Filipinos, I have never fallen in love with football in as much as I have loved basketball and tennis. I have often heard some people say that there is no sense for eleven men chasing one ball in a huge field.

But when you're in a country where football is a national craze, then I have to learn to watch football. Malaysians wake up early mornings just to see their favorite teams play. They watch English Premier League, World Cup and Euro Cup and all other leagues in Europe. I have to watch especially the final games or crucial matches mainly because the topic of discussion during tea and lunch breaks in the office would be the latest football match. Anyone not knowing who made the goals, who got punished with yellow or red cards, or whose fans turned rowdy, would look a real idiot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday morning (SEA time) is the finals of Euro 2008 and two great football nations will be chasing the ball to win that coveted Cup. It's Spain versus Germany. I will have to watch the match, evern if it means waking up at 2:30 am because I'm sure by Monday, this is going to be the hot topic in the office. I am placing my bet on Spain. 

She was one of the clear favorites. She was one of the three women who have three titles this year. She was in peak form since winning the Australian Grand Slam.

Unfortunately, her fellow Russian with the a difficult surname, Alla Kudryavtseva, beat her 6-2  6-4 in the second round. What made the defeat more shocking was that Kudryavtseva is lowly ranked 154th in the world and has never really made a mark in any of the Grand Slam.

Sharapova's double faults and unforced errors made it much easier for her compatriot, who was playing all out to beat her. Kudryavtseva really played as if she had nothing to lose, and winning over world no. 3 Sharapova was worth more than winning a Grand Slam.

Something's wrong with the glamour girl in tennis. Whatever it is, only she knows. She has to reflect back after this loss, and work harder even more and be ready for the next Grand Slam.

Start:

Jun 27, '08 02:30a

This is the 2nd semi-final for Euro Cup 2008. While Germany is already confirmed inl the finals, the opponent will still be determined early tomorrow morning. I am rooting for Spain, not because of our Adios Patria Adorada connection, but because of their skills and performance, although the Russians may want to have a say in what happens this morning.

Many people here really wake up early in the morning just to watch the Euro Cup matches. When they report to work the next, they start by discussing the results of the matches in the morning. I'm not as crazy as this people but I keep track of the results. At least when they talk about it in the office, then I know. We all know very well that we Filipinos have never really been into football, the sports that gets the world mad every four years during World Cup, except in the Philippines.

Start:	May 18, '08 6:00p
Location:	Jakarta, Indonesia

If tennis has Davis Cup and football has the World Cup, badminton has Thomas Cup. Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cup for more information about this tournament. Finals is between China and Korea, and unfortunately I can't watch the live coverage as I will be on my flight to Norway. Odds on favorite is China although they almost lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals. In the other semi-finals, Korea crushed Indonesia, the country with the most Thomas Cup titles.

Start:	Nov 1, '07 6:00p
Location:	Ampang Superbowl, Summit USJ, Malaysia

For the last ten years or so, bowling has been one of my favorite sports and pasttime. That's why I'm looking forward to our bowling competition. OCCA stands for Oil and Colour Chemists Association of which most people in the industry I am in are members. This is an annual friendly competition among peers in the same industry. I am not bowling as well as probably four years ago, but my team representing Jotun is practicing these days to warm up our muscles.