One on One with Kobe Bryant - July 2011

                       

                       When people ask me what the highlight of my young broadcasting career is, I'm going to tell them about my brush with basketball greatness for the 2nd time. I'm going to tell them about July 2011, about the moment I shook the hand of one of the greatest players to ever play basketball.

                       I'm going to tell them the best moment of my young career was the day I talked to Kobe Bryant, one-on-one, for 5 minutes.

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                       Truth be told, I used to hate young Kobe Bryant with a passion; brash and vocal about his desire to take on all comers and be the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers despite the presence of a prime Shaq, stubborn and defiant even to the venerable Phil Jackson. He rubbed me the wrong way. I'm used to seeing cats bring it, not sing it. You take the title of Best Ever on the court, not in the papers. You don't call out coaches and teammates and shout to the world how great you think you are, you just prove it. Perhaps I was spoiled by 2nd Three-peat Michael Jordan, who after coming from retirement, became a somewhat nicer teammate while remaining an uncompromising leader and winner for the Chicago Bulls. Perhaps I felt slighted that this kid from PhiladelphiaslashItaly, and 2nd generation baller, challenged Grant Hill, then the L's Mr. Nice Guy, for the title Heir Apparent. Perhaps, while I tried my darnest best to hide it, I felt threatened by this kid, who showed no fear going up against the G.O.A.T. when no one else dared to tug on Superman's cape.

                        I became a Chris Webber-Mike Bibby-Peja Stojakovic Sacramento Kings fan because they were good and they posed a threat to Kobe's Lakers in the West. I became a Tracy McGrady fanboy for a while because he had nice kicks and he was a threat to Kobe in the best gunslinger in the league duel. But Kobe Bryant is brash. He is stubborn and defiant. He simply refused to lose. Yes, it helps to have a 7-1, 300 pound behemoth and a Hall of Fame coach by your side, but Bean wasn't no slouch during their time tearin' up the league. They vanquished the mighty Kings and Kobe outplayed and outlasted T-Mac and any other young high flying scorer who dared challenge him.

                        More than the challenges on the court, Kobe was challenged in the game of real life as well. The Colorado Scandal. His media feud with PhilJax and Shaq. Haters 'round the world. More than the dismal showing of the post-Shaq Lakers, I feel that Bean felt the most damage from the off-court stuff. That's real life, dawg, there ain't no time-outs, no halftime breaks, no overtimes. When that final buzzer sounds in real life, that's it.

                       During this difficult time, Kobe went back to the one thing he loved the most. He went back to basketball. The take-no-prisoners, leave-bodies-in-his-wake type of basketball. He likes to call it "Balls to the Wall". He trained. He lifted weights. He shot the lights out at the gym by himself, hoisting jumper after jumper. He got his life and game back on track. The results include an 81-point game, a string of 50 and 60 point games, a regular season MVP, back-to-back NBA Championships and Finals MVP awards, and an Olympic Gold Medal.

                      And most of all, respect and recognition. Y'all can love him or hate him, but regardless of what you feel about him, you gotta respect the best in the game.

                      ---

                       I was first on deck for the interview session since I arrived hours before everyone else. I shared the room with some of the industry's best: Slam Magazine's Mico Halili, ABSCBN's TJ Manotoc, Solar's Jinno Rufino, TV5's Chiqui Roa-Puno. Yeah, I made sure I was there early. I was pretty excited.

                      When I finally shook Kobe Bryant's hand, I had to stop myself from grinning like a frickin idiot. I was telling myself "Be cool. BE COOL. It's no big deal. Yeah so he's the best player in the world today. But be cool." I had the most ruthless competitor in the game today for 5 minutes. So I decide to pick his brain about what drives him.

                      Kobe lights up as he hears me recount his epic battle with the Boston Celtics. He smiles as he sees me imitate the scowl he showed in the finals against the Orlando Magic. I ask him about what drives him at this point in his career, what he has left to prove:

                     "It's always the challenge of winning. I don't necessarily feel like I have to prove something to somebody, in order to perform at a high level, this is just who I am, when I get out there on the floor, I'm ready to go, ready to win." 

                      He's been in the country four times (once with Adidas as a youngster, thrice with Nike) and he relishes each and every visit, because he admits he has never seen a country so smitten with the game of basketball like the good 'ol PHL.

                      Kobe Bean Bryant, for lack of a better term, is a basketball nut. It's like he was bred to have a basketball in his hands. As a kid, he told me when he's not out playing (against older, bigger, faster kids to toughen himself up), he'd watch taped NBA games sent to him by relatives, usually Michael Jordan and the Bulls or Magic Johnson and the Lakers. So he feels right at home in this country of fellow basketball nuts who are only too willing to welcome the best player in the world today. He says he will definitely try the beaches in the future, and maybe even sample the local cuisine like sizzling sisig. Thanks to yours truly, Kobe has learned how to say "Salamat" to his Pinoy fans.

                       "I enjoy sharing the game of basketball, and Manila of all the places I've traveled, has so much passion and enthusiasm for the game. That's why I love coming back because I enjoy being around kids, I enjoy being around people who have the same passion as I do."

                       On this side of the planet, it's not everyday I get to meet of the greatest athletes in the world not from our country. It's not everyday I get to meet a basketball player whose name, image, and likeness is on most of my shirts and shoes with the swoosh. So when people ask me about that one day in my career that I'll never forget, I'm going to tell them proudly that for 5 minutes, I got Kobe Bryant one-on-one.

                        Until I get Michael Jordan one-on-one for an interview, this moment with Kobe Bryant will be on top of my list.

PRIDE

                        Juan Manuel Marquez, with his counterpunching brilliance, granite chin, and the heart of a true Mexican warrior, proved that he's a real bad motha'. In a fight he was supposed to lose badly to my main man Manny Pacquiao, Dinamita basically told his critics to shut the heck up by landing big time counters and left uppercuts. I swear, that counter right straight-left uppercut 1-2 combo landed flush on Manny so many times me and my little brother were the ones cringing for Manny. Scared for the 8-division world champ. Scared for supposedly the best in the world.

                        Manny Pacquiao, with his otherworldy stamina, blitzing handspeed, and iron will, stood toe-to-toe with his vaunted foe. He fought a smart fight, darting in-and-out, landing combinations and sticking Marquez with jabs to measure the distance before unleashing his left. He drove straight into the kill zone to risk getting hit by the best counterpuncher in the game today because he needed to score. Manny knew he had to be careful, but he still tried to pound his foe to kingdom come.

                        I've said it a million times over and I'm going to say it again: aside from Manny, I fear no other boxer than Juan Manuel Marquez. The guy is simply the best at what he does, and that is to counter. He makes you fight his fight and the moment you fall into his trap, BOOM, right straights and uppercuts all day. Even Freddie Roach admitted that no other fighter has Manny figured out better than JuanMa.

                       I've had the privilege to have covered Manny Pacquiao up-close-and-personal, and if there's one thing I can say about the guy, it's that Manny Pacquiao is a very, very proud man. I've seen how he pushes himself to the limit to make sure he brings it every time he steps in the ring. He's fought them all - skilled veterans like Erik Morales, big bruisers like Antonio Margarito, ring legends like Marco Antonio Barrera and Oscar De La Hoya - and he always found a way to dominate them. He's racked up accolade after accolade on the way to be called the best in the world, and he actually didn't even have to prove himself against a foe who has come close to beating him. Business-wise, his camp could've just focused on the bigger draw against Floyd Mayweather Jr. But Manny Pacquiao is a proud man. Technically, he has already defeated Marquez twice if not for a crucial mistake one of the judges made in their first fight followed by a split decision in 2008, and to risk himself to a possible loss would've only hurt his legacy and a chance for the megabuck showdown with Money Mayweather.

                       But when the chance to fight Juan Manuel Marquez came up, did you hear Manny refuse? Did you hear him make excuses and say he's got nothing to prove against the Mexican legend? Manny didn't. He stood up and accepted the challenge and promised to train for the fight of his life against his arch-nemesis. He basically ran himself ragged (post fight quotes say Manny suffered cramps from the 4th round onwards) just to make sure he left no stones unturned against a technical ring warrior whose game seems tailor made to beat him.

                     If anything, Manny proved he had the balls to face his greatest challenger for the third time. Compared to some people who only care about their streaks, Manny cares for the people who wanted to see him and Marquez duke it out for the third time. When it's all said and done and Manny decides to hang up his gloves, people ought to look beyond the bodies the Pacman left in his wake, beyond the spectacular stoppages and down-the-wire finishes. They ought to look at his courage to fight the best out there. That should be Manny Pacquiao's legacy.

                     The fact that Manny didn't dominate from opening bell only proves that Marquez is truly the Joker to Pacquiao's Batman (or if you're a Marquez fan you can turn it the other way around), the familiar foil for the Pinoy protagonist. Both of them the best with their respective boxing styles, both of them able to raise the level of their games whenever they step in the ring. Manny likes to throw, JuanMa likes to counter. One blessed with tremendous physical gifts, one armed with incredible technique. They can exchange blows until the world crumbles but the fact of the matter is that these two will almost always have a close fight because of their styles. But that doesn't mean Pacquiao or Marquez is the lesser man because of the inability to dominate the fight. If you ask me, it just means that Pacquiao and Marquez are truly the greatest of rivals, each of them willing to duke it out, no round given or taken.

                    Manny Pacquiao had everything to lose in this fight - the WBO Welterweight title, his number 1 ranking as Pound-for-Pound king of boxing, his aura of invincibility. But Pacquiao rose to the challenge to give the people what they wanted - to see the greatest of rivals clash once more. Manny Pacquiao doesn't run from challenges. He knocks them the heck out. Manny Pacquiao is a proud man who will fight whoever, whenever. That should be his legacy.

PBA Superstars

                      I was talking to a couple of friends and colleagues in the sports writing biz yesterday while enjoying PBA Wednesday at the Big Dome and it made me happy to be in the company of sports nuts just like myself. We broke the games down, came up with our respective wisecracks about this team or the look-alike of that player, and weighed in on the high level of basketball you can enjoy especially when you watch live.

                     The exhilaration you feel when you watch these titans of the hardwood play live, these Picassos with 94 feet of canvass to call their own, is incomparable. You can literally feel your heart climb up to your throat when you see Arwind Santos streaking down the court alone because you know it's gonna be a slam dunk. You've been part of that Big Dome chorus of "OHHHHHH" whenever Japeth Aguilar swats shots to the 15th row. You've stood in ovation and cheered in awe of speedsters like Jason Castro and clutch shooters like James Yap. And just like me, you can never get enough heroics from Mark Caguioa as you join the throng of fans in chanting GI-NE-BRA as they buck the odds and come back from behind to turn an almost certain loss into victory.

                     My main man Jaemark Tordecilla summed it up best: "Iba pa rin ang level ng basketball sa PBA lalo na if you watch live. Sa college basketball, take away the fandom, you'll see the difference in skill and talent level." Later in the night, I had a blast with my sportswriting MJ (which makes me Kobe hehe) Rick Olivares talking about the players we liked the most.

                    Thus the inspiration for this list - my favorite PBA players today.

                    ARWIND SANTOS - He dunks. He rebounds. He blocks shots and sinks high-arcing pull up jumpers. He can shoot the three, smile at the camera, and always points to The One Above to thank Him for the blessings of basketball in his life, staying humble and hungry. Is there anything else you can ask for in a player? This local boy is certainly The Man right now, a player from the masses, for the masses, dominating in the highest level of hoops in the country.

                     PAUL LEE - I have been a fan of his since his college days in UE. His game is built on courage and street swag, with a constant need to prove himself and leave his signature on the game. Dynamic guard who will find a way to destroy defenses with his brilliance with the basketball, whether it be scoring inside-out, passing, or rebounding. Relishes the spotlight and pressure moments. You can be Kobe frickin Bryant guarding him and Paul will still do his thing and take you to the rim for his trademark double-pump pasabit shots. I'm still in pain that he didn't go to Ginebra to be its future star, a team that Paul told me was his favorite PBA team growing up.

                    CHRIS LUTZ - my favorite player from Smart-Gilas. Bullstrong slasher and determined defender, always looking to put the clamps on the opposition's most dangerous scorer. Athletic and a certified basketball junkie, always looking for a way to be on top of his game. A player I'd recommend to kids to emulate. And Chris, I wanna see you dunk in a game, come on now!

                   GARY DAVID - I've always told people that Gary David is the best scorer in Pinoy hoops. He has an endless arsenal of finishing moves at the rim and a pure stroke to his jumpshot. He will go through you, over you, around you, and will leave you scratching your head at his ability to put the ball in the bucket. I'm glad he's turning heads now. If he can stay consistent at around 20++ ppg, with a couple of monster 30 and 40 point games on occasion, and if Marcio Lassiter continues to play Pippen to his MJ, Powerade can string together some wins.

                   KERBY RAYMUNDO - I will never forget Kerby yelling to the camera during an interview, after beating San Miguel (I'm not sure), basta Rico Villanueva was BPC for that conference. Kerby was asked how he feels after leading his team to victory. Kerby yelled: "ALAM KO SA SARILI KO, AKO ANG MVP!!!" then walked away. BAD. ASS. That aside, a healthy Kerby is a low-post scoring artist. Drop steps, pump-fakes, fade-away jumpers, and a face-up drive that's difficult to stop because he can take it strong or pull up from 15 feet.

                   JC INTAL - my favorite Blue Eagle of all time, now playing for my all time favorite PBA team. Has all the tools to be a superstar in the league. At one point, when I think Ginebra's stars were on loan to the national team, JC stepped up and became Ginebra's go-to-guy, carrying Ginebra to the playoffs where the team just fell short. But man was he balling out of his mind. He was slashing and finishing strong at the rim, sinking his mid range bank shots and three pointers, and setting up teammates for easy buckets. I hope he gets his groove back soon.

                   And of course the finishing touch....

                   MARK CAGUIOA - The Franchise. He inherited the proverbial torch from Ginebra's past superstars with his unbelievable skills with the leather, his grit, and his heart. This guy plays Never Say Die basketball and does it with flair. This dude was a walking 30, 40 point game waiting to happen. Always willing to strap the team on his back and single-handedly tow them to the finish line. Blessed with the ability to ignite the crowd with his killer crossover, dipsy-do layups, teardrops, and three-point bombs, not to mention his early 2000s blond 'do, Mark The Spark made sure Ginebra was still the toast of the town even after the glory days of the 80s and 90s. As he aged and the killer speed sort of waned, with injuries piling up, Mark being the never-say-die type found a way to refine his game. While he may not be blitzing past defenses like he used to, he refined a part of his game to still be a dangerous scorer: the mid-range pull up j. Coupled with his still razor-sharp ball-handling, The Spark still proves to be a dangerous scorer in the PBA, armed with smarts, experience, and that heart that will never-say-die until he hangs up his sneakers.