FEEL THE GAME BOBBY MOTUS

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Sunday, December 3, 2017
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Relying a lot on imports, 2

IN THE wide, wild world of sports, be it in the collegiate, amateur or professional level, it has been practiced for so long to outsource superior talents from overseas.  Why?  Because these athletes are more blessed and gifted than the rest of the playing field and, yes, teams don’t want to be just competitive – they want to win it all.

Athletic imports are not anymore limited to third-world countries. Even countries with an abundance of borderline giants enjoy the services of these foreign-born athletes.  The sporting world is so varied that imports are not limited to basketball, football or baseball alone.  Practically any sport that requires either height, heft and speed or all of them, has some foreign blood mixed among the locals.

My point last week is on the missed chances by local athletes, which had been taken over by the imports.  Never was there any mention of the countless foreign students we have here in the country.  I have no issues with them.  Homegrown talents are dominated by these athletically superior imports.

The usual mantra we hear from school leagues is to discover, develop and nurture local athletes.  But some fail to be discovered and developed because in their place are these tall and large Africans.  There is no question about their talents because that is what they’re here for.  I just find their presence prejudicial and detrimental to the development of our local athletes.

An American reader who claims to be a longtime Cebu resident – and I would assume with a Filipina wife – was “offended and disappointed” in my description of these athletes.  When a guy stands several inches above 6 feet, most definitely they’re not short.  Also, if they are way above 200 pounds, sane logic implies that this guy is not tiny but large.  I say again, these athletes playing in our country’s collegiate scene are tall and large Africans.  My goodness, I wouldn’t be calling them cute!

Summing up, because of the “tall and large Africans” description, I now “represent the racist, bigoted views of ignorance.”  These student athletes came from Africa. What else will I call them, Storm Troopers from a Galaxy Far, Far Away?  Because of their build, they tower head and shoulders above the locals.  Fat chance they’re dwarves.  Is that ignorance?

Racist I’m not.  Because I want opportunities prioritized toward our local athletes.  I’m a purist.  How many times were the Malay race called “little brown Asians” by the Caucasians?  We don’t have to look far as the one with the funny hairdo residing in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has the habit of spewing racial slur.

Ah, bigotry.  Webster defines a bigot as “intolerantly devoted to his opinions and prejudices” and, if I may add, insists on their views against the views of others.  Well, European professional football is full of it, likewise the NFL and to some extent the NBA and the MLB.

Filipinas possess a rare combination of beauty, mystery, charm, diligence, and elegance.  With these traits not entirely their fault, foreign nationals get attracted and involved and eventually marry our ladies.  Through marriage, their children have mixed blood running in their veins.  We have Fil-Americans, Fil-Germans, Fil-Japanese, and other Fil-foreigners whose children are or had been athletically involved in the country’s sports program.  I must admit, the use of “mixed breed” is not proper, and I apologize for it and won’t be using the term from now on.

In sports writing, we are allowed by our respective editors to use metaphors and hyperboles in materials for printing, unlike in mainstream newswriting.  We use these words to capture readers’ attention and at least let them be part of the game and – as what this corner says – feel the game.

It’s the foreign athletes with no trace of Filipino blood on their veins that I’m talking about, not the foreign students in general.  In my opinion, it’s not about opportunities but all about domination, basketball in particular, with their full knowledge that we Filipinos are inferior in size and build.

Everything else considered, I’m still pleased that aside from my editors, my family and friends, I’m now aware of the fact that there’s someone else who happen to read my piece./PN

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