Rarely do we encounter contenders in tournaments joining to lose. In the heat of competition, because the goal is to win, frustration boils (if things don’t go as planned). If all remedial actions fail, the usual and favorite suspects for miscues are the hapless arbiters. Insults and imaginatively libelous expressions are then freely spewed to these unfortunate beings.
For nearly two years, I haven’t seen the PBA games since we relocated 14,000+ kilometers away. I’ll be content with old clips and game highlights on the net, especially when the son of my close childhood friend’s team had a game.
Several days ago, I was amused of a heckler’s comment caught crystal clear on a video clip. In a dead-ball situation came out of nowhere the now infamous “Ref, lutong-luto ‘to ah!” in high definition.
A veteran Ilonggo bruiser was widely assumed by netizens as the man with the golden voice because he was seen on the clip talking to the referee after the heckling, questioning a foul called on him. Yes, he denied the deed.
The powers-that-be had launched an investigation on who did it but for lack of proof or witnesses, shelved the investigation and issued warning to teams to control their ranks or face stiff sanctions. Of course, no one would be bold enough to confess to the wrongdoing and willingly submit to the fines.
Because PBA games are held in a bubble, no fans are in attendance and the arena is quiet except for the squeaking of sneakers and the verbal exchanges between players and team staff. Microphones strategically placed on team benches and officials’ tables catch idle talk and exactly caught that magical phrase.
Refereeing is a thankless job and often rewarded with ridicule but not one league in the four corners of this round earth will ever prosper without these maligned men and women in zebra stripes. They had chosen this vocation, run up and down the courts with whistles between their lips, and I would very much assume that they are happy and content with it, despite the not-so-attractive pay.
In the thick of the fight, things often get a bit nasty and like in elections, will result only in two things – the winner and the cheated. Perfection is an impossible goal for us humans because we can never be perfect. And at the end of the day, because we’re not perfect, we’re all weird. Hehehe.
Home cooking? Maybe yes, maybe no. Let the PBA revise their recipe and deep fry whoever cooks in the league./PN
