Online Space of Alvin Jimenez
Sports
The Silliest Lebron James Free Agent Pitch
May 21st
Right on the heels of lebrontomavs.com and every other silly Lebron to the <insert team here> movement out there, comes Lebron to the Ginebra Kings sales pitch. Let’s face it, the PBA isn’t what is used to be, what with all the lopsided trades happening out there.
Besides, it’s perfect — The King as a Ginebra Gin King.
If you chanced upon this page and don’t know what the PBA is, it’s a professional basketball league in the Philippines.
Visit Hoopswallpapers.com for more.
Image is nothing. Pacing is everything.
Oct 26th
One look at Dwight Howard’s frame can tell you he can easily bang with anyone inside the paint. Japeth Aguilar? The first time I saw the guy, and even without seeing him play, I knew that he’s more athletic than most Filipino basketball players. Is it safe to say that an athlete’s physique is always a good indication of how capable and effective they can be?
Not in running, buddy.
In my recent attempts to understand this sport more clearly, I’ve encountered guys who look like fat bastard. I’ve run into douchebag types on the track oval near my workplace as well. I’ve met guys who don’t look the least bit like they’re fit. But the moment they lace on those running shoes… Oh man, it’s on.
Sunday’s Adidas King of the Road marathon was no different. Though my gameplan was to just keep my eyes on the ground in front of me and let my music set the pace, I just couldn’t.
Not yet ready to run.
Oct 22nd
So today is Thursday, and the Adidas King of the Road 2009 race is two days away. Any runner out there will tell you — there’s just no friggin’ way anyone can cram their training for any marathon. Well, here’s what I managed to squeeze into my schedule over the past month or so since I acquired my Nike+ sensor.
In case you’re curious, the graph above represents the distances I’ve done, segregated by km per day. And what category did I join for Sunday’s marathon? I joined the 10k. So yes, based on estimates alone, I’ll probably cross the finish line in at least an hour and thirty. In runners’ terms, that’d hella slow.
Oh well, I do know that the P500 I paid to register netted me a cool Adidas singlet which was such a pain to claim (see previous post). In any case, goodluck to everyone joining the Adidas King of the Road 2009. See everyone at The Fort!
So what if I look like a douchebag?
Oct 16th
On my last trip to Las Vegas around this time last year, my fiancee surprised me with a 2nd generation Ipod Touch. I’ve never owned an Ipod until that time because I always thought I would only end up breaking it because of my rugged lifestyle. I refrained from using it in the gym, and only used it in the office. I subscribed to a few podcasts here and there, but the novelty quickly wore off. It was around May of this year when I got another surprise from her. After repeatedly telling Mariel not to get me those Senheissers, she got em anyway.
I know what you’re going to say — that I probably look like a douche when I bring, wear, or use the thing during my runs.
My answer to that, is that I really don’t care.
- My Ipod Touch helps me fend off boredom when I run. I am incapable of running long distances at a uniform pace. This is Mr. Short Attention Span you’re talking to here.
- Believe it or not, those Nike + sensor thingies actually work. I know a heart rate monitor is more useful, but I can’t afford the thing (besides I’m not a hardcore runner). Though far from being 100% accurate, hearing the automated voice say “Workout complete” is actually rewarding.
The moral of this story? There’s no need to worry about perceptions when it comes to your health. If you need that Ipod, dri-fit shirt, or new pair of running shoes (No, I’m not trying to justify a potential purchase) to keep you motivated, then go for it as long as you can afford it. A few years down the line, you’ll realize that you’d rather be a fit douchebag than an overweight, unfit, tub of lard.
And oh, Mariel, thank you again for my Ipod Touch and kickass earphones.
Kobe Bryant Live in Manila 2009
Jul 22nd
More than a year has passed since I jumped out of bed to rush to Fort Bonifacio to catch a glimpse of Kobe Bryant. I said I wouldn’t, but on the eve of his 2nd visit to Manila, I found myself scrambling for passes to any of his planned appearances. Fanboy-ism makes you do things you didn’t know you were capable of doing.
Thanks to some of my friends in Summit Media, I was lucky enough to score a few passes to Kobe Bryant’s private workout at the Ultra. I was already on my way to pick up my tickets when another friend asked me if I wanted to go to his 2pm appearance at Nike Park in Bonifacio High Street. I immediately called, and in the next half hour, found myself driving all the way to the Nike office in Rufino Tower in Makati.
Special passes. You don’t call em’ special for nothing.
A RUNNER’S COMPANION: The Sennheiser PMX 80 Sport II Review
May 11th
One thing I considered writing about when I started this blog, was to try and and talk about the common dilemmas that Pinoys encounter when trying to get into shape. While purists are quick to say that it’s not about the equipment and all about the performance – I love my sports gadgets is all I have to say about that.
If you’ve tried to keep a regular running schedule going, the following assumptions probably fit your persona.
- You probably own an mp3 player.
- It’s probably an ipod.
- You’re tired of getting derailed from your workout because your ipod earphones keep falling out.
I’m not a hardcore runner, but the Sennheiser PMX 80 Sport II i got as a surprise from my fiance’ just yesterday was clearly made for them. Here’s my stab at coming up with a brief, non-technical review for these beauties.
Don’t you get it? Advertising makes it free.
May 4th
If you’re one of the many who relied on their Internet connections to watch the boxing match yesterday, you’re one very resourceful dude. Me and my friends jumped from one Justin.tv channel to another, just looking for a stream that didn’t skip, lag, or stop completely.
After almost an hour of looking, browsing, and clicking on bogus links, we were able to find one that wasn’t stopped until Pacquiao er, stopped Ricky Hatton.
I was browsing through today’s articles, when I came across this silly piece from the Inquirer.
THEY CAME IN A FURIOUS, mind-numbing barrage.
No, not the punches that Manny Pacquiao threw to floor Ricky Hatton in two rounds—but the load of advertisements that stretched the fight’s free TV broadcast for hours to the exasperation of millions of Filipino viewers yesterday.
Henry, an air-conditioning system technician in Quezon City, said he turned off his set in frustration after waiting more than an hour for the bout’s “‘delayed telecast’†on GMA 7.
“I already heard on radio (at around noon) that Pacquiao won,†Henry said when reached by the Inquirer at around 1:30 p.m.
“I won’t watch it on TV anymore,†he said in Filipino. “The thrill is gone. It’s so annoying.â€
It’s articles like this that make me doubt the the things I read in newspapers. I just find them exaggerated to an extent so people will read them. More than the sheer amount of commercials that were shown (I actually thought it wasn’t as worse as Manny’s previous matches), the writer should have pointed out that this is all business. More advertisers mean more profits for the station who bagged the telecast rights. If you think about it, Solar isn’t even obligated to partner with GMA 7. They could have shown the fight exclusively on cable, and with a gazillion commercials if they wanted.
If we wanted commercial free programming, then the government should just take over. But then we’d have more politicians climbing into the ring with Manny. I’d honestly rather stick to the commercials.
Where can you find Rollerblades in the Philippines?
Apr 15th
As if I didn’t learn my lesson the last time, I bought yet another item online. This pretty little thing is my new sport, hobby, or whatever else you want to call it. All I know is I hope to someday (this year maybe?) be able to jump off a flight of stairs with it.
Finding these Kit Alphas wasn’t easy at all.
I scoured through all the major sports houses in Metro Manila (even at that Persian dude’s sporting goods store in Greenhills), but couldn’t find the brand I was looking for. The high end bikeshops in Cartimar? They didn’t have any. They told me they used to sell it about 5 or 6 years ago. Even R.O.X. didn’t sell any.
I was just fortunate enough to find this sparingly used pair online. The guy who sold it to me bought it in Singapore, and was selling it because his wife coerced him into getting one even though he wasn’t into it at all.
If you see some 6 foot tall dude trying to keep his balance in UP or The Fort, then it’ll probably me. But seriously, where can anyone find a decent pair of Rollerblades in the Philippines?
A Sincere Plea – PBA Website Total Fail
Sep 8th
Now that a worthy TV partner has finally snagged the broadcast rights to the Philippine Basketball Association, I can only hope and pray that the PBA finds the decency to overhaul their pathetic excuse for a website. How bad is it? Anytime you litter the website of Asia’s longest running pay-for-play league with Adsense, you know there is something wrong. More crap here and here. It is that bad.
Give the site to Solar Entertainment? The BTV site also needs a lot of work, but at least it doesn’t look like it was designed on Microsoft Word. In fairness to their capabilities, aside from a few articles by some notable people in Solar Sports, it’s obvious that the site’s main function is to provide programming schedules only.
Judging from their coverage of the PBA draft, I am very optimistic that it’s only a matter of time before they do a People’s elbow on the league’s official website.
Gabe Norwood is a Filipino
Aug 7th
Or so the DOJ says.
“Accordingly, having been born on February 9, 1985, of a Filipino mother makes Gabriel Daniel Norwood, a Filipino citizen under Sec. 1(2) of Article 3 of the 1973 Constitution which declares as citizens of the Philippines those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines at the time of their birth,†he said.
Full article can be found here.
My opinion? After making him play in an Olympic qualifying tournament as a Pinoy a few months back, this was the only way to go. After settling on Devance by default in a very lean 2007 PBA draft, Norwood may very well be the franchise player Welcoat is looking for.
For the PBA’s sake (and their own) though, I hope the Welcoat management makes an extra effort to surround him with all the support he needs. I’d sure hate to see that 4-position versatility go to waste.