Jordan Brand x Titan 12-23-10

Party at Titan Barbershop.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Midnight of December 23, Titan Barbershop officially launched the much awaited J's of 2010 -- the Air Jordan XI Cool Grey. I did post a little bit of heads-up about it here prior to it's release date. I got there barely 40 minutes before the stroke of 12 and I was just in time to take a few snapshots of the event.

Three Stripes bash

The man behind the beats.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Last December 11, 2010 Adidas launched their new brand of street clothing catering the hip and young teens of today -- the Adidas Neo Label. Though it has opened up a couple of stores already in the metro prior to its official launch at the Nuvo City in Libis, Quezon City.

"Invincible" Michael Jordan Mix

Props to LK12Productions for creating this dope MJ vid.

Money is simply THE G.O.A.T.

'Nuff said.

Mari Martinez officially out as PFF President

Screen shots of FIFA's letter to PFF recognizing Mariano V. Araneta as the organization's new President.
(Images courtesy of Mr. Chino Trinidad)

Days after the Philippine Azkals lost their bid at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 against Indonesia, The Philippine Football Federation or PFF has received word from FIFA that Mari Martinez has been relieved from his post as President of the organization. Replacing him is Mariano V. Araneta as the new head of the PFF.

Retro Air Jordan XI Cool Grey Midnight Drop

Retro Air Jordan XI Cool Greys dropping at the stroke of midnight on the 23rd of December.
(Image via Marqueesole.com)

Pinoy Jordan Heads, troop to Titan Barbershop on the 22nd of December for the much awaited midnight release (December 23) of the Retro Air Jordan XI Cool Grey. For more info on the release of these J's please visit Titan's official website.

(Image via Titan22.com)

Here's a video of Denver Nuggets swingman JR Smith (in his Cool Grey J's) dunking over Gary Neal of the Spurs:



And that's what's up.

Adamson continue winning streak, UP falls to Ateneo

It was pretty much a tale of two streaks. Adamson racking up W's while UP still hasn't found their way to winning form. In the first game the Lady Falcons showed the Lady Bulldogs why they are one of the top teams in the UAAP.

UST get easy win over UE, La Salle rout FEU

Jacqueline Alarca of DLSU tips the ball over FEU's defenders.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The Lady Red Warriors perhaps can't still get over their losses in the last couple of games. A win against the defending champs would be a much needed boost of confidence UE. HOWEVA, the UST Tigresses have other plans in mind.

Simply 'Chamba'

The Philippine Azkals look to avenge their game 1 loss to Indonesia this Sunday
at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Semi Finals.
(Image via Gossippatroller.com)

Indonesia got, well -- lucky scoring a goal on the Philippines last Thursday at the Semi Finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 in Jakarta. "Chamba" is a Filipino slang term for "luck" or "lucky". With that said, they won the first game of the semis against the Azkals with a "chamba" shot.

Some UAAP Volleyball Games Recap

In case y'all missed some UAAP Women's Volleyball action, I'll be posting the results from last week's games. To be honest, I was supposed to write my piece on those but the continuity of the articles on UAAP Volleyball games was somehow broken. It was due to the fact that I got the stats from last December 8's game(s) after 5 days. Thus the games on the 11th and 12th was compromised.

NU beat UE, Adamson clobbers Ateneo

Angeline Gervacio of Ateneo goes for a spike against a couple of Adamson's blockers.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The National University Lady Spikers turn out to be the dark horse team in the tournament. Albeit having mostly rookies in their roster, NU could perhaps make it to the Final Four. They literally made an example out of the University of the East Lady Red Warriors on Wednesday -- fresh from their forgettable loss to Adamson last Saturday.

Ateneo falls to UE, UST take win number 2

Just after marking their first win last Wednesday, the Lady Blue Eagles have stepped on the wrong foot again. Jorella De Jesus wasn't much of a factor this time against the University of the East Lady Warriors.

Ateneo knot series in the PCCL 2010 Finals

Ateneo's Eric Salamat goes for a lay-up.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

After pulling off a shocker in Game 1 of the PCCL 2010 finals, it didn't sit too well for Ateneo Coach Norman Black and his boys. Nevertheless, Black wasted no time to go back to the drawing board and make adjustments for Game 2 in a couple of days. Adamson's victory over Ateneo was indeed a big one but they need to pick up where they left off in the first game. No easy task for Falcons' Coach Leo Austria to play the same way they did against the defending PCCL Champions.

Lady Archers continue streak, Adamson earn first win

Undefeated and still hungry for the volleyball 'chip, the DLSU Lady Archers are on a mission. These ladies may look like they all fun and games but they got fire in their eyes. Their loss to UST last year's finals hasn't been forgotten. On Saturday, Lady Archers' Coach Ramil De Jesus couldn't be more happier with his team's performance.

Chicosci rocks Nike

Nike Sportswear's Limited Edition AW77 Hoodies
(Photo by Roy Afable)

I've mentioned this nike event here a few days ago and what a way to jumpstart December with Filipino rock band Chicosci gracing the AW77 launch at Nike Park's Flagship store in The Fort, Taguig. The place was packed with folks from the media and the band's hardcore fans in attendance.

Ateneo win first game, DLSU crush UP

Fresh from their first win on opening weekend, the National University Lady Spikers found themselves on the other side of the fence in Day 3 of UAAP Volleyball 73. The new and improved Ateneo Lady Blue Eagles where off to a good start as they took advantage of NU's inforced errors. They cruised the first 2 sets with a huge margin.

Adidas ObyO collection now in the Philippines

Winged sneakers by Jeremy Scott.
(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

Adidas has been in the biz for so long and have a lot of popular personalities like Run DMC and Footballer David Beckham. Now the 3-stripes show some love to those who are into street fashion (street wear to some). Thus the release of the Adidas ObyO (Originals by Originals) collection.

PCCL 2010 Final Four: Ateneo-UC Game Notes

1st quarter begins. Nico Salva jumped off against Cebu's man mountain Junemar Fajardo -- and won the tip! Ateneo gets the first point off Eric Salamat's free throw. UC up 3 with a 3-pointer. Eman Monfort added 4 points for Ateneo ( a free throw and a 3 ball) after Fajardo scored down low. We're all tied up 5 until Eric Salamat took a baseline shot from the arc and they are now up by 8.

Ateneo center Frank Golla gets his own points in the paint, they are now up 10. UC's Luigi Mercede gets called for a foul on Kirk Long. Blue Eagles gets possesion. It's now 10-7. UC zone up on Ateneo as Salva misses his tip and is rebounded by Junemar Fajardo.

My stuff on the PCCL 2010 Elite Eight games

I wrote these while watching the game on TV.

Game 1: Confident Adamson U tame FEU Tamaraws

The FEU Tamaraws didn’t seem to play like their usual in the PCCL. Lack of focus and motivation may have gotten the best of them and Adamson University took advantage of it. The Soaring Falcons are out to prove that they have what it takes to win titles.

Nike x Chicosci this December 1

Chicosci rocks out with these Nike Sportswear AW77 Hoodies.
(Image courtesy of Nike Philippines)

Nike Philippines together with Filipino rock band Chicosci will be launching the limited edition Nike Sportswear AW77 Hoodies on December 1 at Nike's flagship store in Bonifacio High Street, The Fort. Coinciding the launch Chicosci will be having mini concert performing tracks from their latest album "Fly Back Hearts."

My PCCL 2010 Experience

Everybody is scrambling for the loose ball.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

It's my first time to watch some Philippine Collegiate Champions League action. It wasn't exactly a packed house like I expected it but the atmosphere somewhat good. I'm beginning to feel at home whenever I drop by the Arena at San Juan to cover some games. Of course the PCCL is no exception.

Sneakerheads took their talents to Titan

Trance music playing in the background straight from the DJ's booth.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Fresh from my coverage of the UAAP Volleyball opener, I went straight to Titan Barbershop to witness the Philippine launch of the Nike Lebron VIII South Beach Edition. I thought I got there late and I'm glad I got there just in time. It's my first Nike event to attend and I had a blast. I actually knew about this launch on such short notice.

UAAP Volleyball Season 73 Opening Weekend

FEU's Rosemarie Vargas goes for a block.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Yup, it's time for men's basketball to step aside and have the ladies take over. The UAAP Volleyball Season 73 has officially kicked off. 1,283 fans trooped The Arena in San Juan to watch the best volley-belles in the UAAP.

Women's V-ball take centerstage in UAAP season 73

The new faces of UAAP Volleyball Season 73.

(Photo by Roy Afable)

Are y'all ready for some Volleyball action? Basketball season is over in the UAAP and it's now the ladies time to shine for some ball tossing and spiking madness. This will be my first time to cover this fast paced sport. Indeed, it's just like watching basketball minus the dribbling and the hoops. HOWEVA, I ain't a virgin when it comes to watching Volleyball games UAAP style.

Say hello to MJ's son, Marcus Jordan

Marcus Jordan -- the real Air Apparent -- throwing it down like his pops! 'Nuff said.

Be like Superman

Superhero time: Adidas TS Beast Commander "Superman Fortress of Solitude"
(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

Wanna wear the colors of DC comics' legendary superhero? Now you can with the release of Dwight Howard's signature kicks -- Adidas TS Beast Commander "Superman Fortress of Solitude" Edition. This limited edition shoe is obviously inspired by Superman's iconic insignia and costume.

Ultra light running sneakers from Nike

Running shoes that are light and comfortable: the Nike LunarEclipse+
(Image courtesy of Nike Philippines)

Running enthusiasts out there, the swoosh's got some sneaks for y'all who are into the sport -- The Nike LunarEclipse+. Such a cool name for a pair of running kicks.

Thanks to the friendly folks from Nike Philippines for this one.

3-Stripes Sale

Nov 17-20, 2010 10 AM- 8 PM, @ the Adidas Head Office
38th Floor, Robinson's Equitable Tower, ADB Ave. cor. Poveda Street, Ortigas, Pasig City

Just print the flyer (the image above) to get in and avail of the special Adidas stuff on sale.
Up to 60% off on adidas Originals items!

Y'all only got until tomorrow, November 20, 2010 to cop some new stuff from Adidas.

Thanks to Adidas Philippines for the heads-up.

UAAP-NCAA All-Star Game 2010 Experience

All eyes on he: Ateneo Blue Eaglets young gun Kiefer Ravena
is bound to join his school's senior team next season.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Last Saturday, it was my first time to watch some college ball -- an exhibition game for that matter. Although I was expecting absolute competition, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for to say the least. I did have fun watching the event though. Thankfully, I didn't have problems going to the Fil-Oil Arena in San Juan.

NBA Ballerinas and the Crucifix play

The Beantown Ballerinas....



Andrew Bynum's hilarious Crucifix impersonation....



And Kobe does the Crux, too? WTF?!!



No wonder NBA Elite 11's release was scrapped altogether.

Stay classy EA.

Basketball clinic to be conducted by Coach Spo and Manny Pacquiao in RP next year?

Miami Heat Fil-am coach Erik Spoelstra joining forces for the first time

to host a backetball clinic in the Philippines next year.
(nba.com/casinonewsauthority.com)

I was browsing the net before hitting the sack but look what I found in the sports grapevine. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will soon be coming back to my dear country, the Philippines, to host a sports clinic next year. I got the news from SLAM online and more info about that via espn's website.

Beastin' kicks

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic got his own kicks -- the Adidas Beast.
(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

Yup, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard -- Superman to fans in O-Town -- is finally getting some love from the 3-stripes. The big fella is already rocking the Adidas Beast -- his first ever signature kicks. Just like Derrick Rose's sneakers, Adidas made his sigs as lightweight as possible to conform with his strength, athleticism and quickness on the court -- like his namesake. You've all seen the vid featuring him and Hollywood actor Ken Jeong, right? That was just a little teaser on his latest sneaks.

What should LeBron James do?

Goodbye Cleveland: The iconic image featured in Nike's "Rise" ad campaign.
(Image via nikemedia.com)

That is the question lingering on LeBron's mind. To give you that answer, Nike launched their ad campaign "Rise" in the U.S. coinciding the release of the LeBron VIII's. To give you an idea on what it's all about, remember the day he made "The Decision" and left Cleveland for Miami? There were some references of that in the ad.

Nike LeBron VIII officially released

Nike Designer Jason Petrie's latest creation: The Nike LeBron VIII.
(Image courtesy of Nike Philippines)

We've all seen the teaser ad and now, the much anticipated new signature line of LeBron James is finally here. The Nike LeBron VIII's have officially dropped all over the world. The release of LeBron's new kicks came in just in time for the NBA 2010-2011 season.

Gear up for Halloween

Ball in style this scare season with the Adidas Heat Check Halloween Edition.
(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

Halloween is just around the corner and what better time to play ball just for the occasion. The folks from 3-stripes created Halloween makeup up of the Adidas Heat Check and it will have its Philippine release on October 29, Friday at Titan Barbershop in Taguig.

The Halloween collection of the Adidas Heat Checks will be in-line with launch of the NBA Rev30 jerseys.

Derrick Rose finally gets his own kicks

Be lightning fast like Derrick Rose with the AdiZero Rose from Adidas.

(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

It's about time. Yes, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose now has his own signature joints -- the Adidas AdiZero Rose. He's been rocking these during the NBA preseason. Dope shoe with some really nice colorways. The shoe's official Philippine release was last October 15, 2010.

Expect the unexpected

Not a happy camper: German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing Team looking
none too pleased while facing the media.
(Reuters)

I'm pretty sure Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel would love to forget his race in Korea. Yesterday he had a great qualifying run -- which is not surprising -- taking P1 and P2 for Australian Mark Webber at the starting grid. Hell they both looked unstoppable as Webber looked to be in position to stay on top of the drivers' championship. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was all set in giving Webber a run for his money.

Race day came, the skies turned dark gray and the rain started pouring in. Perhaps not the way the inaugural Korean GP was supposed to kick off though.

Dwight Howard singing with Ken Jeong

Gosh I didn't know D12 could sing. Not bad a voice that he has, in my humble opinion. It's the 3-stripes' ad campaign for Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose's signature joints -- the Adidas Beast and AdiZero Rose respectively.

Hollywood actor Ken Jeong (of "The Hangover" fame) made the ad even special. His gold Adidas threads including his gold Pro Models are dope. Simply put, the vid is just hilarious!

Enjoy!




Perhaps Dr. Ken aka Slim Chin deserves his own signature line as well -- or maybe not....

Be part of NBA's revolution on October 29

(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

Last September, the NBA's official outfitter Adidas unveiled a new innovation in basketball uniforms simply known as "Revolution 30" in the U.S. Prototypes of the said the technology were worn by players in the NBA All-Star Game in 2009 in Phoenix and 2010 in Dallas respectively. With the new NBA Revolution 30 uniforms, players can perform better on the court with it's breathable and lighter fabrics. Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and Jordan Farmar of the New Jersey Nets already got some love for the new uniforms.

Refresh your gear

PBA Player Wesley Gonzales of Air21 donates his old pair of kicks for a cause.

(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

Here's an update on Adidas's "Refresh Your Gear" promo. Although I've already posted the details on that one about a week ago, I might as well share it anyway. All proceeds go to Hope Worldwide Philippines. Many thanks to Adidas Philippines for the heads-up.

A look at LeBron's new kicks

LeBron James' fresh signature joints finally unveiled. Nike designer Jason Petrie shares all the info about the new Nike LeBron VIII's.



The LeBron VIII teaser can be viewed here.

Get a fresh pair of kicks by giving away your old one

(Image courtesy of Adidas Philippines)

The good folks from the 3-stripes is once again having a promo for shoe-heads out there who want some really fresh gear. All you have to do is donate your old pair(s) -- whatever brand it is -- to any participating Adidas store and you can get a nice discount for a new pair of Adidas kicks. All shoes donated (and proceeds) will go to Hope Worldwide Foundation. How cool is that?

Where NBA and PBA Legends happen

Simply Hoops camaraderie.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Right off the bat, NBA legends Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Glen Rice and Mitch Richmond visited the Philippines for the NBA Asia Challenge 2010 last August. This is not the first time an event like this was held here. For some odd reason, I missed the one last year but I sure didn’t miss it this time around.

Drop it like it's hot

Star of the night. The Adidas Fluid Trainers was unveiled by folks
from the 3-stripes here in the Philippines.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Adidas has been in the shoe biz for years and they are back with a vengeance to create revolutionary sneaks that’s really fresh and full of flair. Last August 14, the 3-stripes unveiled the Adidas Fluid Trainers – a simultaneous event with participating Adidas Concept Stores all over Asia – the Philippines took part in the release as well.

With the synchronized launch happening, three of the biggest Adidas stores dropped Fluid Trainers in the same night – Adidas Greenbelt 3 branch was one of them.

The Filipino Connection

Like reaching for the cookie jar: Fil-Am Coach Erik Spoelstra
showing the kids the art shooting a basketball.
(Photo by: Roy Afable)

August seems to be a month of basketball here in the Philippines. It’s no surprise that this is usually the month NBA players would drop by the country to promote their latest kicks. Not for Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra though. He returned to Manila to help spread the word on good health, fitness & wellness, and the Pinoys favorite sport – basketball.

For the love of Basketball

The Philippines has always been basketball country – it literally has become a part of every Filipino’s lives. You can tell just how popular the game here is just by going around Metro Manila and you’ll see basketball being played on every street corner 24/7. I’m one of those that played ball here almost every day. Friends would drop by my house just to invite me for a game of hoops. Never mind that we didn’t wear the best pair of kicks to ball on – our rubber slippers got us covered.

In 2005, an American from New York came over to the Philippines to do some research about the popularity of the sport. Rafe Bartholomew witnessed first-hand how big it (basketball) was here. He not only learned the history of Philippine hoops but also the Filipino language: Tagalog. Having spent 3 years in the country, he's now just as fluent as the locals with the language (I send him tweets on his Twitter account in Tagalog and he replies to me just the same – how cool is that?). His passion for basketball was no different from us Filipinos. Upon returning to the US, the great memories he brought home from a hoops-loving country was the main inspiration he penned the book now known all over the world as Pacific Rims.

Mark Webber on the prowl, Barrichello not happy with Schumi

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber shows off his trophy after 1st place podium finish
at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest last August 1.
(Reuters)

After last Sunday's race in Hungary, Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber has emerged as the top dog in the Formula One Drivers' Championship. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is now sitting at number 2 while Webber's teammate Sebastian Vettel moved to the 3rd spot thus dropping Jenson Button at 4th in the standings. There's no surprise that the Australian driver would jump the gun on Lewis Hamilton's driving woes of sorts.

While Red Bull Racing was celebrating, their German driver Vettel was non too pleased with his 3rd place podium finish. His sudden lapse of reaction cost him a lot -- he was then penalized for all his troubles:

Via BBC Sport:

The German was penalised for failing to keep within 10 car lengths of the safety car early in the race, allowing team-mate Mark Webber to go on and win.

Vettel eventually finished third and said: "At the restart I was sleeping.

"It's been explained to me, but I still don't understand it. We're unlucky - it would have been a walk in the park."

The 23-year-old's penalty, taken on lap 32, meant he re-emerged behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who defended superbly to hold his position until the end and ensure Vettel secured just 15 points.

It was also the sixth time out of seven this season that Vettel has failed to convert pole position into a race win.

Speaking of frustrations, it didn't take too long for Brazilian Driver Rubens Barichello to express his beef on Michael Schumacher about his "driving strategy". Tell 'em why you mad son.

From Eurosport UK/Reuters:

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello criticised former Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher on Sunday for what he said was the most dangerous manoeuvre ever used against him.

"I like a fair fight. But that wasn't fair here," the Williams driver told Sky Deutschland TV at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"If Michael wants to go to heaven - in the event that he is going to heaven - then I don't really care. But I don't want to go before him."

Barrichello went past for 10th place and the final point late in the race while Schumacher, making a Formula One comeback at the age of 41 and after three years in retirement, was 11th for Mercedes.

The stewards ruled that the seven-times world champion, in forcing Barrichello perilously close to the wall and off track while trying to prevent the Williams going past, had "illegitimately impeded" the Brazilian.

Schumacher was handed a 10-place penalty for his next race, his favourite Belgian Grand Prix later this month.

"He kept on coming even though I was already alongside," Barrichello said in the Williams motorhome. "I was lucky that the wall finished.

"I was millimetres from the wall," added Barrichello, who spent six years at Ferrari with Schumacher where the German regularly benefited from preferential treatment.

Barrichello described Schumacher's action as "probably one of the worst" he had experienced and said action was necessary because he was such a role model for youngsters.

"Obviously today I wouldn't back off for anything," he said.

"If we had touched there, I think he would flick it over and go inside the wall like head-on. So it was more of a danger for him, because he kept on coming. I couldn't move any further to the right because the wall was there.

"If you take a photo of the wall and us, there is not a hair in there. It's unbelievable...I am very glad and very lucky that we are here to talk."

Barrichello said he had not spoken to Schumacher because to do so would be pointless.

The feeling is somewhat mutual, perhaps. Rubens can't be blamed for his reaction(s) on the matter. The 7-time F1 world champ however extended his apologies to his former Ferrari teammate which was very classy on his part:

"After I watched the incident with Rubens again, I must say that the stewards were right with their assessment; the manoeuvre against him was too hard," he said.

"I wanted to make it hard for him to pass... I wasn't trying to endanger him with my move. If he felt I was, then I'm sorry. This was not my intention."

The Mercedes driver finished 11th in Sunday's race at the Hungaroring while Barrichello took the final point for Williams after holding his nerve and forcing his way past.

Schumacher, returning to Formula One at the age of 41 and after three years in retirement, said Sunday's race was one of the toughest he had experienced so far in his comeback.

"It was pretty edgy to drive the car on the limit, so I had to fight my way through the race and at the end it was like walking on ice," said the German, winner of a record 91 career races but so far without a podium finish this year.

Despite Schumi's apology, the incident would cost him his spot at the Belgian GP in a few weeks -- not a good sign for the veteran driver. With all the unpredictable stuff and controversies in the F1 world, it's interesting what sort of "changes" will be happening in the coming races. Sure, the Red Bull's riding high at the moment all that can, well -- change. Jenson Button better get his act together in the next race in Spa. He hasn't been in the zone as of late.

Oh well, we'll all just wait and see.

Ronaldinho gets some man-love

This was during an exhibition game between the Chicago Fire and AC Milan -- part of the Italian club's U.S. tour. The fan got kicked out of the game afterward.

That's just pure gayness.

I'm just saying....

Danica Patrick still in control amidst controversies

Eye candy in the race track: Indy 500 driver Danica Patrick is perhaps
one of the most recognizable faces in Motorsports.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Danica Patrick is very much like LeBron James -- she's the hype in the Indy 500. Sure, she got the looks, the body and a real knack for driving cars -- fast cars. While she makes guys drop jaws speeding away in the race track, it seems like a typical day for an Indy driver. But when the hype finally caught up with her, it totally changed everything.

She's been acting a little too different lately. The fans are starting to think she's getting way over her head. They're wondering if she's still passionate about the sport or not. They start to question if already losing her grip -- not focused and bringing out just sub-par performances. Struggling is the word to describe what fans see in her.

Whether or not the controversies have affected her, it seems she's is pretty much got it under control. She's rather happy of her performance and results -- never mind if the fans didn't like it:

Still, though it may turn the stomachs of hardcore race fans, most eyes that turn to Indy turn to Danica. And she learned from her earlier comments, laying all praise at the feet of her crew:

"I’m very happy with the result, and the reason we got it were that our pit stops rocked and we had a perfect strategy," Patrick said. "I focused on making sure I lifted [off the gas] and got a tow from other cars to save fuel as the laps were winding down. I’m really glad the yellow came out at the end, because we were cutting it real close on fuel. That’s the roll of the dice and the team did a perfect job."

Lovely.

Ladies and germs: Danica Patrick. Stay classy girl.

New World Cup Ball gets no love from players

Ball of criticism: 'Jabulani' the Official World Cup 2010 ball by Adidas

didn't exactly impress a lot of players.
(Telegraph UK/Getty Images/Adidas)

Who would've thought a simple 'ball' would get that much attention? That 'ball' is non other than FIFA World Cup's new official ball called "Jabulani" made by Adidas, isn't exactly making waves, so to speak. The ball has getting a lot complaints as opposed to praises. The German sports outfitter felt there was nothing wrong with the ball -- or so they thought.

World Cup players from the Spanish National team share their words about 'the ball':

"It's sad that an event as important as the World Cup has such a rotten ball," Spain's keeper and captain Iker Casillas noted from his squad's training camp in Schruns, in western Austria.

"This new generation of balls is very fast and it isn't just the goalkeepers who are complaining," he was quoted as saying by the Austria Press Agency.

The ball rather resembled a beach ball, the Real Madrid player said, insisting however that there was still time to get used to it before the tournament kicks off in South Africa on June 11. "We still have ten days until the World Cup," he added.

The criticisms pouring in however, didn't sit all too well for the Three-Stripes brand:

Company spokesman Thomas van Schaik said he was surprised to hear the critical comments, made by top goalkeepers such as Spain’s Iker Casillas and Brazil’s Julio Cesar, because the “Jabulani” balls had been used for months without any complaints.

“We started using it in December in a wide variety of leagues,” he told The Associated Press. “All the response we have had has been positive.

“On top of that, we have distributed it to all the finalists so that they have been able to get used to the ball. Apparently they have not taken advantage of that if we are only hearing this criticism now. I am quite surprised in these circumstances.”

If no player isn't thrilled with the controversial ball's performance, why can't they just go back to the generic ball? Maybe then, everybody will all be happy campers and move on playing the most 'beautiful game' in the world. Perhaps new technology doesn't necessarily improve how a sport is played.

The problem may not be the ball but how it is, well -- used. Whatever the reason is, let's just leave the 'ball' alone and play the game. Period.

Jose Mourinho is Real Madrid bound

A new beginning: Portuguese Jose Mourinho will take over as new manager of Real Madrid.
(Photo by: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

One of the best football managers in Europe is making headlines again. Fresh from leading Inter Milan FC to winning the most coveted prize in the UEFA Champions league, he decided to bolt out of Italy. He wants Spain to be his new home. After all the rumors brewing all over the football grapevine, it's now confirmed -- Mourinho will helm the Galacticos next season.

So far, he's getting all the love in Spain. He's not the only Portuguese popular there -- Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna have to get used to sharing the spotlight. Not much has changed in his expressions or body language of delight being the new guy in Real Madrid -- a typical Jose thing -- that's why everybody loves a guy him because he's a winner. He does smile once in a while though.

Nonetheless, he's more than ready to take the Galacticos to the next level:

"I like to give myself a challenge and this is a big one," Mourinho told a news conference at the Bernabeu Stadium. "I have a lot of confidence in myself and my ability as a coach.

"I want to thank the board for hiring me and I promise I will not change. I am Jose Mourinho and I arrive here with all my qualities and my defects," Mourinho added.

"The strength of my teams is the team not individual players or the coach. If they all recognise this it will not be difficult to get results."

That's one classy guy right there. He's all set to win a UEFA title with the Galacticos. Inter fans shouldn't feel all that bad. Rumor has it that England coach Fabio Capello will be replacing Mourinho's spot with Internazionale. So it's a win-win situation for both teams and that makes the poker faced Mourinho just as happy perhaps. It will yet be another exciting season for the UEFA Champions league and Spanish La Liga.

LA Lakers advance to face Celtics in the Finals

Black Mamba on the prowl: Kobe Bryant is ready to take on the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
(Christian Petersen/NBAE/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns had homecourt advantage in game 6, Steve Nash and gang knew they could beat the L.A. Lakers and force a Game 7. They got everything planned out and their game plan was in full effect. The 2-3 zone bothered most of the Lakers but they forgot about the one guy they should really worry about -- Kobe Bryant.

A typical Kobe performance dropping 37 points on the Suns to make yet another return to the Finals. Phoenix's resilience and tremendous comeback undoubtedly gave the Lakeshow a run for their money. Amar'e Stoudemire knew their efforts didn't do too much against the Lakers:

“We played great and we were only two games short of getting to the Finals,” Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire said. “They (the Lakers) have a great team and they have all bases covered; from the bench, to the starters, to Kobe.”

Suns veteran and co-captain Grant Hill agrees with Stat:

“It makes it hard when you’re down like that,” Suns co-captain Grant Hill said. “We fought and got back into the game but they have experience of being in these types of games before and they’re pretty good.”

Who could forget Suns' heartbreaking loss in Game 5 at the hands of one Ron Artest, who was always criticized by the Phil Jackson of his poor shot selections -- he didn't complain about his game winning shot though. How about Kobe's little gesture on Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry after hitting a big 3-pointer -- with Grant Hill all over him -- late in the 4th quarter? This clip says it all:

Stoudemire lead his team with 27 while Steve Nash collected 21 points along with 9 assists. Despite the loss, the Suns' court general praised his team for a great season and playoff run:

“I know everyone makes a deal out of I've never made the finals,” the playmaker said, “but if I play with a team like I played with this year, I'll be satisfied with that. It's phenomenally rewarding to be part of a group like this.

“It's a great source of pride for me to get a chance to play with these guys. They're just such great, great people and great teammates. They've committed absolutely to what we're trying to do. You want to say we overachieved until you think about it and say, 'We're a good team.' We had a real legitimate chance to beat the Lakers and go to the Finals and play for a championship.”

So it's come to this, the Lakers-Celtics rivalry is back in full effect. The Lakeshow now has the opportunity to avenge their loss in 2008. The defending champs have lot to prove as they have yet to win against the Boston Celtics in the finals. Kobe Bryant comments on what to expect in their storied rivalry come June:

"The challenge is to win the championship. The Celtics are in the way. They feel the same way about us. Obviously this is a matchup, it's very easy to talk about. There's a lot of things that people can write about and talk about. It's a sexy matchup.
We're looking forward to this challenge, looking forward to the test. When the ball goes up, we'll be ready to go."

As the 2010 NBA Finals loom, this is going to be yet another great championship match-up of epic proportions. It's win or go home for both teams. The Boston Celtics are aiming for NBA title number 18. The L.A. Lakers however want not just to defend their 'chip but it's all about redemption.

Celtics back in the NBA Finals

Team effort: Paul Pierce and the Celtics booked themselves a ticket back to the NBA Finals.
(Jim Rogash/NBAE/Getty Images)

Beantown has every reason to celebrate as the Boston Celtics finally vanquished the Orlando Magic 96-84, in Game 6 of Eastern Conference Finals. Despite having a few set backs in the last 2 games, the Celtics were able to clinch a spot in the NBA Finals to face their west coast rival, the L.A. Lakers. It will be a rematch of the NBA Finals back in 2008.

Rajon Rondo brought his A-game despite hitting the floor hard during the game with 14 points and 6 assists. Paul Pierce was in usual self as he scored 31 points with 13 boards to his credit. Kevin Garnett chalked up 10 points and sweet shooting Ray Allen also chipped in 20 points. Coach Doc Rivers wasn't at all surprised of his teams performance:

"The first thing we said when we got in the locker room is this is where we thought we would be," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "So, don't be surprised. This is what we talked about before the season started.

"I just believed that I saw what they did and what they had. And we kept saying as a staff, 'It's in us. We've got to try to get it back out of us.'"

The Magic's Vince Carter wasn't much of a factor in game 6 having scored only 17 points. Dwight Howard's 20-10 performance didn't much either albeit his 28 points and 12 rebounds. Orlandos' Superman gave credit to their rivals from Boston of their hard-earned victory:

"[The Celtics] played like they wanted to win the championship the whole series," he added. "That's why they're in the position that they're in now."

An unlikely spark plug in the form of Nate Robinson, came off the bench all fired up -- literally helped his Celtics pull off the win -- that's coming from a player who has only made a few appearances in the playoffs. His teammate Tony Allen gives props to Robinson for his performance:

"Here's a guy that didn't play too much all series and gave us a lift," Tony Allen said. "He was ready for his opportunity and he took clean advantage of it."

A breathe of new life indeed for Nate and now has an opportunity to win his first ever championship. Kendrick Perkins couldn't be more happier of Technical Foul called on him in Game 5 at Orlando. He's got the NBA Commissioner David Stern to thank for -- thus he was able to play in Game 6. The Celtics will have 5 days rest before facing the Lakeshow in June 3 (June 4 in Manila).

Now that the Celtics are back in the finals, fans in Beantown are hoping to win yet another NBA title and perhaps add banner number 18 in the rafters of the TD Garden. With C's starting 5 back in shape, there's no stopping the gang green in taking the NBA Championship back to the east.

On that note, check out this play of Rajon Rondo's dime drop to P-Double for a nice two-handed throwdown.

Hamilton rules Turkish GP, Button takes number 2 in Drivers' Championship

Britain's finest: McLaren-Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button
celebrated their victory after their 1-2 podium finish in Instanbul, Turkey.
(Eurosport UK/Reuters)

It's been a while since I last posted something about Formula 1. I promised myself I'd do more updates about it but to no avail, it was an epic FAIL. Anyways, I'ma try to redeem myself and perhaps make up for lost time. It's really hard to keep up with the news especially if you're a writer who has an all sport blog, like yours truly. Now, on to some F1 stuff....

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton made this bold prediction about beating the Red Bulls in Turkey -- He did exactly just that and it was loud and clear. It was a one-two finish for McLaren with Hamilton taking the chequered flag while defending champ Jenson Button took 2nd place. He (Hamilton) even dedicated his win for his pops, which is a nice shout out, by the way:

“Having said all that, winning today doesn’t feel quite as good as it sometimes does. That’s because it’s a little bit different from some of my previous race victories: ideally, the racer in me wants to win by overtaking the guys in front, not by seeing them crash out in front of me. Rather than inheriting a win, it’s much nicer to fight your way past your rivals and earn the win the hard way.

“Still, I’m very happy for the team. My girlfriend is here too, which is nice, and my dad is on holiday and I really wanted to win today so that I could dedicate the win to him. It’s his 50th birthday tomorrow, you see, and a grand prix victory is the best birthday present I could ever give him.”

Red Bull GP's Mark Webber placed third. The Australian wasn't able to clinch another win after being victorious in the last two races. Sebastian Vettel wasn't all too happy with Webber about crashing in the middle of the race trying to overtake each other. Vettel insisted he had it all under control, to say the least.

HOWEVA, the Drivers' Championship leader had some rather interesting words after that incident:

"But before we got there he came across to the right and I couldn’t react fast enough, because I wasn’t at all expecting that at that point, and that’s why it happened so fast and there was contact.

"Of course in Seb’s car, it obviously feels very bad that I’ve turned left into him, but I’m pretty confident that there was some drift from his way and then it was a f***ing disaster."

Classy indeed.

Lewis Hamilton meanwhile made sure the incident with the Red Bulls won't happen:

"It won't happen with me and Jenson," the 2008 world champion told Reuters after he led reigning champion Jenson Button to a one-two finish after the Red Bull drivers had wrecked their chances.

Asked how he could be so certain, particularly after a race in which the McLarens jousted with each other in the closing stages, Hamilton replied: "We're both world champions, we're both professionals, we both have a huge amount of respect for each other.

"We want to finish the race, we do both want to win, but not in an aggressive manner," continued the 25-year-old Briton.

"When I win he is happy for me and vice versa.

"For sure, you want to be ahead, so if you finish second you're not the happiest. However, he is a very supportive team-mate and he is doing a solid job.

"We had a great battle out there and he wasn't aggressive, he wasn't silly, he didn't make any stupid mistakes, and that's why we had a good battle," said Hamilton after his first victory of the season. "I have no doubts the rest of the year will be the same.

Lovely, spoken like a true champion. Maturity on his part perhaps or maybe just being respectful of Jenson Button who's currently the defending champ. Fans won't be surprised if he steals the thunder again just like what he did to Fernando Alonso when he was with Mclaren back in 2007 -- Hamilton's rookie season.

7-time World Champ Michael Schumacher didn't have a hard time catching up with the young guns as he finished 4th place in Turkey. He isn't doing bad since he came out of retirement for a one-year stint with Mercedes GP. For a veteran like Schumacher, being able to finish in the top 10 just proves that can still compete for another year or so. That's just me of course.

As the race now shifts to Canada in 2 weeks, Mclaren's Jenson Button will have to make a strong finish to overtake Red Bull's Mark Webber for the top spot in the Drivers' Championship. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is not far behind and still in the hunt for that coveted title as well. It's going to yet another interesting race as the rivalry between Red Bull and Mclaren continue to heat up.

Michael Jordan endorses video game franchise

Be like Mike? Gamers and fans can relive Michael Jordan's
glory days again as the much awaited NBA 2k11 game, is set to drop this year.
(Via Google Images)

I'm not really a fan of the NBA 2K series but for some reason, I think I'm gonna have a change of heart. Though I've always loved playing the NBA Live games, the only reason I never got to play the 2010 version is that didn't come out for the PS2 (I still love that console, by the way) -- only the 2k10 did.

I own the NBA 2k10 (PS2 version) which featured Kobe Bryant(!) as the game's cover boy. Now, the folks who created the video game(s) just stepped up their, well -- game. Word has it that Hall of Famer Michael Jordan -- the GOAT -- is on lock to grace the cover of NBA 2k11. Money will also have his image, likeness and will be playable in the game as well.

ESPN's got the low down on the latter:

While rumors pegged LeBron James, Derrick Rose and even Tyreke Evans as favorites to appear on the cover of "NBA 2K11," multiple sources have told ESPN that the company has gone in a completely different direction, signing basketball legend Michael Jordan as its new spokesman.

This will be the first time that a former player will appear on the front of the box for 2K, and with Jordan taking over majority ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats, it will also be the first time that a team owner will endorse the popular franchise.

But the real question is, what value -- beyond obvious name and iconic image recognition -- will Jordan bring to the game? In the era of Kobe and King James, are gamers still yearning to "Be Like Mike"?

The designers at 2K must think so. In addition to acting as cover model for "NBA 2K11," the speculation is that Jordan will also be digitized into a playable character. This means gamers will become the virtual MJ in hopes of reliving some of his trademark moments.

There's more. I've even heard whispers that 2K has been in negotiations with several players (both teammates and opponents) from the Jordan era to appear in "2K11" to help gamers and history buffs accurately recreate the heated competition between the classic Bulls and rivals like the Celtics, Knicks and Cavaliers. But since 2K needs to ink all former players to individual contracts, it's still up in the air whom the company will be able to sign in time to appear in the game.

Being a fan MJ, there's a reason for me to buy the game (hoping that it comes out on PS2), unless of course, I buy myself a PS3 or XBOX 360 console for that matter. This is going to be every Jordan fanboy's wet dream (I think). Gamers and sports fans alike will be clamoring for this once it's officially released within this year.

Time to save some money for this game. I'll do just that but I'll have work on getting the next gen console first -- I may have to wait for the PS2 (crosses fingers) and PC version though.

Nike to launch World Cup ad in a UEFA game

As mentioned on Brooks Peck's Soccer blog, this new ad campaign from the folks at Nike (that's all over the internet already) will debut this Saturday (in the US, I presume) during a UEFA Champions League game. It's the full version of the ad. Really dope if you ask me. You'll see a lot of familiar faces in soccer/football -- the ones that rock Nike gear obviously. If you watch soccer games and a fan of the sport, you'll certainly recognize them (and some other Nike athletes). HOWEVA, there's one cameo in the ad that had me scratching my head though.

This is a soccer ad but I have a problem with some personalities showing up there. Though I'm not surprised to see Kobe Bryant(!) and Roger Federer (did he ever play footie before?) but Homer Simpson?! Homer f*cking Simpson -- c'mon son!!! I'm a fan of the cartoon series but he/it seems a bit out of place there -- seriously! Maybe Homer was there to add some humor in the ad or something -- I dunno.

Whatever the reason is, only Nike knows right? It's still worth watching nonetheless. Hope this ad airs here in the Philippines soon.

Air Jordan VI Bulls Colorway to drop in June 2010

Another great Air Jordan release coming up in June.
Sneakerheads won't be missing these for sure.

These kicks are so gonna be copped! I've always wanted these when I was 12. Hope they drop here in the Philippines as a GR or General Release. The US release date is already confirmed though -- June 12, 2010.

Here's heads-up via NikeTalk:

The rumored released of the Air Jordan VI Infrared Pack had Jordan-heads in a total frenzy. In fact, when Sneaker News posted news of a possible confirmed release, over a hundred of our loyal readers chimed in. While there haven’t been any actual pictures of in-depth details, how about something that IS confirmed? Check out these pics of the Air Jordan VI Varsity Red and White colorway, set to drop in June. Some may bicker about the hue of the red color, but these are still an astoundingly gorgeous pair of Air Jordans that will clear off the store shelves rather quickly. If you can’t get your hands on the Infrared Pack, the White-Varsity Red joint would be a worthy replacement. via MarqueeSole.

Air Jordan VI Retro "Bulls" (GR release)
384664-102 White/Varsity Red-Black
$150.00 - Men's
$105.00 - Gradeschool
$65.00 - Preschool
$45.00 - Toddler
$40.00 - Crib

Can't wait for June already. Ain't sleeping on them either.

2010 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics take Game 1

Point guard match-up: The Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo (left) tries to get past
Jameer Nelson (right) of the Orlando Magic. The Celtics beat the Magic 92-88
(Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Hey folks! My first post in 2 months. Lots of things I had to deal with. I'm back and I've made some changes on my blog -- obviously. Hope y'all like it. I ain't done with it as I'll be adding a few more stuff here. So without further ado, on to the updates....

Everybody thought the Cleveland Cavaliers would go all the way to the Finals. Most Celtics fans (including myself) didn't think the C's would even get past the second round of the playoffs. Well lo and behold, the same Boston Celtics team that's been hampered with injuries and controversy (Rasheed Wallace anyone?) is making some noise and they're back in the hunt for the 'chip.

After getting Rondo'd twice, we may have seen LeBron James in a Cavs uni. That's another story altogether.

The Orlando Magic have been the most dominant team in the East. Having swept the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks, a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals was expected -- all that changed, thanks to the Celtics.

Paul Pierce and gang made yet another statement in O-Town as the Celtics gave the Magic a run for their money and won game 1. Vince Carter knew it wasn't gonna be easy:

"They came out ready to play," said Vince Carter, who led the Magic with 23 points. "They jumped on us early, offensively and defensively.

"We fought like heck to get back in the game. Unfortunately, when you're down that many points with about nine minutes to go, and with them defending like they did, it's going to be tough.

The Orlando Magic have to make some adjustments and even the series in Game 2. So far, the Celtics are at their best playing on the road and surely, another win in O-Town could mean another step going back to the Finals in a potential rematch with the LA Lakers. Speaking of the Lakers, Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and it's another heated rivalry with the Phoenix Suns tomorrow. That's another series worth watching. I'm betting my money on the Suns to win in the West (sorry Lakers fans).

In some NBA news, Cavaliers guard Delonte West is making headlines of sorts, which I find rather odd and disturbing. I know this is old stuff, but I'm glad Vinny Del Negro finally got the pink slip from the Chicago Bulls management. A lot of coaching job openings in the L. This year's draft is something to look forward to in the coming days. Hope John Wall gets drafted at number 1. Whichever team drafts him is lucky, that's all I can say.

Competition's gonna get even more intense as the road to the NBA Finals continue. On that note, check out this awesome dunk from Vince Carter. See y'all in my next updates.