Djokovic sucks

THERE used to be a saying, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” or something like that. And this is just what happened recently to the tennis legend, Novak Djokovic, for hosting a controversial tennis tournament in his own hometown in Serbia. With the purest of intention, for the proceeds of the Djokovic tournament to be given to the heroic frontliners, he became a victim instead by getting infected with the coronavirus together with his lovely wife and three other prominent players.

He was warned many times but he was over confident and complacent that everything would turn out alright playing the first leg in his own Djokovic Grand Arena in his own hometown which his family erected to commemorate his contribution to world tennis representing Serbia. But instead, he got into another double whammy by playing exhibition basketball few days later with the NBA fellow Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, who eventually also got infected after. A comedy of errors.

And that’s not all. After a fourteen day self-quarantine with his wife, he now faces the dilemma of playing or not playing in the forthcoming French Open to be held this September, which was postponed from the usual June ITF annual calendar. Cause that’s just around the corner and he’s trying to catch up with the Grand slam records of aging Roger Federer and defending champion Rafa Nadal. Within reaching distance. What a price to pay for being bullheaded.

Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be over-confident when you’re on top, in any arena of life, whether in sports, politics, or business.

Salute to PBA and TNT

Kudos to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas, PLDT kingpin MVP and SBP President Al Panlilio, for sanctioning Ateneo Coach Ted Baldwin for his controversial remarks against our local basketball coaches lately. Inspite of being their TNT coach, they still acceded to the public demand to censure a coach who went out of line. Friendship is one thing but discipline is another.

Covid’s heavy toll on sports

Tokyo Olympics has been postponed, Grand Slams have been cancelled or postponed, Ryder Cup, held every four years, maybe postponed or cancelled, NBA and PBA are still nowhere in sight, and even AFC or FIFA football is up in the air. Whoever says this pandemic was good for us must be a liar or a fool.