Fil-Am’s tale of true love for his roots
IF all Fil-Am athletes are like Jordan Clarkson, I think there is a bright future for sports in the country—not only in basketball but also in all other games.
I say this because of Clarkson’s show of total support for Gilas. His letter was moving, heartpiercing and it tugged at the soul.
Clarkson, 25, is a sophomore at Los Angeles, the many-time NBA champion that has produced legends like Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.
In his recent visit here, (his mother is from Angeles City), Clarkson immediately fell in love with his roots and demonstrated it with warmth, love and passion to everything Filipino.
Seeing our unbelievable madness for basketball, he immediately embraced it and with an unqualified stance, he said he wanted to play for Gilas in the Fiba Asia Cup Sept. 23-Oct. 3 in China.
He hurdled the first obstacle, producing his Philippine passport since he was 12 to prove his dual citizenship.
But the world’s basketball bosses struck down his noble bid, perhaps because of pressure from rivals fearful of his potential to power Gilas to victory.
You know, as everybody now loves to say, basketball is not just a game. It has become also a tool for a nation’s supremacy over the other.
The winner in China goes to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In his open letter, Clarkson exuded bitterness but was oozing with poise and grace. Here’s Clarkson’s last farewell: “I told my Dad of my experiences with Gilas Team and how passionate I was about representing an entire country. My Dad told me to follow my heart. I spoke to Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak, and he shared the same sentiments. The Filipino fans are some of the most passionate in the world and many of them are Lakers supporters. I want to sincerely thank all of the fans who sent me letters of encouragement, and for all the people that worked diligently to make a dream become a reality: MVP and Mr. Ricky Vargas, Mr. Pato Gregorio, Maria Espaldon of East-West Private, and TEAM CLARKSON. I’m very disappointed but the 12 men selected have earned the right and any continued efforts on my part would not be fair to the team. I will cheer them onto Gold. Let’s Get To Rio!”