Pope Francis and Basketball
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Jan 2015
If President Barack Obama is to the United States, Pope Francis is to Vatican. Both are sportsmen, ex-basketball players at that, turned Chiefs of State. President Obama, of course played basketball during his student days and a mainstay of the Punahou High School team of Hawaii that won the state championship once.
Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, on the other hand, before being elected Vicar of Christ, only played the sport with friends during his younger days.
It doesn?t really matter really though how many points player Jorge scored in his career. Nor how many assists he dished out and all those stats, but all the normal yardsticks have to be thrown out in favor of the blessings he had brought his flock first as a priest, a bishop, archbishop then cardinal of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
To local basketball?s living legend Robert ?Big J? Jaworski, the Pope?s visit to the country is to be considered a wonderful coincidence to the Filipinos whose passion for basketball is incomparable in the entire sporting community.
?What a wonderful coincidence that our Pope, being an ex-basketball player, is visiting a country where basketball is the main sport,? Jaworski told this writer in an interview. ?This is, perhaps, because his Holiness believes that sport is among a short list of worthwhile activities that one can indulge in for its broad contribution to one? total well-being.?
?An exhilarating experience for all those involved (in the Apostolic visit) when appropriately implemented, to achieve excellence thru sports and in sports and, most importantly GOODWILL TO MEN.? The former playing-coach of popular PBA Club Ginebra San Miguel said.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud, for his part, said the visit of Pope, being a former basketball player, ?endears him even more to our countrymen, if that is still at all possible.?
?I am not surprised that he (the Pope) played basketball as most seminarians play the sport,? Ramon Fernandez, Jaworski?s former teammate with the legendary Toyota and the 1973 national team, the last all-Filipino (sans Fil-foreign players) to win the Asian Confederation crown, narrated.
?Ang masasabi ko lang, bilang isang dating atleta, minamahal ni Pope ang kapuwa niya at minamahal din naman siya ng Diyos. Pope Francis personifies humility,? PH 1973 team skipper Jimmy Mariano and now Pasig City Vice Mayor Rosalio ?Yoyong? Martires echoed.
?Having played basketball, the People?s Pope brings honor to all players and fans, he being one of them,? Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chair Rickie Vargas quipped.
Philippine Olympian Association president Art Macapagal said he now understands why the Pope can easily relates easily with so many people. ?I will nefer forget his powerful message that we are never alone. That Jesus and Mama Mary are always with us.? Rain or Shine team owner Raymund Yu admitted never known Francis played basketball, much more seen him in action, adding, the Pope must?ve played like Manu Ginobili,? in reference to the Argentine San Antonio Spurs standout.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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