![running [Photo by Nicolas Hoizey on Unsplash]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/nicolas-hoizey-4trKf0Kbow-unsplash-scaled-e1629211946223-400x200.jpg)
Biratu is the grandfather of Ethiopian long-distance running, you can make the argument as well that Biratu may also be the grandfather of East African and possibly even, world long-distance running.
The “2020 Tokyo Olympics” or “Tokyo 2020 Olympics” in 2021 has reached its end, but for us on the outside looking in, we continue to look for ways to stay active and healthy, especially in these uncertain times.
GLORY is addictive and with the Tokyo delight of Pinoy Olympians, I’m sure it will not hurt if we will make appreciation a regular habit. Hidilyn, the heroine of Zamboanga, is now made for life, while Nesthy, Eumir and scavenger-turned multi-millionaire Carlo are now part of our vocabulary.
PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said it’s understandable that Filipinos are expecting Pinoy Olympians to deliver the goods in the Tokyo Olympics.
It is heartwarming to note that in this time of the pandemic, Philippine sports is boosting our spirits. We’ve lost a lot of friends already, businesses are shattered, movements are limited, and some of us are still waiting for the first jab. We should not make fools of ourselves and turn blind to reality.
The last two years have been the most challenging for athletes, be it student athletes, amateur athletes, or professional athletes. Sports grinded to a halt when the pandemic began, leaving athletes with no choice but to keep training not knowing when sports will resume.
THE mushrooming of self-styled experts after Gilas Pilipinas Olympic qualifier campaign in far but picturesque Serbia pains me. I’ve been reading a lot of stories from the social media regarding the tremendous improvement of the national team to the point that the write-ups tend to bury that glaring fact that we didn’t win a single game in our group, thus kissing our Olympic hopes goodbye for the nth time.
![Frank Grillo [Wikimedia Commons | Gage Skidmore]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/859px-Frank_Grillo_by_Gage_Skidmore-400x200.jpg)
The documentary features fighting already imbedded into the fabric of the cultures of the featured countries, Mexico, Thailand, Myanmar, Senegal, and Israel. Fighting isn’t just a sport to them, it’s a tradition and it’s also cultural.
![Tab Baldwin [FIBA.com photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/image-2-1-400x200.jpg)
It takes me quite a while before I sing high praises for Gilas Pilipinas.
Two peas in a pod. Brothers from different mothers. Cut from the same cloth, and same pages from different books (Michael Jordan: The Life and Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant), both bestsellers authored and written by Roland Lazenby.