There was an advice, a request actually, for one joyful sports item in time for the holidays: Try something less scathing, confrontational, in keeping with the Christmas spirit.
Well, the closest event available was the farewell fight of the legendary Bernard Hopkins, 51, who picked up for a final foe the young and ferocious Joe Smith, holder of the WBA International light heavyweight crown.
Hopkins could’ve opted for an easier bout, a convenient partner for his valedictory. He instead chose to defy Father Time and the great odds. Result: He was knocked out for the first time; bludgeoned and thrown out of the ring. He landed on his head against the cement floor in the 8th round.
Hopkins was a scandal in his farewell fight?
“The Inquirer item on Bernard Hopkins was a whiff of fresh wind amid the assorted mess in our troubled Trumped world,” wrote veteran news correspondent Jun Velasco from Dagupan.
Velasco, who picked Hopkins’ final fight as top sports story of the year, said it was the case of the vanquished becoming the true victor, an unsinkable hero in the middle of a killer storm.
Tributes poured in for Hopkins “who tried what other men shouldn’t, and did what others couldn’t.”
On Monday, the day after Christmas, the annual gift-giving for humble farm families in Barangay Pangao in Lipa City was slated in Purok 4. The much-awaited event had actually been beset by the demise of two big backers, trader Peter Tanyao and vegetable magnate Romulo “Kuya Boy” Sebreros, earlier in the year.
Preparations for the gift-giving, done for over a decade each Christmas season in a borrowed tree-lined farm house in Pangao, encountered another hitch after a big supporter lost at least P100 Million in a Quezon City bodega fire.
If it were a sports tournament, the annual charity affair for this year could’ve been postponed indefinitely or canceled.
No way, cried Dr. Bobby Magsino of the Mary Mediatrix Medical Center in Lipa. He took over like a tested sports hero. Despite the howling threat of Typhoon “Nina” early Monday, Dr. Bobby set out to motor to the event site with hefty bags of quality meal and party goods for at least 50 families, the annual lucky beneficiaries.
Gift-giving had been set for 2:00 p.m. However, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly in the morning, thereby forcing Dr. Magsino to suggest with the main organizers that they roll with the punches by moving the event to an immediate later date.
Cash gifts have already been prepared in individual envelops. Assorted toys sent by kind and gentle Zeny Luna all the way from her workplace in California are ready for distribution.
There will be help from trader Nick Lantin, who has promised to come with master photographer Floy Reyes, true-blue Lipeno.
Dr. Ruel Reyes of San Pablo City, as in all past years, has promised to catch up with son Gio. Engineer Mar Maralit and my dear kumpadre Gerry Mayor can always be counted on, while Rene del Monte will supervise again.
So tomorrow, Thursday, it will be on with the goodwill event, rain or shine. Sincerest thanks and blessed Christmas to all of you wonderful God-loving people.