1-3-1

One of the building's security guards asked me this morning if I wanted to try my luck and place a bet on who'd take the NBA Championship. I'm actually following the series as a neutral (who's slightly partial to Boston, if only because I think Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce play the game beautifully and that they've earned their dues and deserve if but one championship) but was actually tempted to put a hefty amount on the Celtics ending the series tomorrow.

It's been the buzz the past couple of weeks; everyone is suddenly an analyst, and each analyst's opinion is beyond reproach.

Flashback to the Pacquiao-Barrera fight. I got to talk to three ex-boxers and asked them how they thought the fight would go, expecting in-depth analyses and extremely insightful points of view given that they were also prize fighters once upon a time. It was a unanimous decision: "Mahirap eh. Hindi mo masabi. Kahit ano pang galing (ng isang boksingero), 'pag tinamaan... Hindi mo masabi. Mahirap."

The three of them were former Philippine champions in their respective weight classes, each with more than a decade's experience in the ring and they could not provide a definitive answer. They all believed Pacquio could walk through it easily, but still, they would not say he'd actually win it.

Now back to our armchair ballers. I'm just amazed at how sure they are of who'd take the crown and how they'd take it. I personally know someone who's not even picked up a ball, much less play the game well but lo and behold-- several years of cable television and he's Red effing Auerbach.

The Celtics will be champions tomorrow.

Maybe.

Mahirap eh.