D-Glove - Desmond Oh

Desmond cutting past Hartman for a fantastic pass to Jeffers for an easy layup. 

So now Desmond Ho has a nick called "D-Glove". A great video made by Slingerrocks, showcasing Desmond's defense and great ball handling. In the video, Slingerrocks captured the move in the picture above.



Have lots more pics of Desmond Oh in the Indonesia Satria Muda game, which I will upload here.

Learn to shut up

Found a blog entry which reflects somewhat ground views, but it isn't exactly something I am advocating. As I have many foreigner friends and I do support foreign talent scheme by our government - so for my foreigner friends who are trying to settle down here in Singapore, sometimes try to understand from a local perspective and curtail your criticisms...as it is REALLY reserved for us Singaporeans who lived here and undergone the school curriculum; having to purchase out of reach public housing; having to serve 2.5 yrs of army and up to 40 days of yearly reservist training till we are 40 or 50 years of age depending on rank... You see, we are proud of this red dot, but there is much more to be done...and you do not see what we see or hear, so respect us as we have respected you being here. Do learn when to shut up and spare us your disingenuous criticisms. Yes our forefathers were foreigners as well, but they contributed to the nation building through blood and sweat and fought the Japanese invasion on this soil; as am I with my annual army duties, but more often to protect foreign investments more than "real" enemies up north and around. Poor arguments do not justify the fact Singaporeans love to complain...blogging is an avenue for release as studies have shown it helps mentally and emotionally by sharing...so now everyone has to take it like a man and stop bitching about realistic concerns? Have you taken a walk lately in the alleys of Sungei Road or Chinatown? Or are you just another elitist, Wee Shu Min devoid of compassion and  understanding?

A quote from Albert Einstein - "The world is evil, not because of the evil doers but those who see evil being done and do nothing."

In case the entry mysteriously disappears, I read this forum letter sent to ST as well, over the weekend in state newspapers.

ST Nov 7, 2009

Be prouder of this great little red dot

I REFER to Thursday's report, 'Singapore a top choice for migrants'. I am a new permanent resident, and this report not only makes me proud, but also affirms my fundamental belief that Singapore is destined to be a global centre from a financial standpoint and a cultural and social perspective.

After living most of my life in Sydney, Paris and Tokyo, I have embraced Singapore as my home - I never felt so intimate with the other cities.

My only beef with Singapore is that its citizens do not necessarily share my passion for this country. From personal observations, I have noticed that Singaporeans are both competitive and in a constant pursuit to improve their daily lives, whether economically or in some other sphere.

In this challenging environment, it is natural that one loses perspective of the overall big picture, which is that Singapore, a country of about 700 sq km, has come a long way from a backwater trading post to establishing itself as arguably the financial and technological hub of Asia.

Perhaps Singaporeans should be prouder of their country. Cab drivers complain about everything and university graduates I come across talk of saving up and moving to Spain or Italy.

Perhaps it is time citizens took a step back from the frantic demands of everyday life to reflect a little on what their country has to offer - a safe, ecologically aware and technologically advanced metropolis with excellent public transport and infrastructure, a thriving arts scene and a welcoming multicultural local population.

If foreigners from all over the world can see this and are coming to Singapore, why can't Singaporeans?

Sam Ahmed

I guess  this blog will be void of local criticisms when I decided and successfully migrated and go on to blog about new adventures and issues face. But I for one will not be writing to local newspapers of my new country and telling the locals how to live it and stop bitching!

Basketballers still ostracised

Many a times, I find it so hard to explain to expat friends on why we have so little NBA telecasts here, and why Singaporeans love to slap themselves.

It was a twinge of joy when I hear that Singtel won the EPL bid from Starhub. Some years back, myself and several friends cancelled ESPN subscriptions to show some fortitude in disapprovals to Sports channel price increase due to crazy price war between Singtel and Starhub to score exclusive rights to showcase EPL soccer, whom we being avid basketball fans somehow were penalised with no increased coverage of live games from NBA. Believe me that we tried to raise hell calling up or emailing ESPN prior to cancelling the channel, especially when my family are throwing arms about not being able to watch tennis/F1, so occasionally we turn it on for a month during US or French Open.

But my joy was shortlived when Singtel announced the price packages. $23 for soccer and $2 for ESPN...woohoo so cheap..but wait - You cannot get ESPN without soccer. Damn it, price is similar to Starhub's price plan but of course no need to pay $4 for setup box and no need basic package lar. But already used to watching Nat Geo, Discovery, CNN and AXN leh.. What if I don't enjoy watching soccer? Why do I still have to pay $23 to turn on something I do not watch? So looks like I have to contemplate paying $99 for NBA Broadband access for all the games; or wait for Starhub to pull a rabbit out of the top hat with maybe NBA TV?

Now even in digital phone services, there seems to be an issue over at Singtel - seriously when will our seemingly oligopoly competitive GLCs learn that primarily, consumers' interests have to be taken care of? What's the point of creating competition for the WTO's criticisms of government's monopoly stranglehold on telecommunication services, if in the end, consumers still lose? Now instead of a win-win situation, to the outside world, we look like idiots slapping/out-bidding each other from the deep pockets of GLCs whose paymaster is eventually the government.

Starhub is 56.9% owned by Temasek Holdings. Source
Singtel is 54.1% owned by Temasek Holdings. Source

Press Release about Slingers loss to Patriots

Just got an email from Bob about the loss yesterday...

After defeating the Philippines 74 to 69 in round two of the ABL competition, the Patriots were able to turn the tables on Singapore with a solid 70 to 53 win in Manila.  It was our first loss of the ABL season although the Slingers still sit on top of the League.  Make sure you put Wednesday, January 6^th in your calendar as the Slingers will host the Philippines in the tiebreaker of their series.

Coach Frank Aresgo had plenty to deal with even before the game got underway.  Starting point guard Al Vergara was doubtful right up until game time with an injury sustained in the win over Indonesia last week.  Al had a bruised knee but decided although he was not at 100% he wanted to play in front of his family and friends.  His on court presence was also important as backup point guard Wei Long was diagnosed with chicken pox the night before the game and could not take the court.  He will have to stay in Manila until early this week.  His teammate Wai Sian was also diagnosed with chicken pox and could not take the court.  Coach Arsego was already shorthanded with the unavailability of Steven Khoo who was on National Service duties.

The Slingers will now turn their attention to Indonesia to try and get back on the winning track with an away game on Saturday, the 14^th.  We will also try and get everyone healthy!  Singapore had a solid 96 to 72 win over Satria Muda last week but with the home court advantage no doubt Indonesia will be out to avenge their embarrassing loss.

The Slingers next home game is against arch rivals KL Dragons.  It is Singapore VS. Malaysia so spread the word to keep building the crowds.  Let’s Roar Singapore!

Go Slingers!

Bob

So we lost the game due to a lack of players, but the crap talking still goes on in the Facebook ABL fan page. You can see fans going at each other. It is easy to get carried away because fans are often a passionate bunch, and seriously I welcome a good flurry of "healthy" exchanges, especially when it doesn't involve contact and its all just words. I remembered reading that Michael Jordan often cut out news clippings on journalists criticising his games, and pasting on his locker to remind him, to drive him and to piss him. We all have our own ways of getting motivations. So I say remember the losses and use it to our advantage when we next meet the Patriots on 6th Jan!! I hope the crowd will be more than balanced in our favour!

The Pervasive Growth

This morning I had a nice good run to Bishan to meet up with some new found friends to have a decent 4-on-4 game. Been a long time since I play half-court games. And decided to spend some loose change to get some water.

Picture credit to SNG CHIN SENG, since I cannot find one to take a photo of.

 

It took me 20 mins trying to look for a Mama shop or a nice old provision shop or at worse, an Econ Mini mart. Well I gave up trying as all the old shops that I remembered in Bishan are now replaced with Cold Storage's 24-hr 7-Elevens. I guess I haven't been moving around Singapore. Having to live with $5 packs of chips, I now have to witness disappearing neighbourhood shops and wet markets. I have become unfamiliar with what I lived around me for past 30 years and in a short 3-4 year span, everything I used to take granted for has gone missing.

The price of growth - we lose old flavours to big conglomerates or GLCs. I am becoming a stranger in my own land. Damn, I hate change, but somehow it now seems less painful if I have to familiarise myself in another country.

After the game, instead of running, had a long stroll home...love walking in the clear blue skies on Sundays, help to provoke some thoughts. So more to come...