Smart Gilas Lineup vs Singapore Slingers

Based on internet reports, these are the players who might suit up for Smart Gilas vs Singapore Slingers game (basketball):Chris TiuMark BarrocaMac BaracaelJV CasioMagi SisonCJ GilesJason BallesterosJapeth AguilarFil-Aussie Seb Salinas 6 - 3Fil-Aussie MattSchmechtig 6 - 1Some TNT practice players I'm not sure who will be included specificallyMan, I do hope this game is available online so we

Maybe Andy Mark Barroca Is Just Burned Out!!!

(Basketball) Andy Barroca is a victim of some bad rumor mongering reminiscent of what Floyd Mayweather Sr did to Manny Pacquiao two days ago. Unfortunately, the guy was affected and it seems many people bought the story. This all started when Barroca's form dropped in the last two games against La Salle and Ateneo. Other people called it "sub par performance". In short, the guy's suspected of

Bye bye RLT

It's been unofficial for a long time so I may as well make it official: Real Life Thailand is going into semi-retirement. I will probably return and write longer articles on an occasional basis, but I don't anticipate any regular updates, unless the writing bug hits me again.

Why? It's hard to say. I've not lost my interest in Thai politics or in studying Thai society. I've not lost any of my free time (not that I had much anyway, being married and having two kids) and I've not lost interest in writing.

So what is it? I can't give a straight answer to that, I can only give a few thoughts. First, there are so many excellent bloggers on the Thai political scene, some of them blog two or three times a day and I just can't compete with that. I wish I had the drive to blog that frequently. I do like to think that some of my articles have been deeper and more reflective than the regular bloggers, though. But perhaps the real reason is that right now, my attentions are focused elsewhere. After four years of blogging on Thai politics (I had another blog before RLT) I feel that most of what I've got to say, I've already said!

After all, blogging is, essentially, a selfish thing to do. I mean 'selfish' in the sense that the typical blogger is looking to express his or her feelings and thoughts and convince others to think likewise and feels better for doing so. There are probably exceptions to this, but I think it is a fairly reliable axiom. For me, that feeling of satisfaction borne from self-expression lies elsewhere at the moment.

In my years of blogging on RLT I've enjoyed it all, and I've certainly learned a lot as I went along. Looking back at my earlier blogs - perhaps all the way up to early 2008 - I can see that I was trying too hard. I used to actually edit my blogs to make the vocabulary more specialised and difficult to read. It sometimes created unnatural writing, without fluency. But there were some surprises along the way. Some of the articles I felt were my best got little feedback. Others - often those I did quickly, with little forethought - still generate comments today.

I've never been bothered about hit rates or readership levels and I've no idea how many visitors I get. I know it must be a reasonably high number though, because I occasionally get businesses in Thailand offering me money to let them advertise. I never bothered replying to any of them.

Likewise, since one of my blogs made the front page of 'The Nation Thailand', I've had occasional offers of media work. At first it seemed exciting but once again, it's something I've lost interest in. Unless it's something I particularly enjoy discussing, I don't bother to take the interview.

I sometimes get emails asking questions or seeking advice about Thailand. Please do feel free to keep any questios coming, I'm always happy to reply.

In closing, to anyone who's taken the time to read my blog, I thank you. Please don't strike me off your blog list. I will still blog on teaching, politics and other aspects of life out here, just not so often.

I've got a new blog I'm working on that will go live soon. Anyone wanting to follow is welcome to email me.
All the best,
Greg

qualities of good mentors

Nature's guide for mentors@NaturePersonal characteristics- Enthusiasm- Sensitivity- Appreciating individual differences- Respect- Unselfishness- Support for other than one's ownTips for mentors- Availability: the open door- Inspiration, optimism- Balancing direction and self-direction- The art of questioning and listening- Being widely read and widely receptive- The initial project- Life after

Smart Gilas In The PBA (Schedule)

It's confirmed that Smart Gilas will play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this upcoming season. The Smart Gilas fans' are excited about this as we get to see the future of Philippine basketball. It was also reported (Bill Velasco) that the PBA will allow CJ Giles to play despite opposition from several coaches like Fernandez. It's a great decision, sir. Besides, Giles will be a

The evolution of Thai football

EDIT: I've corrected several of the typos in this blog, which were caused by a rubbish keyboard (and, of course, the plonker typing the blog).

I have, in the past, made some disparaging comments about Thai football and Thai footballers on this blog. It is, therefore, my duty to set the record straight.

Whenever I've been asked about Thai football, I have told friends that it is Sunday league standard and nobody goes to the games. This is the general axiom of Thai football held not only by farangs, but a good number of locals, too. Slowly though, the tide is turning.

The Thai FA (full of allegations of corruption and incompetence) set up the Thai Premier League a few years back and since then, have very slowly set about making some of the changes required to build a successful football league.

Step one was to dissolve the provincial leagues. Nobody is going to get too fanatical about a league in which you know which teams you will play every week, and with no major awards to win. One extra benefit of this is that some of the Bangkok teams have moved to other areas and given locals in large cities or provinces such as Kanchanaburi a team to follow.

Step two was to encourage teams to adopt real names. Many teams had (and some still have) ridiculous names of private teams such as 'Krung Thai Bank' and 'Chulalongkorn University'. This would be the equivalent of UK fans supporting teams with names like 'Natwest Bank' and 'Durham University'.

Actually, the Thai FA decreed that all teams must become private entities (no doubt some money was made by someone high up with this move) but the side effect was the desired one. We now have teams like 'Bangkok United' instead of 'Krung Thai Bank FC'. New team badges and strips have appeared at the same time, all helping to add to a sense of identity for players and fans.

Finally - and most importantly - money has started coming into the leagues. Massive sponsors such as Beer Chang, Yamaha, Coca Cola and many more have poured sponsorship money into the TPL. Already the befits of improved stadia and promotion are starting to show.

There are still massive steps to be taken though. Despite the rapid changes, many Thai football fans are blissfully unaware of their local team or even the league as a whole, they still have the same impression I had. Far more advertisement and coverage is required, but efforts are being made....

I saw an advertisement for Bangkok United in the Bangkok Post (where else?) and was intrigued by the idea of a Thai team carrying a proper football name. A little internet research revealed that my local team had also become a real team, with a remarkably impressive website and an incredibly popular fan site. Last weekend I went to my first game in a sold out stadium, jam packed full of fans, of which I honestly believe at least eighty percent were wearing the replica team shirts. The noise was amazing, the loudest I've heard since Southampton's days in the EPL.

The standard of football itself is not world class, Chonburi's star player is a Welshman released on a free transfer by Northwich Victoria for example, but there is a good pace to the games with moments of skill thrown in. The ticket prices for every team are ridiculously cheap, unlike the English leagues, the Thai leagues are still looking to attract fans rather than bleed them dry.

So if you're a footie fan in Thailand,google (or wiki search) for "Thai Premier League 2009", check out your local footie team and go and watch. You might not be blown away by the skill on display but you'll be impressed by the passion, devotion and friendliness of the fans and players. You'll also be doing your bit to help out a league that is trying hard to expand and improve. More people should know about Thai football.

Lao women beat sao thai at Friendly match in Champasack

5/09/09 ,Lao national football team ( wowen) blast University of Bangkok Chonbouri 6:1 while Malaysian team was beaten by university of Rattana Bundith of thailand 13:0, the warm up game was hold in Champasack on September 5th which there are three teams from three countries have participated.

Smart Gilas (Team Pilipinas) vs Singapore Slingers: No Possum Here

Smart Gilas (Philippine Developmental Basketball Team) will play a game against the Singapore Slingers on 23rd of September at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The Nationals will have CJ Giles, Chris Tiu, and Mac Baracael reinforcing it along with several Talk n'Text practice players such as Gilbert Lao. Unfortunately, breakout college players like Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos, JR Jazul won't be able

my memory my dream and my sport

Football is the most popular sport in laos, especially in my a little town which hasn't a nice place to play the football, as i remember, i 've started to play th the football when i was very small, and played in the primary school was never tired, we had taken a break time after class in the morning and organized a game with other classes, i dont remember how many people for each team, but i remember that it was a funny game and amazing. it was so expensive to buy a ball in that time Laos didnt has a factory that could make the ball and other sport facilities ,100% of the sport equipments were imported from neighboring thailand and vietnam. i remember the ball that we always play at the school was made in vietnam which was very light and it flied very high when it was kicked, it was a good feeling when you kicked that made in vietnam football. in cotrast , some of people had a good quality football which made in thailand or some country, its brand was adidas or some thailand's brand. we ussually didnt play that ball, because some of my friends didnt own that.

I had to take care of cows and bufflalo after school and it's time to play sport. there was quie big yard in front of my house which has quite smooth grass and flat which was very suitable to play the football, normally there were some neighboring friend came to play together. the ball was somone's who brought to play, i did remember that i didnt own any ball when i was a kid.

sometimes, i always joined the completition in the village nearby where the young kids always betting for the game, which team lost would be paid the money. i played with naked foot, because as you know, the poverty in LAOS, The kid don't have even the sheoes to wear to school, so a piar of sheoe to play football? i think it's only for a rich family who can afford it. but for me, it was hard to have a pair of football sheos.

when i was growing up when i was in the middle-school, i still didnt have a piar of shoes, sometimes someone had stepped on my naked feet when i played, it was so hurting , but I never feel to give up this sport, this is a what i like and play.