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The 2009 Six Nation Rugby Tournament kicked off last February 7 and will end on March 21,2009. The tournament has always brought excitement to thousands of spectators worldwide. It’s an event that people from participating nations are all waiting for. The Six Nations Tournament is an event that will converge the world in one venue from Twickenham to Millenium Stadium. A mass of 12,000 or more is  expected to witness this exciting event for all Europeans.

Yes, you can enjoy the heat, the action and the passion live in the various venue of the game. There’s no sweat to get a seat. You can buy your Six Nations Tickets to this exciting game  through the ticket centers or online marketplace for ticket buying and selling.Though there could be lots of other online ticket-selling companies, it’s quite hard to trust the reliability of their services .There may be no guarantee of customer-satisfaction service; remember you’ll be paying for the tickets via online payment service. However, this company offers TicketIntegrity and TicketCover to all their customers.  Seatwave has built a name for its company by maintaining its integrity making it one of the most preferred ticket outlet for any event, whether for a concert, theater or sports. Its linkages with personnel in the countries where the events are held also guarantee a perfect accommodation and service. No doubt it’s the leading online ticket marketplace in the UK.

So, the next time you need a ticket, but doesn’t know where to find one, Seatwave is the best choice when buying tickets online.

Even though the cricket’s game is five months from now, grab your Ashes Tickets now. Don’t wait for the rus!

One of my favorite personalities in sports is Yogi Berra and his words have never failed to cheer me up when I am in a bad mood. Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra as you know was born in St. Louis, Missouri is a former Major League Baseball player the New York Yankees most of his career till the the 1963 World Series after which he was hired as the manager of the New York Yankees. He was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. .

And so I was just browsing the net for some funny quotes on sports when I came across this funny Yogi Berra quotes. Not that I am not familiar with Yogiisms, and I have many read a funny yogiisms, but it has never stopped giving me a good laugh, and i just wanted to share it with my readers.
My favorite was “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.”

There were also some baseball quotes that I really loved like “You don’t save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain.”
So to say that there still is humor left in sports, as these few quotes just reminded me.
Further digging led me into some more sports quotes like these funny golf quotes, “My body is here, but my mind has already teed off”.

The Australian Open 2009 is in progress these days. Melbourne hosts the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. The Championship has currently reached Round 4. While there have not been registered any major upsets in the Men’s matches, the Women have proved themselves unpredictable.

Novak Djokovic is the defending Champion in the Men’s competition, while Maria Sharapova won the Australian Open 2008 for the girls. She couldn’t defend her title this year because of an injury.

World Number 1 Jelena Jankovic was sent home last night by Marion Bartoli. Amelie Mauresmo was defeated by Victoria Azarenka from Belarus, Ana Ivanovic lost against Kleybanova and the list can continue. This means that we could expect a surprise winner in the Women tournament this year.

The big question is who will win the Men’s title. With all the big guns left in the competition we should expect some highly spectacular matches in the upcoming days. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokivic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Juan Marti Del Potro, all of them and many others could lift the Aussie Open trophy over their heads this year.

You shouldn’t miss the second week of this Grand Slam tournament. If you are on the move and can’t follow it on TV you can always watch Australian Open live on the web too.”

Ronald was born on October 15, 1981 in San Juan, Metro Manila. He is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association {PBA} for the Barangay Ginebra Kings. Tubid has the position of a Guard with a height of 6 ft 1 in {1.85 m) and with a weight of 180 lb. Known by fans of PBA as Mr. Fearless and also known along with backcourt tandem Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrtand, as one third of the so called, the Fast, the Furious and the Fearless.

In his freshman year, he was the only provincial player in the supposedly All City Colleges where he ended up as the team captain. Playing at the amateur Philippine Basketball League (PBL), he was picked due to his resemblance to the face of Blessed Pedro Calungsod. Making “The Saint” as his nickname, although Calungsod is not yet a saint. It is amusing to note that former playmates while growing up are Niño Cañaleta, Paul Artadi and James Yap, who all ended up playing in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Ronald was the youngest among 2002 draftees in the PBL. An enegetic 21 years old, and slam dunking UE Warrior, he played for the Welcoat Paintmasters where he was the 2002 MVP in Finals. Scouts are raving about the hardwork and intensity of Tubid, which give them prospective interest. Ron plays a warrior-like determination and usually does high flying acts that endeared him to the fans. In the previous PBL conference, despite competing for minutes at  Welcoat Paintmasters, he has shown mad games.

Ronald Tubid was the Shell’s 16th overall pick in the 2003 PBA Draft and had an extraordinary rookie year with an average of 8.9 points per game. The following year, he improved his mark to 12.3 points per game where he was named the Mr. Quality Minutes of the PBA Press Corps. He won it again with Air21 in 2005-2006 season where he averages 8.9 points in 44 game with just 11 starts. The role would not change as he’ll come off the bench to play for Barangay Ginebra.

The player with boundless energy, Ronald Tubid landed to a team that plays with so much physical strength and energy mainly because of the support of the crowd. There is no doubt that Ronald’s style of play perfectly suits to the never-say-die squad. The big challenge is how he will respond to the new system of his coach, Jong Uichico and the Barangay Ginebra Team. But “Mr. Fearless” does not mind as long as his team wins.

Did you know that…

• Joseph Yeo was born on September 7, 1983 in Manila, Philippines?
• he is a chinese?
• his Jersey number is 24?
• he is 5′11″ in height
• he played off guard in professional league for 3 years in two PBA Teams; Coca Cola Tigers and Sta. Lucia Realtors?
• as a UAAP rookie year in 2001, he averaged 3.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 9.5 minutes per game and he was able to improve this to an average stat line of 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 23.3 minutes in the 2004 UAAP season?
• as a PBA player of Sta. Lucia Realtor, Joseph averages 11.39 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a steal during the 2008 PBA Philippine Cup?

What else do you know about “the Ninja”? Leave your comments and additional information.

Joseph Yeo played for the De La Salle Green Archers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines {UAAP}. He took some of the scoring lead from the most illustrious Mark Cardona during the 2004 UAAP season. He joined the Harbour Centre Portmasters in Philippines Basketball League and led his team to its first Philippine Basketball League (PBL) crown alongside LA Tenorio, an ex-Ateneo star by winning the 2006 Unity Cup Finals against the Toyota Otis.

In 2006 PBA Draft, Yeo was drafted 3rd overall by the Coca Cola Tigers, just behind Kelly Williams and Arwin Santos. He played limited minutes as a reliever to the Coca Cola Tiger’s main man John Arigo. Joseph still manage to average 10 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and 1.2 assists per game in 26 minutes per contest in the elimination round of the 2006-2007 PBA Talk N Text Philippine Cup, despite the limited playing time. Notwithstanding, this did not stop the critics from calling Yeo a bust and attribute this to his lacking in size to play the No. 2 spot.

The Sta. Lucia Realty, the franchise team believes that the fearless drives, improved perimeter shooting and tenacious defense of Joseph Yeo is what they urgently need to get into the finals. Sta. Lucia Realty did not hesitate to give a pair of FEU stalwarts in Cesar Catli and Mark Isip, when the opportunity opened to acquire trades to get Joseph Yeo a plus to a future draft pick.

Nicknamed “The Ninja”, Joseph Yeo is also known for his squabbles with Ateneo alumnus and rival Enrico Villanueva. It started in a charity game featuring former and current stars of Ateneo and De la Salle, and carried on to a regular PBA game pitting the Barakos against the Coca-Cola Tigers. When they saw each other in the parking lot, they were at it each other’s throat again. Fortunately, no critical injuries were inflicted that could have cost them their career.

Kerby started up playing basketball during his high school days, where he played for the Jose Rizal Institute.This is usually the stage when famous sport celebrities  start to involve themselves in what they like to do, never really thinking that they’ll be big stars in the future!

A native of Orion, Bataan, he was born on January 19, 1981 to Roberto and Dolores Raymundo. A close friend, Francis Brown encourage him to play basketball for he has all the potentials, but it was Mollet Pineda, former San Juan de Letran player and coach who discovered him. So, Kerby played for the Letran Knights in the NCAA from 1997-1999 where the Knights won the back to back championships. Raymundo also played for the National Team in the 1999 Southeast Asian Games as the country won the Gold Medal. He also played for the Red Bull in the PBL.

When the Red Bull Energy Kings finally decided to join the famous Philippine Basketball Association from PBL. Raymundo played six games as his debut to the Philippine Basketball Association. He is the second youngest player on the league.

Kerby was banned by the league for the rest of the season after finding out that he falsified his requirements to enter the draft in the famous basketball league. He was suspended for a year.

“The Kid” returned on 2001 for the Red Bull after serving his suspension. He become the  vital cog for winning the first championship of the Red Bull over San Miguel Beer in the Commissioners Cup.

Kerby was traded to Purefoods on 2002 and became one of the leading scorers and brought the team to win the championships in 2006 Fiesta Conference. The “Kid” led the team to another finals appearance and topped the statistical points category with 1,686 points but lost the Most Valuable Player title to Enrico Villanueva of Red Bull.

Currently, Raymundo still plays with the Purefoods and a member again with the National Team vying for championship in 2009 FIBA competition

Mark Reynan Mikesell Cardona was the youngest of five children of Reynaldo Cardona and Criselda Mikesell, he was born on on November 3, 1981 at Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. Macmac got his elemntary education in various schools, which include Jose Rizal College, NAMEI  Polythecnic Institute, Isaac Lopez Elementary School and a public school in Cardona, Rizal. He spent most of his high school at Carson High School, in the United States of America where he finished Level 10 which did not qualify him for a diploma. He came back to the Philippines and took the DECS Philippine Educational Placement Test {PEPT} to be eligible for college admission.

A triple-threat of the hardcourt, Mark “Macmac” Cardona is a professional basketball player currently playing for Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters Team in the Philippine Basketball Association. Playing the No. 2 spot or as a shooting guard, he can always create, execute and complete a play. Macmac has the ability to dish out assists, a steady dribbling skill and a decent shot from the outside. He was nicknamed “Captain Hook” because of his patented teardrop shots otherwise known as the running hook, this moniker he owes to UAAP commentator Jude Turcuato.

For a brief history of his amateur days, Cardona walked in for a tryout with the De La Salle University {DLSU} Green Archers basketball team, with the intent of using his basketball skills as his passport to a good college education. He won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) “Rookie of the Year” award for the Green Archers in 2001 and was also part of the UAAP 67th season’s Mythical Five. He was named the Finals Most Valuable Player {MVP} for the same season, despite several controversies and allegations regarding his residency and eligibility, primarily. Macmac played a stint in the Philippine Basketball League {PBL} from 2002-2005, where he played for ICTSI-La Salle. He was awarded the top rookie honors as PBL Top Newcomer. After departing from the ICTSI, he joined  the Harbour Center in 2005 PBL Unity Cup and named the Most Valuable Player of the conference. He was consistently named to the Mythical Team and also received recognition as the league’s Scoring Sensation.

During the Annual 2005 PBA Draft of Asia’s first ever pay-for-play league, the Philippine Basketball Association {PBA}, Mark Cardona was fifth picked overall by the Air 21 Express but was eventually traded to the Talk ‘N  Text. Cardona played significant minutes under Coach Derrick Pumaren and currently part of the starting five of the Phone Pals.

He was the only player named by PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week for seven times within one conference for the 2007 Fiesta Conference. With a current career-high of 38 points despite only in his sophomore year ans resetting his previous 30+ career points three times within two weeks, “Captain Hook” proves to be an explosive player that he is. A testament to his overall state of quality as a player, Cardona recently recieved the PBA Conference Best Player Award for the 2007 Fiesta Conference, and he was also an official nominee for the coveted Most Vasluable Player Award of the 2006-2007 PBA season.

Everybody has heard about the infamous Rudolfo “Rudy” Distrito of the Philippine Basketball Association!

Ginebra San Miguel’s Rudy Distrito was nicknamed the “Destroyer”. He played the game of Philippine basketball with a fire in his eyes. But he was never an instrument of war out to cripple an enemy with his sheer power because he was, in fact, rather small by modern day standards. Although he was a dynamite on the court, he is a big blast in a small package. To him, the hard court was a battleground for warriors and not for the faint-hearted.

“Destroyer” played the game in a manner and tone set down and glorified by the supreme architect of the never-say-die spirit. Basketball is a contact sport and making contact was part of the game, if he transgressed beyond what the rules allowed, there were referees to hold him responsible and to impose the corresponding sanctions.

The era of Distrito and Jaworski was consistently a measure of success.  Because of the public support, millions who followed the Philippine Basketball Association during its glory days, which respectably appear to have long gone, worshiped those who played a brand of blood and guts basketball and the never ever surrender no matter how great the odds or how big the margin until the final buzzer sounded.

The “Destroyer” was tough on the hard court, but deep down inside him and off the court, he is a kind and gentle human being. One of his exploits that thrilled millions of fans and one can never forget that incredible off-balance, buzzer beating shot he buried to give Jaworski’s gallant Ginebra a breathtaking history in game 7 of a classic championship series with Formula Shell in 1991.

Distrito went beyond the bounds of the hard court laws many times. But with all due respect, he was more often the victim of perception rather than reality. Whatever it is, many dislike Jaworski and Distrito, probably because they feared them on the hard court and subscribed to a squeky clean, clinical brand of basketball washed in antiseptic rules and their implementation. When the “Destroyer”, Rudy Distrito was banned for life in the Philippine Basketball Association, majority of the fans lament for the cruel punishment hardly commensurate with his transgressions.

Rudy Distrito, for now is facing a new game in life, not in the hardcourt anymore with colleagues, but isolation in which the entity of life is more important.

This pride of Urdaneta, Pangasinan stands at 6′6″ is acknowledged as the ball club’s heart and soul. He is a deadly perimeter shooter and can even pass an incredible assists. He can also lead an offense and let the other players contribute to a point. He can attack a defense in the post and can even pass the ball outside. This makes him different from other big man of the league.

A son of a farmer, Danilo “Danny” Ildefonso authored the Beerman’s tight 86-84 escape over Pop Cola when he completed a pressure packed pair of free throws in the final 4.6 seconds for the marginal points. Cool as an iceberg, he completed those charities.

Danny I, played as an amateur basketball player for the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP and for AGFA in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). He is also a member of the Philippine Basketball Team on separate occasions. He drafted in the PBA pool despite of being underage, thus prompting the PBA to change their age limits, enraging the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). He was eventually drafted as first pick over-all by the Formula Shell in 1988 but was traded to San Miguel Beer Noy Castillo as a second over-all pick. An ironical twist for Danny, when he eventually entered the PBA Draft, he also signed a contract to play for the Pangasinan Presidents of the newly formed Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA ). This forced the San Miguel franchise to buy out his MBA contract to be a future cornerstone of the San Miguel Beer.

In his rookie season he became one of the key players of the Beerman in the Commissioner’s Cup. As the seasons ended, he won the Rookie of the Year Honor with an average of 11.6 point per game in 74 games in 1998. He also won the prestigious Most Valuable Player Award twice in the year 2000 and 2001.

Danny never played in other franchised teams in the Philippine Basketball Association. Until now he remains with the San Miguel Beer where he meted the nicknamed Dunkin DI, the Dyanamite and the mob in the benches would shout “Raise the Roof” whenever he dunks the ball.