Basketball-crazed Short People

My standard line when foreigners ask me if there’s any sport close to Filipinos’ hearts in the same way that baseball is America’s pastime? “The Philippines is a nation of basketball-crazed short people.” It’s true! Though billiards and boxing have grown in popularity owing to the country’s world-class athletes in those activities, there’s nothing closer to many Filipinos’ hearts than the good ol’ game of hoops.

Obviously, not many foreigners realize this, so I was happy to come across a report in the New York Times about Gilbert Arenas’ recent visit to the Philippines. Actually, I generally get a kick out of reading “positive” news about the country in the foreign press; but this one particularly made my day.

Oh, and based on the comments? Agent Zero is officially a-okay in my book. Really!

[A Filipino Embrace (The New York Times)]