When I was invited to become a regular columnist for this publication I had to think long and hard before I finally decided to accede. It was the longest 30 seconds of my life. While talking about the game of basketball has always been something that has come easy to me, I am not a writer by profession. Being in the company of such outstanding writers as Joe and Henry makes me a little nervous.

However I found it a little difficult to say “no” when they made me sign my contract as I was then in the process of getting a shave and the barber had an evil gleem in his eyes as he was sliding the razor cunningly along my well-lathered throat. That would be the last time I let Joe treat me to an afternoon at the barber’s. I should have known better than to accept that invite when Joe showed up at my house reeking of cheap gin and strong beer.

I remember when I was still a punk teenager back in the early 1970’s when a popular publication called Sports Flash was all the rage. For the princely sum of P2.00 I had a rundown of all my favorite sports including the NBA. When Henry described his idea for Basketbolista, visions of Sports Flash came flashing through my mind. I recall I thought to myself back then that I always wanted to write for a sports publication, and now I was getting my chance. I also wanted to be a TV analyst and commentator once, but my friends always tell me that I have a face made for radio. They remain silent about print media so I guess that means this is where I should be as a media man.

You may be wondering why I named my column the way I did, sounding as it does like a Nick Joaquin novel. The first part is an homage to a condition that comes and goes, sometimes on my left leg and sometimes on my right. The second part is what I call the “Erap Do”, and is a running tribute to former President and fellow Ateneo alum Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Since I am now at that age when I no longer really care about appearances and self-deprecating humor seems to get more girls half my age into bed with me, I have decided to stick it out with what works.