CHICAGO - The viral fight video involving Jamie Malonzo and a still unknown man has produced more questions than a trivia competition.
And as curious netizens thirst for salacious details, one important question got buried under the pile.
Is the Ginebra star okay?
READ Jamie Malonzo says fight in viral video caused by 'miscommunication'
The good news is that, after absorbing a few vicious punches, he is "cool for real," a mutual friend told me.
The bad news is the Gin King also took blows to his image that may take a longer to heal than his wounded pride and bruised ego.
Seeing him out late and allegedly inebriated just two nights before a big Gilas Pilipinas game is sure to raise questions about his professionalism.
THE KNIVES ARE OUT.
I say give the kid a break. What he did was irresponsible but nobody got hurt except himself. That should be enough punishment.
I'm not talking here as a columnist whose job sometimes requires sermonizing. I speak here as a parent who understands that a lot of our young people are shaped into good men by the mistakes they've learned in life.
Jamie is 27. He is being pelted out there, ridiculed. I hope he weathers the storm.
A Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) insider who requested anonymity told me that Malonzo is unlikely to be penalized for this scandal.
"If he hurt someone, it would be a different position seguro from our end. But in this case siya ang nabugbog. No need to rub salt on his wounds. If it happens again, a different story na naman yun."
I agree.
Sanctions do not always have to be punitive, sometimes it only needs a bite of common sense to be effective.
BE FAIR TO THE OTHER GUY, TOO.
As for that kid who tussled with Jamie, caution demands that he not be judged, either. Until a truthful context of that video emerges, we will never know the entire story.
Bottomline is, that Friday night fight was nobody's business but Jamie's and his sparring partner.
I feel bad for SBP. Two glorious wins, especially the wicked 106-53 demolition over Chinese Taipei, was overshadowed by a fateful chicken run at KFC.
If bad things happen to good people I guess it can happen to organizations, too.
But I am sadder for the Fil-Am forward, one of the most popular and likeable dudes in the PBA.
Often, as we worship athletes as super heroes, we forget that they're just like us.
Prone to temptation, susceptible to sin.
Lent is upon us, folks, and repeat after me: To err is human, to forgive is divine.
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