Nonito Donaire & Brian Viloria
Before, intelligence was simply measured by how well one calculated his math, how articulate one spoke and how analytical one approached problems. Intelligence before was gauged by how much one acquired knowledge and skills in language, in mathematics and in science. During the early 90's there was a paradigm shift and people started adopting Gardner's multiple intelligence theory. According to Howard Gardner there are several intelligences. He proposed eight but to date there are already nine intelligences: verbal-linguistic, mathematical-logic, musical, visual-spatial, bodily kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, naturalistic and existential. The theory gained much respect because it proved to be true at all. A person is intelligent not only because he knows his math and science and can speak well the language. A person is also intelligent if he can sing extraordinarily well. He is also intelligent if he excels in any sporting event. Even a person who can rally people to move is intelligent. If he prays a lot and knows well his God, he is also considered intelligent. Intelligence is always objective, but definitely it is not limited only to math, science and language.
Sadly before, being athletic and excelling in sports are equated to poor intelligence. This is because most athletes fare poorly inside the classroom. This was then; however, to these people the classroom is outside - the basketball court, the diamond, the oval, the boxing ring or even the open sea. Unfortunately, before, athletes were never thought of intelligent. But imagining that there are only a few who excel out of so many thousands of sportsmen, definitely excellence in sports demands some form of intelligence and only intelligent athletes do excel. Gardner called this the bodily kinesthetic intelligence. In any sporting contest, for one to win, he has to strategize. A simple game of billiards requires application of physics and trigonometry. Swimming has now become a science that a swimmer must also be a scientist besides just sheer grace and brawn. Boxing cannot be won without being analytical to the last second when a pugilist has to react to his opponent's cut or jab. Quite simply today, athletes and sportsmen are held in high respect because of the unique intelligence their discipline demands.
Last Sunday, I watched two Filipino boxers fought against foreign prizefighters. Although I do not know so much the ins and outs of boxing, I still can say that both Filipino boxers are intelligent pugilists. Nonito Donaire Jr. was at his Sunday best as he electrified the hometown crowd that watched him demolish the previously undefeated Raul Martinez in just four rounds at the Araneta Coliseum. Brian Viloria won the IBF light-flyweight crown being defended by Solis for the eighth time, and proved that he is still the same fighter that won the World Boxing Council 108-lb crown in 2005. Donaire retained his International Boxing Federation crown for the third time even as he mentioned previously and later on after the fight that he’s planning to move up in weight for his next fight. Viloria was just as furious in stopping “Filipino executioner” Ulises Solis of Mexico in the 11th round, giving Filipino boxing two big reasons to celebrate like they do each time Manny Pacquiao fights. I was one with the rest of the nation celebrating both their victory. These two boxers may not be intelligent inside the classroom, but definitely they are geniuses inside the ring. However, they are not only brain and brawn. They are also models of discipline, hard work and perseverance.
Athletes cannot just excel without discipline, hard work and persever-ance. Before, these modern day gladiators were highly regarded because of these extraordinary traits. These characteristics were believed to be possessed only by elite men and women; however, athletes were not seen before as intellects. They were not intelligent in the same level as Plato, Newton and Einstein. It was only lately that they were given the honor they rightly deserved. Today, they are considered as intelligent as any Plato, Newton and Einstein. It is good to remember that the latter three great minds have never exceled in any sporting event. They may be eloquent, analytical and systematic, however, they never played well and excel in any contest of sheer strength, speed and agility. The theory proposed by Howard Gardner not only is correct, but gives the honor and respect the athletes and all sportsmen so deserved. Donaire and Viloria may not be both good in mathematics, science and language; however, this does not matter so much since they do not belong inside the classroom. They belong up inside the boxing ring. They may not have been honored in school in their student days, but today the whole nation pays tribute to these two equally intelligent brute, brain and brawn.
Sadly before, being athletic and excelling in sports are equated to poor intelligence. This is because most athletes fare poorly inside the classroom. This was then; however, to these people the classroom is outside - the basketball court, the diamond, the oval, the boxing ring or even the open sea. Unfortunately, before, athletes were never thought of intelligent. But imagining that there are only a few who excel out of so many thousands of sportsmen, definitely excellence in sports demands some form of intelligence and only intelligent athletes do excel. Gardner called this the bodily kinesthetic intelligence. In any sporting contest, for one to win, he has to strategize. A simple game of billiards requires application of physics and trigonometry. Swimming has now become a science that a swimmer must also be a scientist besides just sheer grace and brawn. Boxing cannot be won without being analytical to the last second when a pugilist has to react to his opponent's cut or jab. Quite simply today, athletes and sportsmen are held in high respect because of the unique intelligence their discipline demands.
Last Sunday, I watched two Filipino boxers fought against foreign prizefighters. Although I do not know so much the ins and outs of boxing, I still can say that both Filipino boxers are intelligent pugilists. Nonito Donaire Jr. was at his Sunday best as he electrified the hometown crowd that watched him demolish the previously undefeated Raul Martinez in just four rounds at the Araneta Coliseum. Brian Viloria won the IBF light-flyweight crown being defended by Solis for the eighth time, and proved that he is still the same fighter that won the World Boxing Council 108-lb crown in 2005. Donaire retained his International Boxing Federation crown for the third time even as he mentioned previously and later on after the fight that he’s planning to move up in weight for his next fight. Viloria was just as furious in stopping “Filipino executioner” Ulises Solis of Mexico in the 11th round, giving Filipino boxing two big reasons to celebrate like they do each time Manny Pacquiao fights. I was one with the rest of the nation celebrating both their victory. These two boxers may not be intelligent inside the classroom, but definitely they are geniuses inside the ring. However, they are not only brain and brawn. They are also models of discipline, hard work and perseverance.
Athletes cannot just excel without discipline, hard work and persever-ance. Before, these modern day gladiators were highly regarded because of these extraordinary traits. These characteristics were believed to be possessed only by elite men and women; however, athletes were not seen before as intellects. They were not intelligent in the same level as Plato, Newton and Einstein. It was only lately that they were given the honor they rightly deserved. Today, they are considered as intelligent as any Plato, Newton and Einstein. It is good to remember that the latter three great minds have never exceled in any sporting event. They may be eloquent, analytical and systematic, however, they never played well and excel in any contest of sheer strength, speed and agility. The theory proposed by Howard Gardner not only is correct, but gives the honor and respect the athletes and all sportsmen so deserved. Donaire and Viloria may not be both good in mathematics, science and language; however, this does not matter so much since they do not belong inside the classroom. They belong up inside the boxing ring. They may not have been honored in school in their student days, but today the whole nation pays tribute to these two equally intelligent brute, brain and brawn.
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