ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is a collection of selected pieces from the Spectator columns written by Al S. Mendoza and published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer from 1986 to 2000… As a sportswriter, Al is indeed very fortunate to have had ringside seats in events–both local and international. He saw games that mattered or had no bearing, that entertained or bored the viewers… Many of his pieces touch on how sports relate to people and people to sports—from his point of view. — From the Editor, Joseph A. Dumuk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alfonso “Al” S. Mendoza is the former sports editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Although he held various positions at the PDI for twenty years from 1986 to 2006, he preferred being known as a sports journalist. He began as a sportswriter in 1974 at the Bulletin Today (Manila Bulletin), where his Spectator column was born in 1981 and was retired in 2007 at the Philippine Chronicle.

After retiring from newspaper work in 2007, Al, who also taught literature and journalism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, accepted that year a twice-a-week column job at Business Mirror. HE also started in 2007 the syndicated nationwide sports column All Write at the SunStar chain of publications.