When Love Gets In The Way...

I love this picture... which way to go! I think that is what Singapore Sailing has to decided after last Saturday. First part of Saturday's talk at NSC was a run-down on the new APIPA initiative by Singapore Sailing and then followed by lunch. The confusing part came next... Thought it was a parents' feedback session but the 1st 45 minutes was taken up by talking about Vision, Mission, etc. etc. Finally, one of the parents stood up to get the meeting back to parents' feedback. While Singapore Sailing can take the parents' concerns into their planning and programs, I thought there were also some instance where parents were recommending solutions for the issues around NSC. It was liked taking over the jobs of Andrew, Mark, etc. etc. at Singapore Sailing and National Sailing Centre. A good example of this was Nat B Squad does not have a regular coach... that is not good and needs fixing very quickly. Out come the recommendation to take Javier (who was engaged to provide the Under-12s sailors with a series of training clinic) over to the training of Nat B Squad because using Javier to run the Under-12s Training Clinic was deemed to be a waste of resources by some parents in the auditorium. Perhaps these types of encounters were the very reason why the session started with the sharing of vision, mission, etc. which was an attempt to share what is important to Singapore Sailing. Since I believed good governance existed within Singapore Sailing, I assumed that the engagement of Javier and the set up of the Under-12s Training Clinic had served an important purpose. I was told the key reason was to identify and create a pipeline of top sailors for the years to come. Is creating that pipeline extremely important to Singapore Sailing and Singapore as a sailing nation? Absolutely! Today, we have Darren, Najwa, Elizabeth, etc. and they are bringing back the medals from AYG to the Youth Worlds. Who will fill those ranks and bring back the medals for Singapore in the coming years... strange to hear that such programs can be considered a waste of good resources? After sleeping on this for 48 hours, I can only come to one conclusion. That is "love gets in the way". As a parent, I have gotten into situations when I would have spent 'no-less-than' my best effort to fight for my child. From what I heard, I think that was what I witnessed. All I can say is that Singapore Sailing has a job to do and a set of objectives to fulfil. Parents' feedback and recommendations are important and hopefully timily. I am sure the management team of Singapore Sailing to do the necessary things... Just for me, Chloe was involved in the series of "Under-12s" Training Clinic and I am thankful that she selected. I prayed Singapore Sailing has the will to continue with such investments in our young sailors. Long term investments are needed for the Singapore's continuous dominance in the sport of sailing! I loved seeing our young sailors bringing back those prestigious medals and expects them to do so in the Youth Olympics and the World Championships around the globe in the next few years. Call me a dreamer!!! Personally, I am looking forward to the first Olympic medal for sailing in 2012 in the UK.

A World of Hypocrisy... MJ

Michael Jackson (fondly known to many fans as MJ)... You don't have to agree with me but I think he could comfortably claim the honor of being "King of Pop" with his lifetime of music and entertainment.

His 1982 Album "Thriller" remains the world best selling album of all time! Of course, you cannot forget the others - "Off the Wall" in 1979, "Bad" in 1987, "Dangerous" in 1991 and "HIStory" in 1995. He was such a dominant figure in the music world. The world of MTV was changed with "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "Thriller", "Black or White", and "Scream". Many (including me) tried hard to copy that robotic dance step called "Moonwalk". I strongly believe that many of today's artists were influenced in one way or other by this King of Pop.

MJ donated and raised lots of money for charities (some said more than 50), foundations, beneficial causes of all kinds. Who would have problems liking a man liked MJ...?

Unfortunately, MJ has been remembered for many other things in recent years. Key ones being health issues, his everchanging facial features, crazy behaviours, inability to serve the hugh debts from shopping and legal cases relating to child abuse since the early 90s. Of course, he was acquitted in all the allegations of sexual abuse but the world does not remember those acquittals. Somehow, the world kept focused on all these unpleasant things and had long forgotten MJ, the man of talent and generosity. This is a strange world... that I find myself not agreeing with...!

For me, I look beyond this "juicy news" and I want to remember the man for the good he has done plus his achievements in music/entertainment. MJ is one of the few to be been inducted in the Rock-&-Roll Hall of Fame more than once. He is still listed in the Guinness Book of World Records being "Most Successful Entertainer of All Times" featuring 13 Grammy Awards and 13 No. 1 singles after going solo and the sale of 750 million records around the globe. It maybe a long time before we see anyone breaking these records.

I am not holding my breath... :-) ... Goodbye Michael!