I almost did not make it Live on Blog!

The day started on a worrying note for me. I was kept under observation at Ampang Puteri after I stepped onto a colony of red ants while clearing the clogged drain at our backyard. There was an allergic whole body reaction, including swellings on my face. Intan quickly told me to go to the hospital. My blood pressure shot up like crazy.

The doctor even suggested that I be warded. "It's good you came immediately...you don't take allergy reactions for granted," he remarked.

"Oh no...I must take care of the kids! My maid is gone, seeking greener pastures and I need to take care of the kids while Intan goes to school!" I thought to myself.

To help reduce the swelling and itching, the nurse administered Chlorphenamine, a form of antihistamines used as treatment for allergies. I never knew I had allergies, but I could recall suffering from shingles after getting swarmed by again, red ants at the Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur while still in school!

After two hours, the doctor told me I could go home. About that time, I saw Datuk Fauzi Omar accompanying his son at the emergency room.

"Eh, what happened to you? Fancy meeting you here!"

"Yeah la, of all places...Allergic lah Datuk...I was attacked by a colony of red ants and my whole body was itching and swelling."

Hours later, I was at Wisma TV Angkasapuri as a guest of Blog, where a number of prominent bloggers had had their 15 minutes of fame, prime time on national TV, including my ex-bosses AKJ and Rocky, Nuraina Samad, RPK and Joe Lee (klubbkidd.blogdrive.com).

I don't consider myself as a prominent blogger. I blog just to post my own thoughts on issues concerning sports. My being there was simply because the Olympics in Beijing is in full swing.

I said among other things, I did not agree with the RM1 million incentives for a gold medal, that sports is being politicised and football should set a realistic target of excelling at South East Asia only until the basics are rectified at grassroots level.

I also stated my opinion that Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said's decision to split the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Sports Institute (ISN) was a political move.


The poll indicated that 66 percent of the viewers did not agree with the RM1 million cash reward for a gold in the Olympics


Once Tan Sri Elyas Omar told me in private "Rizal, for someone who looks like a kampung boy, your English is not too bad". Thank you Tan Sri. I am a kampung boy at heart, in mind, and in appearance.

Hasshim Abu Hanifah raised several interesting issues...but some of the feedback I got was less than encouraging. They said I failed to seize the moment! Some said I did well. OK lah...little did Hasshim and others know I almost missed the moment entirely!