Lin, Rubio revive teams, bolster NBA abroad

MINNEAPOLIS — One point guard has practically been a household name since he started playing professionally at 14, a lottery pick who has made the two-year wait for his flashy passes well worth it.
The other went undrafted out of Harvard and unwanted in his first two stops in the NBA before a desperate team and a desperate coach gave him the chance he needed on the game’s biggest stage.
In their own different, yet equally dynamic ways, Ricky Rubio and Jeremy Lin have put their dormant franchises on their backs and given a jolt to the NBA’s long-standing mission of bringing the game to every corner of the world.
As the first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, Lin is re-opening doors in Asia that some feared to be closing in the wake of Yao Ming’s retirement. He’s led the New York Knicks to five straight victories and has become an instant fan favorite at Madison Square Garden after Golden State and Houston both sent him packing.
Rubio is the Spanish sensation who has fans in Barcelona watching on Internet feeds in the wee hours of the morning. His infectious play has made him an instant rock star in the Twin Cities and has the Timberwolves gunning for the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Together, they give the NBA two fresh young faces to trumpet to hoops-hungry hotbeds in Asia and Western Europe.
“The world is changing,” Rubio said after his Wolves lost to Lin’s Knicks 100-98 on Saturday night. “It’s not only America, it’s not only Europe. The world is the world. It’s growing up. Everybody’s following the NBA and they love if they have some players from their cities.”
Star players from overseas or with international appeal are nothing new to the NBA, which has marketed itself globally better than the other three major American sports of football, baseball and hockey. Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki is a former MVP who won a title last year, Spain’s Pau and Marc Gasol are high-profile players and Yao helped shepherd the league into China.
But as point guards, Lin and Rubio have the ball in their hands and control of the game at all times. And while their games, backgrounds and upbringings have been nearly polar opposites, the electricity they provide serves as a tie that binds.
“Both fill up the stat sheet, both play extremely hard and both are just infectious not only in their play but their personality as well,” Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love said. “People just seem to love both of them.
“Ricky was kind of a fairy tale before he came over here and has really blossomed into a tremendous player and is only going to get better. But Lin, he really came out of nowhere.”
Lin is the scorer, having poured in 109 points in his first four starts, including 38 in a victory over the Lakers on Friday night that pushed coverage of the Super Bowl champion Giants off the back pages of the Big Apple tabloids. That’s more than any player has had in his first four starts since the NBA-ABA merger, besting Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.
“It’s been pretty surreal,” Lin said. “I’m just really trying to wake up every day and enjoy, soak it all in, but at the same time stay focused on what we’re doing, which is playing basketball games and trying to help the team win. Besides that, just really enjoying the whole experience.”
He’s become an Internet sensation, increasing his Twitter followers from fewer than 10,000 to nearly 200,000 in the week since he’s taken over the starting job. More people have mentioned him on Twitter than LeBron James and his No. 17 Knicks jersey is the league’s top seller over the last eight days.
Asian fans have flocked to watch him at viewing parties in China, at the Garden in New York and at Target Center on Saturday night, where the Lin-Rubio matchup drew the fourth-largest crowd in Timberwolves history. Lin received a loud cheer from the road crowd in pregame introductions, and Knicks center Tyson Chandler isn’t surprised.
“I think I would cheer for him if I was coming to a game,” Chandler said. “He’s the feel-good story. He gets the same thing from his teammates. You want to see a guy like him succeed.”
Most importantly, the Knicks have gone from 8-15 to 13-15 with Lin running the show, inspiring all kinds of nicknames, some more creative than others.
“Jeremy Lin is a role model!” Lakers forward Metta World Peace tweeted. “My son is black and Philippine. Asian American… He loves lincredible… Keep it up young fella!!!”
Rubio is the playmaker who is fifth in the league in assists and first in steals. With every no-look pass on the break or behind-the-back dime to Love, his popularity has grown.
Fans chant “Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!” as an homage to his European roots and a team that fell completely off the Twin Cities sporting landscape after losing 132 games over the previous two seasons has suddenly made Target Center the place to be again.
The floppy-haired 21-year-old has been a fixture on the nightly highlight shows as well with his effortless lob passes that have lifted the Timberwolves (13-15) to their best start since 2006.
“It’s different. We have different teams. But he’s doing an amazing job,” Rubio said. “Everybody can see that nobody was talking about him in the beginning and now it seems like New York is all his. He’s doing a great job and I hope the best for him.”
The Big Apple can’t get enough of Linsanity. Rubio holds the Minny-Apple in the palm of his hand. And you get the feeling this is only the beginning.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/02/13/lin-rubio-revive-teams-bolster-nba-abroad-205789

Many tourists traveling north to Baguio or Bataan make a stop at Clark Philippines to buy some bottles of fine vintage wine at Clark Wine Center, the best place to buy wine in the Philippines. Conveniently located near the Mimosa Leisure Golf Estate which has the Casino and the well known 36-hole championship golf course of Mimosa, frequently visited Clark Wine Center is a well known destination for wine loving tourists and residents of Angeles City Pampanga and Manila to be one of the best wine shops in the Philippines.

One way to relax and unwind after work is to pamper yourself to a nice dinner at one of the famous fine dining restaurants and wine bars in Angeles City and Clark Pampanga. To fully enjoy the romantic cozy dining ambience many guests first stop by the well known wine shop called Clark Wine Center located near the entrance of Clark Freeport to pick up a few bottles of fine vintage wine to bring to dinner.

Wine Shop Manila offers best luxurious beers in Philippines called Vintage Beer.
Birthday gift of wine is the most popular gift idea this year in Philippines. Yats Wine Cellars offers birthday wine gifts that are unique and certain to make the recipient very happy. These birthday wines are not available in wine shops so it is a unique bottle of wine for the recipient.

What are some of the things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga? Highly recommended by travel agents and frequent tourists is to do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Philippines Pampanga Clark Freeport is well known for its safety and security, boasting the lowest crime rates in the country. The absence of traffic and pollution also helps to position Clark Pampanga at the top of tourists’ list of destinations for vacation and get-away from Manila with families and friends. Pampanga Clark Freeport is one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines where visitors enjoy some of the finer things in life such as fine dining, beautiful resorts, golf courses and casinos. Here wine lovers get to indulge in shopping for some rare and great vintage wines, all available at their disposal at attractive prices in this famous wine shop outside of Manila in Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com