Deal with it

Papa spank for The Don

Half a million pesos and a conference-long ban.

That's the price that Barako Bull Energy power forward Don Allado has to pay because he chose to run his mouth (via Twitter) while in drunken stupor. Quinito Henson of the Philippine Star tried to come to the veteran's defense in one of his columns, but no one's going to hear his or anyone's please for Allado right now.

Was the penalty too stiff? Too harsh?

Yes. In today's trying times, with the salaries that these guys are making (big but a far-cry from yesteryear's Php 500,000 a month for household PBA stars), being fined for half a million is no laughing matter. Specially for a guy like Allado who doesn't or isn't really known to have any other outlet as opposed to the L.A. Tenorios (Gatorade), Talk 'n' Text players (brand ambassadors) or the Ginebra guys who have a TV commercial every three or four months.

Allado? What team does he play for and which brand is he identified with, if any? We won't talk about his better half out of respect, but even she's out of the showbiz circulation (okay, not really sure about that since we're not big on showbiz gossip or news).

But look what Allado has caused the PBA. Under Commissioner Chito Salud, they're enjoying arguably the best years since the Jun Bernardino era. Now, this guy runs his mouth and opens a can of worms that they've been trying to bury for so long. Everyone who took the league's side is correct in saying that it was insulting-- to the league, the teams, players and fans in general who pay hard-earned money and do not want to hear smack about the games being fixed. Not when they see guys like Marc Pingris always hustling on the floor, never taking games off, and the likes of Pamboy Raymundo and Ogie Menor out to instigate melees because of how passionate they play the game.

It was disrespectful, and it hurt the league. Now, congress (because it's nearing elections) is trying its best to try and play a role in all this. See what Allado did? Even when he retracted his statements (which was a pussy move, if you're going to say something, stand by it and be a man if you really believe it else don't even bother opening your mouth-- a lesson my dad taught me the hard way years back), the damaged has been done.

So yes, Allado's punishment was a little too harsh. But he should deal with it and accept the consequences whole heartedly. Don't try and haggle or politic your way into an easier sentence and do an Arboleda-- just days after the incident. Keep quiet, get healthy, work on your game and have that great encore most veterans are robbed off during their last years in the league. From one Lasallian to another, bounce back strong and take it like a man.