WHILE the whole world has been paying tribute to the greatest boxer of all time for winning eight divisions in almost three decades, there are doomsayers or doubters in the media that claim Pacquiao can’t even be compared to Kobe Bryant or Roger Federer.
Recently, a writer in Inquirer claimed that Pacman was finished when the Pambansang Kamao announced his retirement. Instead of being objective and writing proper articles for his candidate or candidates, he belittled the rare achievement of the only Filipino, aside from lifter Hidilyn Diaz, that can really unite the Filipino people whenever he fights for God and country.
Shame on you for even comparing Pacquiao with his good friend, the late Kobe and the tennis icon who never gets old, Roger Federer. I know, because I still play tennis every other day when I’m in Bacolod and picked up the game when I was only 9 years old.
My late father Jesus was a national tennis junior champion during his heydays beating even the legendary Felicisimo “Totoy” Ampon. Aside from being an Asian Games (known before as Far Eastern Games) national baseball player too. I know because I was the one who introduced the late Kobe to Pacman in the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony and still remember how LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and the Dream Team all idolized and requested pictures with Pacman.
I was ecstatic at the sight. Same with the Boston Celtics who went to Pacman’s dressing room after his fight with Margarito Cotto. Remember how Kobe also stopped the game in Araneta Smart Arena between the NBA stars and PBA wannabes when he saw Pacquiao enter the sideline during the middle of the game while the ball was still on play? Yes, this is how legends respect their peers. And if you only have respect for your presidential candidate, please stop writing about Pacman or sports.
You live in a different world, man. I use to idolize Muhammad Ali too when I was a champion boxer in the very first boxing tournament in De La Salle Taft, but never in my wildest dreams did I realize that a Filipino would soon capture the imagination of the world. Cassius Clay was only good for one division, heavyweight. Same with Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao had eight and the only one in history for the books. Nobody else. We’re all lucky in this present age to see a Pinoy legend in our lifetime.
There will never be another world champion like Manny Pacquiao. Or your readers will presume you’re also in the payroll of Malacanang. Davao mafia are the only Pinoys who were praying for Pacman to lose the last fight to Ugas. But win or lose, God’s gifted boxer might just boot them out of the Palace.
