The question popped up on the Pacland chat board as to whether Megamanny Manny Pacquiao could handle himself one-on-one with ?Tonight Show? host Jay Leno. It’s funny because I was pondering the point in my own head just the other day.
The answer is yes and no doubt!
Here?s my two centavos on this small but intriguing topic: Manny Pacquiao is certainly proficient enough in English to come off well on the popular, national late night show.
I?ve conducted on-cameras interviews with MP and even when I threw him a minor curveball, asking about the NBA, he handled it adroitly, plugging his favorite team, the Lakers. (I?m hoping to get Pacman to switch to Celtic green by giving him a Kevin Garnett jersey.)
Also, from my five years as Executive VP of publicity for Don King Productions, I know how Leno, David Letterman and Conan O?Brien all handle their interviews. A handler for the guest speaks to the assigned producer and they discuss what questions the host will ask on camera. No guest is there to be surprised or embarrassed.
Maybe, in a twist, Manny can give a shout out in Tagalog and ask lantern-jawed Leno to translate it. Lumia Leno, oh yeah!
In Leno?s case, when I brought Hurricane Peter McNeeley to his show, the star came to the ?green room? and chatted briefly with the fighter. So there was plenty of pre-show prep before the camera?s red lights went on. Of course, Hurricane Peter did not really ensnare Michael Tyson in his ?cocoon of horror? but that?s another story.
Permit me one more boxer/TV personality tale because this one is amusing.
Oliver ?Atomic Bull? McCall had taken the WBC heavyweight title away from Lennox Lewis. King assigned me to take McCall to a Super Bowl game in Miami. We got tickets and headed to Joe Robbie Stadium.
ABC had a celebrity/VIP hospitality tent and I tried to get us in. Ollie had the green and gold WBC belt around his waist, using a title belt as a real belt. And it did hold up his pants.
While one silly security gurard went to check if we were on the list, his black colleague said, ?Hey, it?s the champ, go right in man!?
Once inside, McCall saw Ted Koppel, the erudite ?Nightline? host from ABC. He asked me if I could introduce him. I said sure, why not.
I made the brief into and Koppel was gracious, saying, ?Congratulations, champ, that was some big knockout!?
Oliver said thanks and then said, ?You?re a little motherfucker. You look a lot bigger on that TV screen, my man.?
The diminutive Koppel smiled or blushed and I ran as far as I could.
Memo to Golden Boy/Top Rank: we better see Megamanny and Leno sparring before the Juan Manuel Marquez fight in Las Vegas March 15.
