LAS VEGAS–It started right after 9/11 in New York. It?s being said now in the wake of the Mumbai disaster.
You know, if you don?t travel to Mumbai, then the terrorists win. If you stay in your house and do not freely move about in public, then the terrorists win. If you don?t go to the shopping mall, then the terrorists win.
I?m not comparing the horror of 9/11 or of India?s vibrant financial and entertainment metropolis to a silly prize fight. Not for a millisecond.
But I do want to use the line of thinking to explain why, if certain things occur, then Manny Pacquaio, who can be a tiny terrorist in the ring, has won.
If?
Manny Pacquaio makes it through the fifth round against Oscar, then he has won regardless of the eventual outcome of the bout.
Pacman answers the opening bell, then he and wicked good (a Boston expression) trainer Freddie Roach have won. Roach has done more to hype this contrived circus than anyone.
Manny can bruise or cut the going-on-36 De La Hoya, then the comparative midget has won. As far as bruising the Pretty Golden Boy, light hitter Stevie Forbes accomplished that.
The Mexican fans boo Oscar, or a large segment of them do or flip the idol the bird, then Manny has won a moral victory. I dare say the second bravest Pinoy alive would not publicly boo the National Fist. (MP being the bravest.)
Manny can win even a single round in this physical mismatch, then he has won.
Pacquiao can last the full 36 minutes and go 12 rounds, it?s a huge victory no matter what those scorecards read.
Pacman visibly wobbles Oscar or, perish the thought, knocks him on his duff, then the Pinoy Idol has achieved a victory of sorts.
Pacman can actually win the bout, by any means necessary, they should enshrine him in the Boxing Hall Of Fame as soon as Monday.
When Manny gets paid, he has won a career high purse about the equivalent of fighting tough nut Humberto Soto about four times. Again, Manny will have won big-time.
This is like ring roulette for Manny. He can win on the red, the black or any of the numbers.
Only way he really loses (except financially) is completely crapping out if I may mix one Vegas game of chance with another.
What about Oscar? Yeah, he will grand 67 percent of all the dough.
But the only way Oscar ?wins? if he completely and thoroughly dominates Pacman from the first ding to the final dong.
I see many scenarios but I can?t see that.
Can you?
I?m like comedian Steven Wright (another Boston bad boy).
I?m a visionary but it?s peripheral. I can see the future but only to the side.
