One day at a time. That?s the watchword for those battling other addictions, isn?t it?
But, for this Pacaholic, it?s one sentence at a time, one paragraph at a time, one column at a time.
I?ve been chastised for writing too much about Manny?oops, I almost slipped.
Almost had a relapse there. Shows you how easy it is to go right off the wagon.
Some old crabs want me to pack, oops, there I go again, I mean quit writing about a certain fighter from a certain archipelago.
I?m trying, folks, I really am. If only there was an MP (are initials permitted?) substitute like that methadone, the synthetic high, they give to heroin junkies.
But there?s not. Maybe if I focus on other boxers and other topics. Let?s see how that goes.
I feel like the music journalist who wishes to extrapolate the great career of country music legend Waylon Jennings but is told he can only write about the band called the Wailing Jennys.
I was going to reminisce about how Don King promoted the Jacksons Victory tour and took the Sullivan family, who then owned the Patriots NFL franchise, to the cleaners along the way but then I ran across this MP as MJ photo. Another topic just became taboo.
I want to write about Floyd Mayweather Jr. Can I do that without mentioning You Know Who?
I want to write about one man overcoming abject poverty but I can?t cite that guy as a living example of lifting yourself by your own bootstraps when you started out with no boots.
I want to write about athletes going into the political arena but I can?t refer to him.
I want to write about Venezuelan hurricane Edwin Valero. The tuk tuk drivers as victims angle is played out and all Valero talks about is that Filipino fellow. He can, I can?t.
I want to muse about boxing?s most accomplished trainer, Coach Freddie Roach. I guess I can discuss his work with James Toney and tiptoe around his most accomplished, most celebrated client.
Next thing you know I?ll have to refer to my Boston buddy as Freddie Bugname.
I guess I can’t write about Coach’s propular new “Fighting Fit” diet because it would require me to mention the Unmentionable One.
I guess I can’t refer to that summer haircut, that awful Schmohawk, that You Know Who just got.
I thought of writing about how Mexico is fresh out of boxing idols (particularly if Juan Ma runs second to jab and dash PBF July 18) but how could I so intelligently without mentioning how they were wiped out by That Guy from RPI?
I want to take a look at the imminent comeback of Money May but all he is asked about is Money P. Hey, come on, I didn?t use his proper name.
I want to opine on the best fighter around, pound for pound. Guess I?ll have to take a closer look at Puerto Rico?s Little Giant, Ivan ?Iron Boy? Calderon, the tiny but awesome tot who is the best around on an ounce for ounce basis. Maybe I?ve been giving ?Iron Boy? what you might call, ahem, short shrift.
I want to write more on Sugar Shane Mosley, better known lately as Johnny One Note. How come he can babble about that Kid from Gensan but I can?t? What?s with the double standard?
I now must refer to that website as CertainPinoyFighterTerritory. They won?t even let me put in the ?Land? part of the real name.
They?re extremely strict here at the MP Rehab Center.
Got go go now. It?s time for dinner here at rehab.
Now we get our one hot meal of the day.
It?s a bowl of steam.
Not very filling I know but, hey, I can use the free facial.
Maybe if I stick with this program the day will come when I will be MP free, when I will have gotten the Pinoy Idol monkey off my back.
Clean, sober and not a Pacaholic.
Then, and only then, will those Crabby Appletons be happy.
