It might have been the Two Petes, both boss sporting scribes and both guys with a twisted sense of humor.
I speak of Peter Bonventre, a prime force at Newsweek and then Inside Sports before he saddled up with me at Howard Cosell’s ABC SportsBeat program, and of the legendary writer/bon vivant/racetrack habitue Pete Axthelm.
I think it was the pair of Pietros who came up with “You Never Had It So Good, Inc.”
The idea, in a nutshell, was when a pal got dumped by a lady, who he had treated royally, that his pals would then rush to date her. They would act like absolute boors and misognyistic misfits.
They would show up late for dates, ask the woman to always pay the check and get blotto and display wandering eyes for other women.
The genius idea was the ex-GF would wise up and seek a rematch with the guy she dumped, realizing he was not so bad.
Sugar Ray Leonard gave this sort of lousy treatment to panting suitor Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1982 and I’m wondering if Floyd Killjoy Mayweather will do the same to panting suitor Manny Pacquaio before 5 pm Friday.
Leonard actually threw a self-congratulatory “Night With Ray Leonard” at the Baltimore Civic Center and invited Hagler as his special guest. Having recovered from laser treatment for a detached retina, everyone knew Leonard could and might fight onward.
Michael Marley was stunned when he heard Sugar Ray Leonard tell special. invited guest Marvelous Marvin Hagler their Super Fight would earn “Fort Knox money” but then added, “unfortunately, it will never happen.” Leonard’s fake retirement took place in packed Baltimore Civic Center in 1982.
I flew down in a private plane from Teterboro, NJ, with Howard Cosell, Bonventre and I think Alex Wallau (now president of the ABC network was with us). Cosell introduced Leonard, as I recall, and they sat in a boxing ring.
Hagler was in a ringside pew, looking for his nod as the Big Bout foe. Instead, he got a slap in the face.
?A fight between me and this man would make more money than Fort Knox…” Leonard said, letting his words hang dramatically in the air.
?? Unfortunately, it?ll never happen! Thank you and God Bless you all!?
Leonard was just teasing as he eventually fought and “decisioned” Marvy Marv after his man, Mike Trainer, played Slick Rick and got the Hagler camp to concede 12 instead of 15 rounds, a bigger and not a smaller ring and heavier rather than lighter weight gloves.
It’s still the worst Big Figh decision of my lifetime.
But what rude dude Leonard did to Hagler Mayweather may do to Pacquiao.
Difference is Manny’s face will get slapped at long distance with him in Manila and L’il Floyd in Las Vegas.
Stay tuned.
