THERE’S the danger of Manny Pacquiao finding himself in a serious legal bind if matters are not straightened out.
When I read an article in the sports pages saying that ABS-CBN had the rights to the third Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight, which will be staged in Las Vegas on Nov. 18, I wondered if quiet renegotiations had occurred between the two boxers.
That’s because I know for a fact that Solar Sports had signed a contract with Top Rank promotions for the right to televise the next Pacquiao-Morales fight.
Curious, I immediately called a top Solar executive to ask if they had sold the rights to ABS-CBN. If they did, I was ready to tell him that it was a very bad business move, considering the overwhelming financial potential of the event.
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The Solar executive said they had not resorted to such an unsound move. He claimed the contract with Top Rank is still intact and valid, and his company intends to honor the deal.
He said he was very surprised when he read that ABS-CBN was going to air the much-awaited Pacquiao-Morales Part 3.
Upon investigation, I learned this was what happened: When Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP) signed a contract with ABS-CBN, they included a clause which gave the giant network the right of first refusal to the next Pacquiao fight.
It so happened that the next event was Pacquiao’s second rematch with El Terrible Morales, to which Solar had already inked an agreement with Top Rank for the rights to air.
Was it an oversight on the part of MPP, or was the promotions outfit not aware of the existing contract between Solar and Top Rank?
I couldn’t tell for sure. Neither can the exec. I hope MPP Inc. would come up with a clarification soon.
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Purefoods cager Eugene Tejada is definitely on the road to recovery, but his father Danny said his appeal to the Games and Amusements Board will not be withdrawn.
“This is not for Eugene anymore. This is for the cagers who might suffer the same consequence, as my son had, in the future,” Danny said.
The Tejadas wrote a letter to the GAB seeking an investigation of the Mother’s Day incident at the Ynares Centre, and asking why an ambulance was not on standby for such an emergency.
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No wonder, the Purefoods Chunkee Giants are looking like glamour boys these days. Philippine Basketball Association governor Rene Pardo revealed the secret: a beauty and grooming program!
“Most of these guys — including their wives — are under the care of David’s Salon as well as cosmetic surgeon and skin specialist Dr. Vicki Belo.
Mang Pards gave me a complete list of the makeover subjects, but I lost my little pink notebook and can only remember four: Kerby Raymundo, Paul Artadi, Richard Yee and coach Ryan Gregorio.
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A group of past, present and future PBA coaches led by Sta. Lucia mentor Alfrancis Chua flew to Cebu last weekend on the invitation of MVBA (Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association) organizer Yayoy Alcoseba, to conduct a coaches’ clinic.
Attended by 35 coaches from the Visayas and Mindanao, the clinic focused on drills, scouting, player motivation and psychological preparation, areas which needed improvement, according to Lhuillier’s Willie Generalao.
Willie expects the result of the seminar to show when the next MVBA tournament opens on Sept. 23 in Cagayan de Oro. The event is being hosted by Cagayan de Oro Gov. Oscar Moreno.
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HOOPVINE: Congratulations to the new set of PBA board officers for 2006-07. In the order of succession, Talk ‘N Text governor Ricky Vargas, last year’s vice, succeeded outgoing chair Ely Capacio of San Miguel Beer, while Red Bull’s Tony Chua and Air21’s Lito Alvarez were installed as vice chair and treasurer respectively… The first board meeting under Ricky’s reign will be held in Macau, hosted by Welcoat’s Raymond Yu and Terry Que… Our condolences to former MBA commissioner Butch Antonio whose father Severino passed away recently.
