What a great tabloid newspaper headline and story this would be. I can see it: now: JACKAL MAKES PHONE CALL TO THE WHITE GORILLA!
But, folks, it would a true one because Homer?and I don?t mean Homer Simpson?made it happen minutes ago. Filipino sportswriter Homer Sayson, who covers the NBA and boxing from his Chicago base, rang me up from the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and said he had a “VIF” on the phone. (I figured out later that means Very Important Filipino.)
He did and it was none other than my ?sparring partner? and Manny Pacquaio?s lawyer Franklin Jing Gacal, who is playfully referred to as ?The Jackal? although he is not that at all.
I told Gacal that I?ve put down the gloves and abandoned training for the November Manila boxing ?grudge match? we had challenged each other to. This came after Gacal objected vociferously to my Boxingconfidential.com exclusive story about a rumor that swept through the sport (even into Marco Antonio Barrera?s camp) that MP was not satisfied with his purse for Saturday night?s rematch. I never said it was true but many people, including the attorney, misconstrued that way.
My Irish temper got the best of me because Gacal labeled me “a white gorilla.” Why throw in the racial aspect? Calling me a plain gorilla would suffice. Just ask the first three wives that I monkeyed around with about all that.
There was no vitriol or insults on our phone chat. It was all ?hail fellow, well met? and like that. I wished Team Pacquaio good luck and asked about the preflight mood of both Mr. and Mrs. (Jinkee) Pacquaio.
?Everything is good,? Gacal said. ?Manny is in a fight mood and he is now ready to rumble. I think his wife is very confident as she thinks Manny will make another victory here.?
Gacal said that if Pacman fan and Filipino president ?GMA,? as Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo is nicknamed, is coming to sit at ringside he has not heard of such plans. Looks like “GMA” plans to catch it on the screen and not on the scene.
Gacal said that Pacquaio?s training being concentrated in RPI was conducive to both a good physical and mental state.
?Being at home was wonderful for him,? Gacal said. ?He is so used to the weather and the food and he likes to relax after a hard day?s training with his friends. He was able to do that. Everything was just so normal for him.?
Before we hung up, my ?rival? and I agreed to meet at the WBC Convention in Manila in mid-November and have a few ?legal cocktails? together. I told Gacal this will be my first visit to Pacland and I?m really looking forward to it.
It?s peace in the valley for the White Gorilla and the Jackal. We?re leaving the real combat to Messrs. Pacquaio and Barrera, as it should be.
