Famed boxing analyst and radio host Rich Marrota looked me straight in the eye and said ?Hi.? I knew at once ?I was in the right place, I belonged.? — Dan Hernandez
I left from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, at 9:30 AM on Saturday, October 6, 2007. My destination was the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort, my purpose, to view the fight card starring Manny Pacquiao, defending his International Super Featherweight Championship against former titleholder and future boxing Hall of Fame resident, Marco Antonio Barrera. It was worth driving the five hours. I had a great time? As previously reported, Pacquiao won in a decisive 12 round contest; however, the journey prior to the fight is my focus with this article.
Having experienced boxing events as a fan since I was a child was really no preparation for attending as a member of the press. When my Managing Editor Geno McGahee stated that I was approved to go to the fight but wasn?t sure exactly where I was to pick up my media credentials, and told me to, ?just ask.? I was struck with terror. The fear of the unknown had gotten to me.
My fears were unfounded. After I fumbled about for the word for writers, press, media, etc., a very nice, very patient attendant said, ?Do you need to get your credentials?? I responded affirmatively and was pointed in the right direction. I gave my name to a person at the desk and showed my identification. She said, ?Here you are.? Checking a typed roster where my name was written as a last minute inclusion. She then told me to stand at another desk (bar) and check in. They would take my picture, since I had never covered a fight at this locale before, and provide me with my credentials. They could probably tell that I had never covered any fight before.
As I entered the Events Center, my credentials, which were proudly worn around my neck, were observed by the people taking the tickets. They said, ?Welcome, have a good time.? I mustered enough confidence to request, ?Where can I go with this pass?? I was told, ?Anywhere.? Wow, anywhere. What does that mean? There were seat assignments. I chose to start there.
The usher escorted me to my seat. I told her that some other name was on the back of the seat. She said, ?Don?t worry about it. It?s the correct seat? It was not consequential at that time since the entire arena was fairly empty, it was only 3 PM! Since I could go anywhere, I wandered around the Center and saw quite a few snack bars and the Tecate girls. Somehow, anywhere was not anything special. I could do this without a pass. I observed the first preliminary at 4 PM. An entertaining fight that I was pleasantly surprised started so early.
Feeling a little adventurous, I walked around a bit and asked an official looking person what anywhere meant. She said that I should speak with Jimmy. I did and Jimmy took me away from the maddening crowd into an elevator down to the bottom floor and the ?media room.? Jimmy looked at me as if to say, ?Go play,? and said, ?There it is? and left. Slowly I entered an area heretofore unbeknownst to me and treaded softly.
There was a whir of word processors and computers and seemingly more people here than in the arena up to that point. Suddenly, 3 feet in front of me speaking to a couple of people he seemed to know, HBO commentator, Larry Merchant was holding court. He was not super imposed or on tape?he was just one of the guys, except he was in a tux. A few minutes later, Rich Marotta, famed boxing analyst and radio host, strolled through the room. He looked me straight in the eye and said, ?Hi.? I knew at once that I was in the right place. I belonged.
Getting comfortable, I traveled up and down that special elevator to the media room, then to the photographers special area and back. Anywhere had become larger in scope and I liked it. The elevator could be self-operated but they had a young lady greeting people and pushing the right buttons. I asked her if she was able to view any of the events and she said: ?no, but I see everyone.? She also owned up to the fact that after doing that all evening she would become a little stir crazy. Still it was fun and she met a lot of nice people. She also told me that she had been a ?ring girl? in California and that she was very thin at that time because ?the crowds were ruthless and booed you if you jiggled in the wrong places even a little bit.? A distinguished looking gentleman traveling the elevator with me looked a little frazzled, laughed and said: ?When your wife is an important member of the boxing commission, she gets the best seats and forgets about him.? I wished him well in correcting that situation.
A man came in and said it was his name on my seat and his assigned numbers took precedence. The usher said take the seat behind the one that I had and ?don?t worry about it?
I ate a hot dog to appease my hunger and temporary confusion when a fellow credentialed person asked: ?Why don?t you eat in the media room?? I promptly went back to get my just desserts. Literally.
Sitting at a table surrounded by my bounty of good food, a pleasant man sat at the table with me and introduced himself. Being the experienced writer that I am, I neglected to write his name on my notepad; however I do remember that he is a writer for a Las Vegas newspaper. A friendly gentleman came to the table and joined us. At least he spoke to me and my new unnamed friend as if we were connected. He was unhappy that his fighter was unable to begin her pro debut on this card as planned. The opponent had come in quite heavy and did not seem prepared to fight.
Enjoying my meal and the conversation I lost concentration as this beautiful, statuesque woman walked in the room. When she sat at our table, I thought it must be my smile that brought her over. It turns out that the personable man was her manager and she knew the sportswriter and they were trying to set up an interview. This young lady was Ana Julaton a 5?5? female boxer, out of Alameda, California and current San Francisco Golden Glove champion at 126 pounds.
I also attended the post-fight interview where Oscar De La Hoya, Bob Arum, Manny Pacquaio, Marco Antonio Barrera and the winners of the evening?s fights took their well-deserved bows. I am particularly grateful to RSR to allow me to get my feet wet at such an auspicious event.
