Editor?s Note: I am on the fourth or fifth day of my 21 day Twelve Step attempt to break the He Who Must Not Be Named habit. Please do not regard what you see below as a relapse or any backsliding on my part. This holiday greeting was composed BEFORE I went into He Who Must Not Be Named rehab.?MICHAEL MARLEY)
M is for the game Mexican fighters who have tried to conquer you to no avail. They have all been gracious losers and sportsmen. When I saw Marco Antonio Barrera in Cancun last Saturday night, I asked the legend who wins on March 15. MAB looked at me and smiled. ?Pacquiao will win no doubt,? Barrera said.
E is for all the excitement and thrills you have provided your worldwide following as, in almost every round of every bout, winning by KO has been your priority.
R is for your rabid fans who fill the chat rooms with keen observations, rank insults and sometimes just mindless chatter. They are Megamanny?s Millions
R is for your power punch, the right hand, which unload in lethal fashion. A sneaky southpaw you?re not but you definitely are a hard-hitting lefthander.
Y is for all the young people who have been inspired by your meteoric rise from abject poverty to your Pinoy idol status, to being what your president calls the ?National Fist.?
C is for cash as in cash money and how you continue to be underpaid. But we see your purses getting fatter and more fair. You can?t make up for being underpaid in the past but hopefully you will now rake in all you?ve got coming.
H is for hero and you?re certainly that, inside and outside the ring. You must be ever vigiliant not be distracted so that you do something which knocks you off your precarious perch as a national idol. It may seem tough but it comes with the territory.
R is for all the reasons you?ve gained such a worldwide following, one of which is I must say your public humility. Other than saying Edwin Valero fought a bunch of pedicab drivers, I don?t know of any wicked insults you?ve given to other boxers. You wear the cloak of humility well.
I is for the idiots who think you are ?afraid? of Valero, of Joan Guzman, or of any other man in the ring. And for the idiots who believe Edwin and the Dominican Dandy are afraid of you. At that top level, such world champions are only afraid of being shortchanged, not being paid properly.
S is for that smile you wear inside the ring. It?s a smile that says, I love my job. Your joy at being able to do what you do best?act as The Destroyer?shines like the lights on the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Bright, baby, bright.
T is for the tension the close proximity of one of your Megamanny Megabouts induces in your global band of followers. Pacfan fever will next start running high about March 5 as your Vegas date with Juan Ma will then be 10 days later.
M is for the maturity you have shown outside of the ring. One example of this is when you spoke publicly and advised me, the White Gorilla, and your lawyer, Franklin ?The Jackal? Gacal, to stop our petty feud and name-calling. Blessed be you the peacemaker as ?The Jackal? and I have agreed to live together amicably in the boxing jungle. When the King of Boxing Beasts speaks, his lessers must listen carefully. And we did.
A is for your awesome attitude which is Tysonesque in the sense that, in your hearts of hearts, you believe no man can beat you. I am sure you would take that into an Oscar de La Hoya superbout and/or a Ricky Hatton fight. ODLH may be too slow at this stage to beat you though his size is troubling. Your best bet would be Hatton who I know, at 140 pounds, you would thump like a drum.
S is for your serious intentions to otherwise serve your people and your country, be it as a lawyer and/or a politician. You ran and lost a congressional campaign. But, be patient, because before you know it, your days as a fighter will end. Perhaps the best form of public service which you can then provide will be to a fight promoter and a shepherd for the future Manny Pacs who will rise out of slums and poverty.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE, TO ALL AND ESPECIALLY TO HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED!
MICHAEL ?WHITE GORILLA? MARLEY
