Lean on the counter? Pay me! Pay me one dollar for every lean. Your breath smells, stay off of the counter and don’t stand so close to me. Remember those days? Remember when everyone was walking on egg shells at Wildcard Gym?
Since the departure of former heavwyeight world champion Michael Moorer, it seems that the Wild Card Gym of old has rewinded back to normalcy.
Back are the days when the vibe of the gym is worth flying 2000 miles to visit. Back are the days where fans can get a closer look at what, and why the Wild Card Gym has reached legendary status. And they can do it without having to fork out money for leaning on a counter, a counter fine?
The days of Freddie Roach walking down one flight of stairs and walking up the next flight of stairs into the gym are over. The apartment next door where Freddie lived for years is now occupied by fight trainer Jesse Reid. Freddie has since moved into a bigger house, and deservingly so. Heck, as of a few years ago the hall of fame trainer didn’t know how to turn on a computer, let alone check email. He’s a simple man. That’s one of the many reasons Freddie Roach is so adored by his friends, and by his fans. Money has not altered Roach, he’s the same guy.
It must have been a little difficult for Roach to fire Michael Moorer, because he respects those who made a living inside of the ring. In this case, he had no choice. The old vibe of the gym under the Moorer administration was stomped out. People were walking around on egg shells, and God forbid you leaned on that front counter. Who wants to be in a gym ran like that?
The Wild Card Gym will be less Freddie Roach, and the entire Pacquiao team this go around, but nevertheless it will still be alive and kicking, and it will have the vibe of old. The vibe that makes you want to fly across the country to pay a vist there. The Wild Card is back to where it should be, fun.
