One thing I learned early on as a sportswriter, a lesson some of today’s prominent fight scribes should realize, is that the public could care less about your everyday complaints and frustrations.
So you got jammed into a lousy coach seat, the last row by the bathroom where the chair does not recline, from Las Vegas to Newark. It was five and half hours of torture from your neck and back.
The public does not care.
The “free food” in the MGM Media Center was stale pretzels left over from an Iran Barkley bout 20 years ago and the coffee was weaker than Yuri Foreman’s right ankle after he slipped in the ring Saturday night.
The public does not give a hoot as they actually pay for their food.
So I’m scribbling this one not for page views, mind you, but just for the record. I’d be surprised if this draws 11 reader comments.
But I’m going to say it because it needs to be said.
I knew Bob Arum could be mean and vindictive but, in his refusal to speak to writers from the Oscar de la Hoya owned Ring magazine, he is being petty.
Nothing more, nothing less. Does Millionaire Arum think spurning legitimate media questions hurts Millionaire Oscar?
Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini at Friars Club in New York. Late, great rocker Warren Zevon only wrote a song about Mancini. (Top Rank, Chris Farina Photo)
When Ring scribes are getting dissed, Oscar is on the fairway at the Riviera Country Club or playing the Big Willie role on the set of the George Lopez TV program. He doesn’t lead editorial meetings at the so called Bible of Boxing.
No, it hurts only The Ring’s working stiffs, guys just trying to do their job.
If they were out to hang Arum, they wouldn’t bother to ask him questions on media conference calls.
Arum doesn’t have to extend any favors to writers whose paychecks are signed by de la Hoya but he ought to treat them in a civil manner.
Arum banning questions from The Ring is just as bad as the Floyd Mayweather camp rejecting reporters because they share Manny Pacquiao’s nationality.
As a promoter, Arum is a giant.
Giants don’t act so small.
