He might be branded a rebel. He might be labeled a renegade.
Or he may be regarded by some as an out of control whack job who is just jealous of the power, prestige and huge income of Michael Koncz.
I, for one, am not sure whether Timothy Sladeck’s broadside directed at Manny Pacquiao’s ubiquitous Canadian agent should be viewed as incoming fire or whether it’s part of an internecine war within the Pinoy Idol’s camp.
In 1997, Sladeck lost his law enforcement position (Los Angeles County sheriff) when he was handed a five year sentence for robbery, steroid possession and related charges. Sladeck does not try to hide his cop turned criminal background and has spoken freely about his checkered past to me and others in the Pacman periphery.
(See in depth background LA Times piece on how Sladeck’s bodybuilder obsession wrecked his personal life and led him to armed robbery and a prison stint.)
I got two emails from Sladeck concerning what he calls a “disconnect” between Bossman Pacman and loyal liege Koncz.
Longtime Pinoy journalist Ronnie Nathanielsz broke the news early Friday that, when ABS-CBN TV reporter Dyan Castillejo (a regular on the Pacman beat) quizzed Congressman Pacquiao at his political office about the move made by promoter Bob Arum which took the May 7 Sugar Shane Mosley bout to Showtime and not to HBO, the fighter was clueless.
Only then, according to Nathanielsz, did Koncz deliver and explain the US TV switcheroo to the famed boxer. Koncz emphasized the broader reach of Showtime with its sister terrestial network CBS combined.
Then came Sladeck’s attack on Koncz and his vital role as Pacman’s chief confidante.
“What makes you think that Koncz did not tell Arum that Pacquiao approved of it?
“I am telling you this Hitler is running the show behind Pacman’s back just like I predicted when it started with Roach,” Sladeck wrote.
(Some may recall Sladeck, now age 42, as the $23,000 winner of Pacman’s 2010 weight loss contest. In 20 days, Sladeck trimmed down from 214 to 165 pounds.)
Then Sladeck charged me and others who regularly write about Pacquiao as being lackeys and mere pawns for the Koncz agenda.
“Except Hitler got smart and got smart and got people in the media basically working for him now…
“Why is Koncz saying we’re happy about this and this is good for us?????
“He says he works for MP, but he must be speaking about it being good for us meaning Top Rank, because MP didn’t know about it.
“Or was he giving the illusion that MP knew about it- lying to everyone?
“Either way- this is typical.
“Mike Koncz is preventing the Mayweather fight.
“I know you love boxing and you are a fan of the sport.
“Please stay tuned to the site for what we are about to report.
“I know Mike feeds you top info, but he is Hitler and he will take down one of the best fighters if people keep giving him the power….”
Sladeck goes beyond being ridiculous comparing Adolf to Koncz but is there a simmering feud within the MP camp or is the ex-sheriff just another cranky outsider?
Inquiring minds want to know.
