You know the headline was a fan fooler to some.
The subject was “Manny.”
The topic was being nabbed using illegal drugs.
The punchline was “Manny” announcing a forced retirement from a sport in which he was a dominant superstar.
Maybe some Pacquiao haters, and they are still legion, got tricked.
But the bad news about Manny’s act of stupidity and the inglorious end to a glorious career caused no stir in the Philippines.
Baseball does not mean much in that country and the “Manny” was ring god Pacquiao but was former Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez.
While at spring training with his new team, Tampa Bay, Ramirez (who departed Cleveland for Boston and then Boston for the Los Angeles Dodgers) was tested and found to be positive for a banned substance.
They say this was Ramirez’s THIRD failed drug test as in strike THREE, yer out of there. Despite 555 career home runs and a .312 batting average, all his offensive heroics, some are now labeling him a “coward and a cheat.”
When Major League Baseball so advised the superstar from the Dominican Republic (who grew up a couple of miles from the White Gorilla’s world HQs, in nearby Washington Heights, Ramirez decided to pack it in, to quit the sport which has made him a very rich young man.
Some are already just brushing it with the standard line used whenever this outfielder did something goofy or idiotic.
“It’s just Manny being Manny.”
Maybe it should rather be said that this was “Manny-fest destiny.”
It wasn’t “our Manny,” fight fans and enlisted and drafted Pacquiao Worldwide Army (PWA) soldiers wherever you are.
You know why it wasn’t, why it will never be?
Because Boxing Manny is smarter than the average bear.
Because Baseball Manny, who once attacked a Red Sox traveling secretary twice his age, was never the brightest lamp in the library.
Now Baseball Manny has left his sport with a negative cloud over his head. I’m sure some Hall Of Fame voters will hold this against him when his name is on the ballot for Cooperstown but, make no mistake, Baseball Manny still belongs in the sport’s shrine.
Evidently, Baseball Manny knows only how to be “Manny being Manny” which is the equivalent of being a total Bozo.
Boxing Manny knows.
He knows titles.
He knows drug testing.
He knows how to pass drug tests.
I don’t know if Boxing Manny cheats and neither do you.
We’ll never know, for sure, is Boxing Manny is completely clean although most of us would like to think so.
But Boxing Manny knows.
And Baseball Manny goes.
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It’s one of those recurring rumors bound to spring up.
With a 46 year old Bernard Hopkins still fighting at the world title level and with an almost 40 Sugar Shane Mosley less than a month away from a huge Pacman payday and perhaps a terrific beating, it’s only natural that undefeated, longtime super middleweight ruler Joe Calzaghe would be thinking comeback.
Sure, maybe he can’t get back to 168 pounds. If he does return I’m sure it will be as a light heavyweight.
But the Welsh Dragon would be welcomed back.
In his last three bouts, he outpointed a feisty Mikkel Kessler, won a split duke over BHop and then handily decisioned faded legend Roy Jones.
I’m sure it hasn’t escaped Joe’s attention that Jones is awaiting a payday in Russia.
Just like Calzaghe knows he would take current British star Carl Froch to school if they fought.
Calzaghe, who turned 39 on March 23, is said to training like a boxer.
He’s all done with his dance show adventure.
I say Calzgahe dances back into the ring before 2011 is finished.
It would be deliciously ironic if the “retired” Calzaghe fights this calendar year and the “not retired” Floyd Mayweather remains idle.
Which reminds me, wouldn’t you have loved to those two match their skills?
I know I would have even though it’s only one of those fantasy fights.
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I’ve tucked this shocker down low in this Friday column.
But, for the little it’s worth, I’m going with Erik Morales, Last Man To Beat Pacquiao, to spring a big upset Saturday night.
I think Argentine Hard Man Marcos Maidana is a formidable guy but I don’t see much in him besides an iron chin and a wicked punch.
Razor sharp Freddie Roach disagrees with my assessment and just told Kevin Iole of Yahoo that he would have loved to have taken over as Maidana’s trainer.
Maybe Coach Roach still can do that after Mexican icon Morales summons up his strenth and skills to outpoint Maidana in Las Vegas.
Morales on a close call, maybe a split decision which will be hotly debated.
“El Terrible” will get to the finish line standing up after withstanding a brutal early round assault.
If he has nothing else left, the former Pride of Mexico will show his pride.
Now I’m getting sentimental but…remember, I’m just picking Morales, not betting on him.
I’m reminded of the old Damon Runyon wisecrack about the race not always going to the strong and to the swift but, as Runyon noted, that is the way to bet.
