I READ in the papers that it’s ABS-CBN and not Solar Sports that will air Manny Pacquiao’s next fight. I also read that Manny Pacquiao will now promote his next fight himself, having reportedly fired his US promoter, Gary Shaw.
If all that is true, well, what can I say?
Nothing’s new there.
Old crap.
New faces, new facts.
New players, new fakers.
In short, what else is new?
It happens all the time, didn’t I tell you?
How many managers has Manny Pacquiao dumped? Three? Four? Well, there’s Polding Correa and Bebot Elorde. You want some more? Rod Nazario. Murad Muhammad.
In boxing, the guy next to you can go anytime. Hardly do you see lasting friendships here. Emotions are non-existent, only egos. Only in the movies can you see such things, such poignant scenes, happening, as in the films “The Cinderalla Man” and “A Million Dollar Baby.”
In boxing, anything can happen. What’s said now, what’s agreed upon today can change in a day or two. There’s nothing solid in boxing, only the color of money. It is only in this sport that relationships and agreements are shattered faster than Olympic swim records.
In boxing, enemies you sleep with are a dime a dozen. They crawl like rats in the dark, attacking with ferocity at the slightest opportunity. Or have you forgotten what Jimmy Cannon said: “Boxing is the red light district of sports.”
Boxers are a special breed in that they change managers faster than Maria Sharapova changes clothes.
Pacquiao dumping Correa for Nazario and, later, dropping Nazario for an American oddly named Shelley Finkel.
Z Gorres leaving his discoverer, protector and “father,” Rudy Salud, after just one trip to America.
Prince Gabi deserting Gov. Pi?ol, his benefactor for years, for yet another American manager.
And yes, who can forget Luisito Espinosa going to Joe Koizumi after being with Hermie Rivera since his teenage days?
And now this, Pacquiao brushing aside Solar Sports, which had aired his last four fights, in favor of ABS-CBN.
Oh, well, don’t tell me it isn’t true. It’s true because boxing is not totally peopled by heroes but more by pimps.
And I’m just being honest when I say that.
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KEEP ON PUNCHIN’, RUDY. Am I glad Rudy Salud, the most colorful PBA commissioner since Leo Prieto, is fast recovering from a seven-hour heart surgery a while back. Twice he has been confined at the ICU. Thank God Rudy is now out of danger and is recuperating at home. See you soon, Pareng Mama? I miss our coffee sessions at Dulcinea along T. Morato Avenue in Quezon City.
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I’m looking forward to covering the 7th Jaguar/Land Rover Golf Invitation at Sta. Elena on March 15-17. The tournament is unique in that it is the only golf invitational in the country that runs for three days, and ranks among its participants some of the most prominent and accomplished personalities in Philippine society.
I look forward to meeting again Willie Soong, Mr. Jaguarman himself who’s the brains behind the event (who else?). Willie has always been a delight to be with, not only on the fairways but off it, for his wit and charisma and conversations filled with warmth.
Look what awaits the team champion in this tournament: A stint in the 23rd Jaguar World Golf Finals in Gleneagles, Scotland, on June 11-16, 2006, where they will compete against other champion teams from the various Jaguar dealerships around the world.
I’m buying a lotto ticket now. I need a Jaguar to qualify me to join the tournament.
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FASTBREAK. Belated happy birthday (yesterday, March 8) to Robert “The Big J” Jaworski and Dr. Filemon del Carmen. Who doesn’t know The Big J? Dr. Del Carmen is the 83-year-old father of Daboy, my esteemed dentist-golfmate. Cheers!
