LOS ANGELES (VIA PCSO)?The Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley results shook the world. This fight taught many lessons to many people?four of whom are Pacquiao and Bradley themselves, a broadsheet columnist, whose article glued him to a controversy, and a sportswriter caught in a web of issues.
For the Filipino boxing champ, the lesson learned was that losing brings many blessings, such as the admiration and respect he earned from millions of boxing fans all over the world, the support of boxing critics and boxing greats, and the peace that comes with knowing he fought a good fight. Of course, because he has declared himself a born again Christian, it also comes with the assurance that everything that happened is God?s will in his life and that God has more beautiful plans set for him.
For the challenger, who is now the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, the lesson learned was that winning is not everything. People will still criticize you, many will doubt you deserve to win, and you will be branded as swell-headed, among many other things. It was his first time to be on the big stage, his first experience to be in the limelight, and he may soon start to realize that it is lonely at the top. Other lessons might be that you cannot please everybody and winners are given higher standards.
For Granville Ampong, whose column caused an uproar when one of his articles included Pacquiao quoting Leviticus 20:13 on his stand about same-sex marriage, the lesson learned was that forgiveness comes when you humbly ask for it. Though his column made the LA Grove ban Pacquiao from ever setting foot in its mall again, and almost made Nike pull out Pacquiao?s endorsement, the People?s Champ accepted his apology and did not file any charges against him. Another lesson would be to be extra careful and responsible especially in journalism because you will always be misquoted, misinterpreted and misunderstood.
For this writer, twice denied media credentials by Magna Media International for no given reasons, the lesson learned was in the end, I knew who my real friends?and enemies?are. I am no longer shocked that people I trusted are the ones who betrayed me.
These four men learned different lessons in these series of events, some the hard way.
The ultimate lesson learned is you win some, lose some. But winning is in the mind. And for that, I sure am a winner.
