IT WAS QUITE easy saying nice things about Freddie Roach, the famous trainer of Manny Pacquiao.
For years, everybody was wholeheartedly convinced that Roach was the best thing that ever happened to Pacquiao.
Not anymore.
This happy unanimity was instantly altered after news broke out that Roach was being lined up as Pacquiao’s next manager.
Yes, there were self-styled experts who had readily approved of Roach’s reported impending appointment as Pacquiao’s trainer-manager.
However, there were the doubting Thomases who were quicker to warn that Roach was bound to bungle his new job.
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Why? There’s a whole world of difference between training and managing a celebrated boxer, said one urgent advice.
Of course, the few who would readily reject Roach as Pacquiao’s next manager also had the best of intentions.
We all wanted the best for the Pacman, mainly in this period when he’s preparing for what promises to be his toughest career test.
However, despite this, there also came the suggestion that, this time out, Roach had a bigger ulterior motive in trying to move in as Pacquiao’s manager.
“Do remember that, other than his usual cut as trainer, Roach was also asking for 25 percent from Pacquiao’s purse,” a concerned adviser warned.
Wow. If true, this claim could only mean Roach was no better than those hangers-on who had pretended to help Pacquiao — but actually ended up helping themselves to the celebrated boxer’s millions.
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Anyway, for the record, we stated in a previous column that Pacquiao could have finally found the missing link in his career.
We noted that, if Pacquiao has indeed decided to let Roach also work as his manager, this could finally stop the recurring managerial troubles for the celebrated Filipino warrior.
For one, who could question the sincerity, sacrifices — not to mention the track record — of Roach?
And, we said, isn’t it about time Pacquiao rewarded himself with a better, truly tested manager who, in the first place, has cared and treated him like his own son?
Not too fast, hold it, we were warned.
Our songs of praise, the alleluiahs (for Roach), we were told, could be a big mistake.
In the first place, it was stressed, Roach has no past managerial experience whatsoever.
He did take over the career of Diosdado Gabi, but that was no vouch he could be any good in this new job he has chosen.
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Well, they have a point there. Even a great trainer could prove to be a big flop once he’s left to manage a celebrated boxer.
But despite the rejection, our vote for Pacquiao’s next manager has remained steadfastly for Freddie Roach.
We had seen him work his butt out just to share his genius with Pacquiao, in the process molding the brave but shallow warrior into a prizefight masterpiece.
Yes, all those who had bothered to look close enough cannot deny how much Roach would give of himself just to have Pacquiao work the punch mitts, repeatedly catching the terrible impact of the killer blows from one of the sport’s hardest hitters.
But that’s just one small area in a wide field of concern and involvement that has led us to vote for Roach as Pacquiao’s next manager.
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Now, sorry to report this, but Roach was just too good to be true.
Saying Pacquiao was old and mature enough to manage his own career, Roach rejected the impending appointment as manager.
“I’m just content being the trainer, but Manny can always come to me and I will guide him in the right direction,” Roach declared.
Pacquiao could go on and kick out more greedy members of his bloated retinue.
But not Roach. If ever, it should be the other way around — Pacquiao getting fired by Roach.
In fact, Roach has already opted to fire himself before they could formally install him as manager.
End of debate. Stop the straw vote. Resume the songs of praise.
