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A Message to Floyd Sr. and Floyd Jr. By Jeff Mayweather
A Message to Floyd Sr. and Floyd Jr.; Stop and Think Before it's Too Late
By Jeff Mayweather (Nov 25, 2006) Photo © Mary Ann Owen
Once again I feel it's my duty to step up and be the man I feel my brother and nephew should be. I have been reading all these horrible and distasteful articles and I'm reaching out -again- to these two people that I care for and love immensely. Since the Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Oscar de la Hoya fight was made, it has brought out the absolute worst in both Floyds.
To be honest, there are no real losers financially in this fight, so why not just let it be business and not a mud-slinging contest like you're running against one another, like in some race for political office.
I'm not passing judgment on my nephew, simply words of wisdom...
Floyd Jr., as a father yourself, you need to set a better example for your children than your very own actions against your Dad. How would you feel if your children did to you the same exact thing you are doing to your father, (karma). Would you be hurt or confused as to why this has happened? In such a case, you shouldn't be upset, because they will have learned that behavior from you, their father. What will be your response if your own son said to you, "Dad you did the same thing with your Dad, so it can't be wrong."
The sad part is that one day these children will read all this bad publicity, and they will be old enough to understand, and because of your actions you will turn them against the man that gave you life and is also their grandfather. They will never
know the true meaning of his existence in your life; because you're upset with him your children will miss out on sharing precious moments with their grandfather.
I must tell you that neither one of you looks good in this situation. There is a song that immediately comes to mind, "Cat's In the Cradle." Anyone that knows this song knows exactly what it tells, its message. Take a look back in time, as well as into the future, and ask yourselves, where will this nonsense lead?
Floyd Jr., can you remember the time when you and your Dad were inseparable and started out on a mission together where money was never an issue, only the goal you shared, which was to take the boxing world by storm and make a lasting impression, one so strong and unique that both of your names would be remembered forever in the annals of boxing history? (Not for one of the worst father and son's relationship to ever grace -or should I say disgrace- the sport of boxing).
Floyd Jr., you once said that once your father was released from prison he would never again have to eat beans, it would be steak from then on. Those words that once rang so loud and strong, no longer have any meaning at all.
Floyd Sr., please don't wear your emotions on your sleeve for the entire world to see. Don't let the media bait you into some negative response about your son and how you feel disrespected by his ways, and don't take it to heart as though you're talking about the enemy and not your own son, the child you passed your boxing knowledge on to, which has put him in the position where he is today. You don't have to remind everyone of that fact, because the Boxing world knows. Everyone already knows Floyd Jr.'s story, and no matter how he tries to display it, he just can't disassociate himself from you.
Floyd Jr. and Floyd Sr., there was a time when you needed each other so badly that your need for one another is the reason you both are here today. Otherwise all this talk and hype, success, the praise, and all that goes with being successful, could very well have never happened. When a ******* was drawn on your Dad at point-blank range, pointed at his chest, the only thing that saved your Dad was the fact that he took a chance not only with his life but yours as well. When told to put his son the ground, Floyd Sr. had the courage to say he was willing to sacrifice all that you meant to him and was ready to give his life willingly. While staring death in the face, while he looked into the perpetrator's eyes, he said, "You will have to kill us both!!!" He then received a ******* blast to his leg instead and almost lost the limb in the process.
I'm sure you can still remember the many days you went to the hospital and saw your father lying in a hospital bed with his legs screwed together in order for the muscles from one leg to create muscles for the weaker and wounded leg. The countless skin grasps that were necessary before he could walk again. Have you forgotten?
Can you both remember how it felt that day when all the dreams and hard work paid off, when Floyd Jr. won his very first Championship over Genaro Hernandez? I certainly do, and it brought tears to my eyes. It was as though everything you guys had dreamed of had finally arrived, and the skies were the limit. Are those moments in time going to be the only precious moments you two will have for the rest of your days on this earth?
In reality, one day, one of you will pass on. You, as a son, will you even attend your father's funeral? And you, as a father, will you attend you son's funeral? And if you do, please don't shed a tear because once a person is gone, they are gone forever; there are no more second chances to right whatever was wrong right here on earth.
The time is now, because tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. Neither one of you can tell me you have so much resentment that it doesn't matter. They say money is the root of all evil, please don't let it destroy you and the legacy you created together; not one person did it, we all had a part in creating what is now considered the Mayweather Legacy. Myself and Roger, and the entire Mayweather family included, we all had a hand in helping Floyd Jr. become the fighter he is today, no matter how small that part may have been.
Our family could be one of the most powerful families in the history of boxing if we could just let our guards down and joined forces to uplift our name. We need to stop using the famous shoulder roll when it comes to dealing with the issues that confront and hurt us.
I hope that one day we can all get together and sit down over dinner; we don't even have to talk about boxing, just talk about better days. I'm sure it would warm everyone's heart, even if it's just for that one day. Let's have one day together as a family. I feel we owe that much to my Mother before she passes on, she is the matriarch of the family and I'm sure before she leaves us she would have a smile on her face that no amount of money could ever bring.
Life is too short. Don't be afraid to say something nice every once in a while. I was once told that if you don't have anything nice to say, it's best to say nothing at all.
My plea to you both is to stop and think before it's too late...
This article was provided by our good friend Elisa Harrison of BraggingRightsCorner.com. For more of Jeff Mayweather's archives, please visit www.BraggingRightsCorner.com.
By Jeff Mayweather (Nov 25, 2006) Photo © Mary Ann Owen
Once again I feel it's my duty to step up and be the man I feel my brother and nephew should be. I have been reading all these horrible and distasteful articles and I'm reaching out -again- to these two people that I care for and love immensely. Since the Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Oscar de la Hoya fight was made, it has brought out the absolute worst in both Floyds.
To be honest, there are no real losers financially in this fight, so why not just let it be business and not a mud-slinging contest like you're running against one another, like in some race for political office.
I'm not passing judgment on my nephew, simply words of wisdom...
Floyd Jr., as a father yourself, you need to set a better example for your children than your very own actions against your Dad. How would you feel if your children did to you the same exact thing you are doing to your father, (karma). Would you be hurt or confused as to why this has happened? In such a case, you shouldn't be upset, because they will have learned that behavior from you, their father. What will be your response if your own son said to you, "Dad you did the same thing with your Dad, so it can't be wrong."
The sad part is that one day these children will read all this bad publicity, and they will be old enough to understand, and because of your actions you will turn them against the man that gave you life and is also their grandfather. They will never
know the true meaning of his existence in your life; because you're upset with him your children will miss out on sharing precious moments with their grandfather.
I must tell you that neither one of you looks good in this situation. There is a song that immediately comes to mind, "Cat's In the Cradle." Anyone that knows this song knows exactly what it tells, its message. Take a look back in time, as well as into the future, and ask yourselves, where will this nonsense lead?
Floyd Jr., can you remember the time when you and your Dad were inseparable and started out on a mission together where money was never an issue, only the goal you shared, which was to take the boxing world by storm and make a lasting impression, one so strong and unique that both of your names would be remembered forever in the annals of boxing history? (Not for one of the worst father and son's relationship to ever grace -or should I say disgrace- the sport of boxing).
Floyd Jr., you once said that once your father was released from prison he would never again have to eat beans, it would be steak from then on. Those words that once rang so loud and strong, no longer have any meaning at all.
Floyd Sr., please don't wear your emotions on your sleeve for the entire world to see. Don't let the media bait you into some negative response about your son and how you feel disrespected by his ways, and don't take it to heart as though you're talking about the enemy and not your own son, the child you passed your boxing knowledge on to, which has put him in the position where he is today. You don't have to remind everyone of that fact, because the Boxing world knows. Everyone already knows Floyd Jr.'s story, and no matter how he tries to display it, he just can't disassociate himself from you.
Floyd Jr. and Floyd Sr., there was a time when you needed each other so badly that your need for one another is the reason you both are here today. Otherwise all this talk and hype, success, the praise, and all that goes with being successful, could very well have never happened. When a ******* was drawn on your Dad at point-blank range, pointed at his chest, the only thing that saved your Dad was the fact that he took a chance not only with his life but yours as well. When told to put his son the ground, Floyd Sr. had the courage to say he was willing to sacrifice all that you meant to him and was ready to give his life willingly. While staring death in the face, while he looked into the perpetrator's eyes, he said, "You will have to kill us both!!!" He then received a ******* blast to his leg instead and almost lost the limb in the process.
I'm sure you can still remember the many days you went to the hospital and saw your father lying in a hospital bed with his legs screwed together in order for the muscles from one leg to create muscles for the weaker and wounded leg. The countless skin grasps that were necessary before he could walk again. Have you forgotten?
Can you both remember how it felt that day when all the dreams and hard work paid off, when Floyd Jr. won his very first Championship over Genaro Hernandez? I certainly do, and it brought tears to my eyes. It was as though everything you guys had dreamed of had finally arrived, and the skies were the limit. Are those moments in time going to be the only precious moments you two will have for the rest of your days on this earth?
In reality, one day, one of you will pass on. You, as a son, will you even attend your father's funeral? And you, as a father, will you attend you son's funeral? And if you do, please don't shed a tear because once a person is gone, they are gone forever; there are no more second chances to right whatever was wrong right here on earth.
The time is now, because tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. Neither one of you can tell me you have so much resentment that it doesn't matter. They say money is the root of all evil, please don't let it destroy you and the legacy you created together; not one person did it, we all had a part in creating what is now considered the Mayweather Legacy. Myself and Roger, and the entire Mayweather family included, we all had a hand in helping Floyd Jr. become the fighter he is today, no matter how small that part may have been.
Our family could be one of the most powerful families in the history of boxing if we could just let our guards down and joined forces to uplift our name. We need to stop using the famous shoulder roll when it comes to dealing with the issues that confront and hurt us.
I hope that one day we can all get together and sit down over dinner; we don't even have to talk about boxing, just talk about better days. I'm sure it would warm everyone's heart, even if it's just for that one day. Let's have one day together as a family. I feel we owe that much to my Mother before she passes on, she is the matriarch of the family and I'm sure before she leaves us she would have a smile on her face that no amount of money could ever bring.
Life is too short. Don't be afraid to say something nice every once in a while. I was once told that if you don't have anything nice to say, it's best to say nothing at all.
My plea to you both is to stop and think before it's too late...
This article was provided by our good friend Elisa Harrison of BraggingRightsCorner.com. For more of Jeff Mayweather's archives, please visit www.BraggingRightsCorner.com.
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