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Eside boxing
By Coach Tim Walker
Here is what we know; the fight is off! If you frequent this boxing site at all then you obviously know that the fight I am talking about is Floyd Mayweather Junior verses Manny Pacquiao. Two of the best, if not the two best fighters, in the boxing game today. The fight that we all wanted to see is officially shelved and both sides are in full blame mode. Some suggest it’s a ploy to build more hype. Others suggest both guys are being over the top ridiculous in their demands. It’s Floyd’s fault. It’s Manny’s fault. It’s Roach’s fault. Blame it on Ellerbe, de la Hoya, Golden Boy, the Boxing Commission, whatever! Come what may in terms of litigation the fight is off.
Of course as is the nature of boxing fans we are all taking sides. Proponents of Mayweather suggest he was right to request random Olympic style blood testing. After all, Pacquiao’s physical growth is well documented. Even HBO displayed photos of him for the last few years and you can see the obvious physical growth. He’s a much thicker man than he was even two years ago when he was facing the likes of David Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez..
Pacquiao supporters are more varied in their opinions though ultimately their collective fingers point towards Mayweather who has earned his reputation as the perennial boxing bad boy. Sure many see Manny’s side of the issues but he also has a large constituency of those who are taking his side by default because they, for a lack of a better way of saying it, hate Mayweather. As history has shown us there is no lukewarm-ness towards Mayweather. Either you like him or you don’t and in this situation many don’t.
But the purpose of this article isn’t to take a stance on the right or wrong of it all. Rather to make a point that isn’t being discussed right now. Point being; regardless of how the lawsuit plays out in the courts it will neither clear Pacquiao’s name nor restore his pride as some have suggested. Whatever damage that may have been done to his reputation has been done and will linger on permanently attached to his boxing birthright unless he does something to remove the stigma.
Guilt/Innocence is Hard to Prove
In many instances, celebrities have a much more difficult time proving they are innocent. They find themselves in a tangled web of public opinion, media scrutiny and legal mumbo-jumbo that most of us have never had to endure (case and point the recent Tiger Woods debacle). Lawsuits, which are not uncommon these days in the sport of boxing, do little to relieve the bitter taste that fans have from a good match gone bad. As common as lawsuits are very seldom does a fighter sue a fighter over what most of us thought to be pre-fight hype. What gave the accusation a boost of steam was not the assertion rather the way Pacquiao and his camp responded to it. Their stance varied and changed almost daily (see Vivek Wallace’s most recent Call Em Out Fridays for more insight on that).
Very Little Right to Privacy
Celebrities, Floyd and Manny fit this bill, have less of an expectation of privacy than regular Joes like you and me. They know this. It’s part of the game. This makes them somewhat fairgame to being called out when something's fishy because they open themselves up to the media on a regular basis. It’s hard to use the media as a tool for your benefit then call foul when the media doesn’t play nice. From the very early stages of their careers they feed off publicity. They crave it. They need it. They use it as a tool to climb the ladder of success. The farther they climb up the ladder the more they use the media, the more they use the media the lesser the expectation of privacy they should have. Entire TV shows and websites are dedicated to finding celebrities in compromising situations and exploiting them. Celebrities use networks, news outlets and print media to announce business ventures and upcoming events. Again, it’s all part of the game.
A common avowal of celebrity circles is that there is no such thing as bad press/publicity. I’ve heard a few of my celebrity friends even say “Whether people are talking good about you or bad about you, at least they are talking about you.” With this A-typical demeanor towards the press how could a celebrity then claim anything is off limits? The birth of celebrity children are coupled with hired photographers. Marriages are typically opened to certain media outlets. The press gets the best seats at events and anything that resembles an official proceeding. In cases based on this proving damages it is difficult but not impossible. Some celebrities, and this is specific to the case of Manny and Floyd, claim that the behavior from others is so appalling and defamatory that it warrants the time, trouble and expense of pursing legal action.
While who’s right and who’s wrong is a question that will be debated for weeks and months and maybe even years the lawsuit, regardless of its outcome, will neither clear Manny’s name nor his image. The only person who can do that is Manny himself. How? It’s simple, do what is required to ease any possibility of doubt. Plainly stated, take the tests. Does he have to take the tests? No. That’s his right not too but not taking it and coming with multiple reasons why he won’t only creates doubt where there should be none. Winning in the legal court might pad his pockets a bit but detractors will maintain the position that he juices.
Pacquiao won’t outlive the Accusation, that's almost Guaranteed
Some suggest he should just wait it out and it will go away. I disagree. Bret Farve, the green and yellow clad iron man, who was the heart and soul of the Packers was made infamous when his use and abuse of painkillers became public. Barry Bonds was celebrated for his homerun hitting prowess though his relationship with the media was less than loving. He became infamous when he was implicated in the BALCO scandal for allegedly using steroids. Fellow baseball-men such as Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are still feeling the effects of steroid accusations as are athletes from nearly every sport.
My guess is Manny Pacquiao will endure this black cloud as well unless he does something to silence critics and set the record straight. A lawsuit will do little to accomplish either.
By Coach Tim Walker
Here is what we know; the fight is off! If you frequent this boxing site at all then you obviously know that the fight I am talking about is Floyd Mayweather Junior verses Manny Pacquiao. Two of the best, if not the two best fighters, in the boxing game today. The fight that we all wanted to see is officially shelved and both sides are in full blame mode. Some suggest it’s a ploy to build more hype. Others suggest both guys are being over the top ridiculous in their demands. It’s Floyd’s fault. It’s Manny’s fault. It’s Roach’s fault. Blame it on Ellerbe, de la Hoya, Golden Boy, the Boxing Commission, whatever! Come what may in terms of litigation the fight is off.
Of course as is the nature of boxing fans we are all taking sides. Proponents of Mayweather suggest he was right to request random Olympic style blood testing. After all, Pacquiao’s physical growth is well documented. Even HBO displayed photos of him for the last few years and you can see the obvious physical growth. He’s a much thicker man than he was even two years ago when he was facing the likes of David Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez..
Pacquiao supporters are more varied in their opinions though ultimately their collective fingers point towards Mayweather who has earned his reputation as the perennial boxing bad boy. Sure many see Manny’s side of the issues but he also has a large constituency of those who are taking his side by default because they, for a lack of a better way of saying it, hate Mayweather. As history has shown us there is no lukewarm-ness towards Mayweather. Either you like him or you don’t and in this situation many don’t.
But the purpose of this article isn’t to take a stance on the right or wrong of it all. Rather to make a point that isn’t being discussed right now. Point being; regardless of how the lawsuit plays out in the courts it will neither clear Pacquiao’s name nor restore his pride as some have suggested. Whatever damage that may have been done to his reputation has been done and will linger on permanently attached to his boxing birthright unless he does something to remove the stigma.
Guilt/Innocence is Hard to Prove
In many instances, celebrities have a much more difficult time proving they are innocent. They find themselves in a tangled web of public opinion, media scrutiny and legal mumbo-jumbo that most of us have never had to endure (case and point the recent Tiger Woods debacle). Lawsuits, which are not uncommon these days in the sport of boxing, do little to relieve the bitter taste that fans have from a good match gone bad. As common as lawsuits are very seldom does a fighter sue a fighter over what most of us thought to be pre-fight hype. What gave the accusation a boost of steam was not the assertion rather the way Pacquiao and his camp responded to it. Their stance varied and changed almost daily (see Vivek Wallace’s most recent Call Em Out Fridays for more insight on that).
Very Little Right to Privacy
Celebrities, Floyd and Manny fit this bill, have less of an expectation of privacy than regular Joes like you and me. They know this. It’s part of the game. This makes them somewhat fairgame to being called out when something's fishy because they open themselves up to the media on a regular basis. It’s hard to use the media as a tool for your benefit then call foul when the media doesn’t play nice. From the very early stages of their careers they feed off publicity. They crave it. They need it. They use it as a tool to climb the ladder of success. The farther they climb up the ladder the more they use the media, the more they use the media the lesser the expectation of privacy they should have. Entire TV shows and websites are dedicated to finding celebrities in compromising situations and exploiting them. Celebrities use networks, news outlets and print media to announce business ventures and upcoming events. Again, it’s all part of the game.
A common avowal of celebrity circles is that there is no such thing as bad press/publicity. I’ve heard a few of my celebrity friends even say “Whether people are talking good about you or bad about you, at least they are talking about you.” With this A-typical demeanor towards the press how could a celebrity then claim anything is off limits? The birth of celebrity children are coupled with hired photographers. Marriages are typically opened to certain media outlets. The press gets the best seats at events and anything that resembles an official proceeding. In cases based on this proving damages it is difficult but not impossible. Some celebrities, and this is specific to the case of Manny and Floyd, claim that the behavior from others is so appalling and defamatory that it warrants the time, trouble and expense of pursing legal action.
While who’s right and who’s wrong is a question that will be debated for weeks and months and maybe even years the lawsuit, regardless of its outcome, will neither clear Manny’s name nor his image. The only person who can do that is Manny himself. How? It’s simple, do what is required to ease any possibility of doubt. Plainly stated, take the tests. Does he have to take the tests? No. That’s his right not too but not taking it and coming with multiple reasons why he won’t only creates doubt where there should be none. Winning in the legal court might pad his pockets a bit but detractors will maintain the position that he juices.
Pacquiao won’t outlive the Accusation, that's almost Guaranteed
Some suggest he should just wait it out and it will go away. I disagree. Bret Farve, the green and yellow clad iron man, who was the heart and soul of the Packers was made infamous when his use and abuse of painkillers became public. Barry Bonds was celebrated for his homerun hitting prowess though his relationship with the media was less than loving. He became infamous when he was implicated in the BALCO scandal for allegedly using steroids. Fellow baseball-men such as Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are still feeling the effects of steroid accusations as are athletes from nearly every sport.
My guess is Manny Pacquiao will endure this black cloud as well unless he does something to silence critics and set the record straight. A lawsuit will do little to accomplish either.
Bunch a losers 
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