The Brand

If Manny Pacquiao wants all the doping allegations off his back, he should look at the way Lance Armstrong handled all doping accusations leveled at him – a full scale, legal counter attack.

LA has kept an army of lawyers at his disposal to protect his name and his brand. (Last month, he threatened to sue his good friend and actor Ben Stiller for copyright infringement of the word, “LIVESTRONG” when Stiller put up a charity to build homes in Haiti called, “STILLERSTRONG”. He is also planning to sue the US Army for using the word “ARMY STRONG”.) Even if a certain segment of society strongly believes he has used performance enhancing drugs, in spite of the fact that he has been the most tested athlete in the world, there is also another segment of society who believes otherwise.

You see, a well placed rumor here and there can affect the “brand”. Look what happened recently to Tiger Woods. While the cases are not doping related, it’s still about the brand, rather it affects the brand in a negative way. LA is relentless about his pursuit of the people trying to harm his brand. Some get sued, while others have been allegedly paid in exchange for their omerta. In all of these cases, LA has been on top of the situation.

For Paquiao, whether we admit it or not, his image has already been soiled. The moment Mayweather Sr. opened his big mouth, he already planted a molecule of doubt in the back of the head of the millions of fans of the Filipino great that “maybe” Pacquiao did dope. Not all the denials and the lawsuits can take away this, “maybe-he-doped” issue from his adoring fans. People will always say what they gotta say. But not patronizing the brand is another thing.

But what is important is that Pacquiao has never tested positive and therefore he can still protect his name. Look at Greg Lemond today. The former 3-time Tour de France winner, tried hard to portray LA as a doper, but without the evi-dunce (as Whoopie Goldberg said), his accusations didn’t stick. And because people don’t forget, his business suffered a lot.

Most peoples and big corporations still believe in the law of the land and if the law hasn’t found Paquiao guilty of doping, then they will still treat him as legit representative and spokesperson of the brand.

Suing the Mayweathers, Oscar dela Hoya, Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions and even the-excuse-for-a-world-champ, Paul Malignaggi, is a good start. Winning fights counts for a close second.

Uling-Manipis Road

This piece of mountainous route is probably the most breathtaking cycling route in Cebu after the Transcentral Highway. Only a small portion needs to be paved, yet, the government is dragging its foot on this project. Unfortunately, this road isn’t only unfinished, it’s also neglected as well. If this is not completed soon, chances are, it will be eroded even before it’s finished. And the stupid cycle goes around again.

CC X’mas Party

Thanks to the following folks who made the annual Cebu Cycling Christmas party a success – Jong Sepulveda, Ome Rodriguez, Richard Clarke, Raldy Vios, Tata Codina, Phillip Sainz, the ReCycle people, Art and Tyre Lambo, Dan Wistihuff III, Paul John So, Sankx Ontanillas and all the others who I may have missed. You made a lot of people happy guys!!!

Race Results Christmas Crit 2009.12.31 Mandaue Reclamation

CAT A: 1- Marjun Villarosa, 2- Baroy Carbonera, 3- Asay Navarro. 4- John Mier, 5- Doding Villaber

CAT B: 1- Ome Rodriguez, 2- Ronald Alconera, 3- Ricky Ermitanio, 4- John Gayatin, 5- Philip Sainz, 6- John Ermitanio, 7- J.J. Simbajon, 8- Jun Omero, 9- Art Lambo, 10- Orlan Toring

CAT C: 1- Heide Esmalin, 2- Tyre Lambo, 3- Lito Quebec, 4- Diding Jaluag, 5- Tata Ty, 6- Dodong Alonso, 7- Jaime Noynay, 8- Tats Codina. – THE FREEMAN