Milking Manny dry
November 20, 2003 | 12:00am
Newly-crowned consensus peoples world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to fly back home tomorrow night. Hes booked on a Northwest Airlines promo ticket, economy class. The flight will come in from Los Angeles.
But wait. Theres talk that an attempt is being made to delay Mannys arrivalperhaps, to Saturday or Sunday. Never mind the Northwest booking. Thats been paid for. A sponsor is willing to pay a new one-way ticket for Mannybusiness class, of coursevia Philippine Airlines. At least, hell come back in style.
What about his traveling companions? Its not certain if the sponsor is willing to cough up more cash to take care of Mannys wife Jinkee, trainer Buboy Fernandez and others in the entourage. Manny wont probably like the idea of traveling home alone. And if Manny sits in business class, will he agree to leave his companions in economy? Ah, the travails of a superstar.
But why is his arrival being delayed in the first place? The scuttlebutt is Manny will be feted in a ticker-tape parade around town before proceeding to pay his No. 1 fan President Arroyo a courtesy call at Malacañang on Monday. If he flies in before Monday, its likely some thick-faced politicians will muscle their way close to him for publicity mileage. That would pre-empt Malacañangs plan to give the Chief Executive first crack at officially welcoming the champ back home.
Poor Manny. Hes now the subject of a political tug-of-war. Fernando Poe, Jr. supporters are insisting that Manny was inspired by their idol in destroying Marco Antonio Barrera in their San Antonio brawl last Saturday. Didnt you notice Manny thumping Barreras breadbasket with rapid-fire punches like FPJ does in his movies, they point out. Ping Lacson backers are claiming Mannys no-prisoners attitude is like their heros. And the Presidents rabid rah-rah boys are saying Mannys just like GMAsmall and indefatigable.
Someone said a prospective senatorial candidate is arranging to be the first to greet Manny out of the planes chute when he arrives tomorrow night. No wonder Mannys being asked to delay his arrival.
Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is coordinating Mannys motorcade. Makati Mayor Jojo Binay is involved in the preparations, too. Itll be a ticker-tape parade like no other. Mannys a national treasure and he deserves a tribute for making us proud to be Filipino.
To be sure, Mannys victory wasnt a cakewalk. Barrera hit him hard, too, and a lesser man wouldve gone down. After the fight, there was blood in Mannys mouth and both his eyes were puffedtestimony to the brutal beating that Barrera administered. The difference was Barrera suffered much, much more.
Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon 3-K Battery are in the record books as the only fighters who beat Pacquiao, both by knockout. But Pacquiao had to shed off excess weight before entering the ring to face his tormentors. He wasnt in shape and paid dearly for it. Against Barrera, he was in the best shape of his life. The beating he took from Torrecampo and Medgeon was nothing compared to what he absorbed from Barrera.
You can be sure that with national elections set next year, candidates will line up to enlist Pacquiao as an endorser. Before he left for the US to face Barrera last September, Pacquiao already did an infomercial on combating crime. You can expect more of the same in the coming months.
Manny shouldnt be exploited. The life of a prizefighter isnt a forever thing. How long can Manny possibly reign as the worlds best featherweight? Three or four more years? Maybe, five. Maybe, less. While hes on top of the world, Manny should take advantage of his situationnot others to take advantage of him.
Mannys business manager Rod Nazario has shrewdly negotiated contracts to set the fighter up for life. Hes arranged deals to guarantee Pacquiao a string of hefty paychecks with US promoter Murad Muhammad and local TVs Solar Sports network. But Mannys got to understand his earning power is a function of his ability to stay competitive in the ring. A fighter is lucky to hold on to a world title for five years. In Mannys case, it could be a little longer because after all, hes in a league of extraordinary gentlemen.
Postscript. It wont only be Skechers products featured in the "Markdown Madness" at SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall 1, fifth floor of Building B, on Nov. 20-23. Aside from a huge selection of Skechers on sale at up to 70 percent off, two other imported brandsNo Fear and Merrellare participating. Ruela Prado of Skechers says the volume of items and discounted prices are unprecedented in Philippine history. Its an early treat for Christmas shoppers, she adds. The first-ever mega-clearance sale of Skechers, No Fear and Merrell will also give away special gifts to customers who make a minimum P500 purchase. Celebrities are expected to be among the first shoppers. Tommy Ong of Skechers is inviting shoppers of all ages to join in the fun.
But wait. Theres talk that an attempt is being made to delay Mannys arrivalperhaps, to Saturday or Sunday. Never mind the Northwest booking. Thats been paid for. A sponsor is willing to pay a new one-way ticket for Mannybusiness class, of coursevia Philippine Airlines. At least, hell come back in style.
What about his traveling companions? Its not certain if the sponsor is willing to cough up more cash to take care of Mannys wife Jinkee, trainer Buboy Fernandez and others in the entourage. Manny wont probably like the idea of traveling home alone. And if Manny sits in business class, will he agree to leave his companions in economy? Ah, the travails of a superstar.
But why is his arrival being delayed in the first place? The scuttlebutt is Manny will be feted in a ticker-tape parade around town before proceeding to pay his No. 1 fan President Arroyo a courtesy call at Malacañang on Monday. If he flies in before Monday, its likely some thick-faced politicians will muscle their way close to him for publicity mileage. That would pre-empt Malacañangs plan to give the Chief Executive first crack at officially welcoming the champ back home.
Poor Manny. Hes now the subject of a political tug-of-war. Fernando Poe, Jr. supporters are insisting that Manny was inspired by their idol in destroying Marco Antonio Barrera in their San Antonio brawl last Saturday. Didnt you notice Manny thumping Barreras breadbasket with rapid-fire punches like FPJ does in his movies, they point out. Ping Lacson backers are claiming Mannys no-prisoners attitude is like their heros. And the Presidents rabid rah-rah boys are saying Mannys just like GMAsmall and indefatigable.
Someone said a prospective senatorial candidate is arranging to be the first to greet Manny out of the planes chute when he arrives tomorrow night. No wonder Mannys being asked to delay his arrival.
Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is coordinating Mannys motorcade. Makati Mayor Jojo Binay is involved in the preparations, too. Itll be a ticker-tape parade like no other. Mannys a national treasure and he deserves a tribute for making us proud to be Filipino.
To be sure, Mannys victory wasnt a cakewalk. Barrera hit him hard, too, and a lesser man wouldve gone down. After the fight, there was blood in Mannys mouth and both his eyes were puffedtestimony to the brutal beating that Barrera administered. The difference was Barrera suffered much, much more.
Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon 3-K Battery are in the record books as the only fighters who beat Pacquiao, both by knockout. But Pacquiao had to shed off excess weight before entering the ring to face his tormentors. He wasnt in shape and paid dearly for it. Against Barrera, he was in the best shape of his life. The beating he took from Torrecampo and Medgeon was nothing compared to what he absorbed from Barrera.
You can be sure that with national elections set next year, candidates will line up to enlist Pacquiao as an endorser. Before he left for the US to face Barrera last September, Pacquiao already did an infomercial on combating crime. You can expect more of the same in the coming months.
Manny shouldnt be exploited. The life of a prizefighter isnt a forever thing. How long can Manny possibly reign as the worlds best featherweight? Three or four more years? Maybe, five. Maybe, less. While hes on top of the world, Manny should take advantage of his situationnot others to take advantage of him.
Mannys business manager Rod Nazario has shrewdly negotiated contracts to set the fighter up for life. Hes arranged deals to guarantee Pacquiao a string of hefty paychecks with US promoter Murad Muhammad and local TVs Solar Sports network. But Mannys got to understand his earning power is a function of his ability to stay competitive in the ring. A fighter is lucky to hold on to a world title for five years. In Mannys case, it could be a little longer because after all, hes in a league of extraordinary gentlemen.
Postscript. It wont only be Skechers products featured in the "Markdown Madness" at SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall 1, fifth floor of Building B, on Nov. 20-23. Aside from a huge selection of Skechers on sale at up to 70 percent off, two other imported brandsNo Fear and Merrellare participating. Ruela Prado of Skechers says the volume of items and discounted prices are unprecedented in Philippine history. Its an early treat for Christmas shoppers, she adds. The first-ever mega-clearance sale of Skechers, No Fear and Merrell will also give away special gifts to customers who make a minimum P500 purchase. Celebrities are expected to be among the first shoppers. Tommy Ong of Skechers is inviting shoppers of all ages to join in the fun.
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