Bad news surround the Pacman
By Robbie Pangilinan
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 Mar 2010
LOS ANGELES - Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has always been reported to be surrounded with people who either take advantage of him or use his name to get personal perks.
During Pacquiao’s fight against Joshua Clottey on March 13, Top Rank officials reportedly caught two Filipinos who faked the accreditation temporary pass which allows access to a person who contributes to the event as a service provider.
There were also rumors going around that members of Team Pacquiao sold this temporary pass for $150. The pass is intended to be given to media personalities and others who are present to cover the event, and not to be sold. Good business for them, but bad credibility for Filipinos.
Even worse is the news that there were six unidentified Filipino journalists who successfully secured approval from Top Rank as official media representatives of philboxing.com, a popular boxing portal of the Philippines. Philboxing officials later reported that they do not know the six alleged media people. How they were able to get Top Rank’s approval or who they are remains a mystery.
Another source of bad publicity for Pacquiao comes from his after-fight parties and concerts. Manny is more than a boxing icon, he is a pop star—a singer, actor and politician. A Renaissance Man, some say. He has two platinum recording albums and even performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, to the amusement of the whole world.
Manny loves the limelight, and so, his team have organized parties for Pacquiao fans after his fights. It’s understandable to hold victory parties for his winnings, but they are not for free. Aftet his fight against Miguel Cotto last year, tickets to the party were sold at $45 per head. This year, they went for $100 per head.
Some wonder why only a few are able to cover the parties. It is because even the media people are asked to pay. It is a clear indication that some people around the Pambansang Kamao are taking advantage of his popularity, and even his ignorance that things like these are happening. The People’s Champ reportedly does not know about all these.
Several years ago, during the 2007 elections when Pacquiao tried his luck in politics, people around him also took advantage of his lack of political knowledge and his generosity. Some of his trusted supporters, campaign managers and staff, allegedly misused or pocketed his campaign funds. He lost huge sums of money, hard-earned millions literally from his sweat and tears and blood.
And what about conflicts allegedly going on inside Team Pacquiao? Some members are said to have personal quarrels, one of which almost led to Freddie Roach being eased out of the team as coach and trainer. Roach was also reported to have been sued for assault and battery, and though the court sided with him on this issue, it is still bad publicity for the Pacman.
A sports analyst commented that it’s time to professionalize Team Pacquiao by revamping the whole team and creating a new “Dream Team” that consists of individuals who are successful in their professions and not people with questionable motives.
And surely, we all agree. #
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Robbie Pangilinan.
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