'A GATHERING OF GIANTS'
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 May 2011
LAS VEGAS, Nevada ? The Country of 7,100 islands became one nation again last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Thanks to World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao who retained his crown via a unanimous decision against Sugar Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Arena. As in the 32-year-old Filipino ring hero?s previous fights since crowning himself the world of boxing?s pound-for-pound king, major thoroughfares all over the county looked deserted as every one, young and old, men and women stayed inside their households glued on their television screen watching their idol bring honor to the country and the word Filipino.
Few crimes were committed if any and even the warring soldiers and rebels voluntarily shelved their guns also to enjoy how the Pacman beat his rival and celebrate when the decision was announced. Here in Las Vegas, the Pacquiao-Mosley fight was also another occasion for boxing writers of all colors and beliefs all over the world , most of them giants of the journalism fraternity to meet, and cover the events that happened a week before the showdown until the smoke of battle was extinguished.
Pacquiao?s fight prior to this against Mexican Antonio Margarito in Dallas, one enterprising sportswriter dubbed the happening a ?gathering of the giants.? So was this as it allowed those to make names rub elbows with their idols.
Some 500 sports journalists from the print, broadcast and and website media media had been given accreditation, one of the biggest if not the biggest gathering of mediamen in a single boxing promotion, according to Scott Ghertner, press relations officer of MGM., adding that only the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the Pacquiao-De La Hoya could surpass.
?? don?t have the records in my hands now, but I believe only those two fights or one of those could have more newsmen attending to cover,? Ghertner told Malaya Business Insight just before the
Pacquiao-Mosley showdown. Familiar figures in fight coverage like the ever respected Michael
Marley of the Examiner.com, Lem Saterfield of Boxingscene, Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Greg Bishop of The New York Times, David Greisman, also of the Examiner, Ron Borges of the Boston Herald, and Jon Saraseno of the USA Today were at the MGM Press Center daily mingling with their contemporaries and new faces.
The party won?t be complete, of course, without another old hand Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, his Yahoo teammate David Cofield, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press, Greg Heakes of the Agence France Press, John Whisler of the San Antonio Express, Arash Markazi of ESPN Sports, Robin Leach of Las Vegas Sun and Greg Doyel of CBS Sports and many others this reporter bumped into but couldn?t remember their names.
The Big Three in the Philippine print media organizations had also been counted ? Roy Luarca of the Inquirer, Abac Cordero of the Star and Nick Giongco of the Bulletin -- were also there to cover along with Gerry Ramos of the Journal Group, Robbie Pangilinan of the Manila Standard, San Diego based free lancer Alex Vidal, broadcasters Chino Trinidad of GMA 7, Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN, and Chiqui Roa of TV 5.
NOTES: Besides several of Pacquiao?s colleagues in the House of Representatives, also spotted watching the fight were Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and son Ali, former Bacolod Cong. Monico Puentevella, his political arch-rival, Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia, former PBA great Abet Guidaben, who looked to have completely recovered from a bout with a mysterious illness, Manny Victorino, Peter Aguilar, father of Smart Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Japet Aguilar, and Bert dela Rosa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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