Pacquiao on the cover of Time magazine (AP Photo)
I've heard this so many times before. Read it on internet forums and columns every so often as well. Well, allow me, in behalf of the millions of Filipino boxing fans to obliterate this misguided and naive notion.
First of all there are those within the sport who honestly wonder if the Filipino boxing fans will stay even after Pacquiao- it's understandable. I will answer that later. But as far as the rest, the dig against Filipino boxing fans is just another way to discredit them after running out of tirades against the passionate and die-hard fans. It's somewhat like these steroids accusations on Pacquiao. They used to say he has no chance in hell to beat De la Hoya, Hatton and Cotto, but after proving them all wrong, instead of giving him his due respect, they say he's on steroids. Running out of things to say about Pacquiao fans who have been repeatedly made to look like geniuses by Pacquiao's dominating wins, they simply say, they are nothing but unintelligent "bandwagoners".
A forum poster at boxingscene.com wrote,
"pinoy fans don't know s*#t about boxing...they only watch pacquiao and thats it....when pacquiao retires they won't continue to support boxing....they are just here for the short ride....it absolutely p!sses me off to hear these fans come online and trash mayweather's talent, ability and skills......true boxing fans were here long before pinoy fans and we will be here long after pac retires and pinoy fans leave."
And as I previously stated, this is but one of many singing this tune. What can I say, ignorance is bliss? But as much as I don't want to take anyone's away from their state of euphoria, please allow me to educate. Filipinos love boxing. Perhaps not as much as they love basketball, but since the emergeance of Pacquiao in the global scale, it's safe to say that Filipinos have been "cheating" on their beloved team game in favor of the sweet science.
Boxing has been big in the country for a long time. Remember "Thrilla in Manila?" Muhammad Ali even has a mall named after him in the country's capital. Pacquiao simply put the spotlight on Filipino boxing fans but I guarantee you they are one of the best in the world. Don't believe me? Just as former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. Bowe visited the Philippines back in 1995 and received the "Pacquiao" treatment as if he was their own. Coincidentally, Pacquiao started fighting in '95. Bowe was so amazed by the amount love he got from the country that when he found out that a fan died when he was struck by lightning trying to get reception to view one if his fights, he donated money to family left behind.
Pacquiao fans flood the streets of Manila (AP Photo)
Do you really think Pacquiao would have this solid and loyal of a following if Filipinos weren't boxing fans then? Yes, Pacquiao definitely brought a lot more fans into the sport during his historic rise to the top, and you can expect some drop-off after he's gone, but don't expect it to be that much. Personally as a writer, one of the best days I've had here on the Examiner covering sports is the weekend of Nonito Donaire Jr.'s last fight and the day after Marvin Sonsona became the second-youngest world champion from the Philippines. Naturally, Filipinos will follow their own, but isn't that what the world does as well? How many African-American fans did you see watching Klitschko-Arreola? It is what it is, and there's nothing wrong with that. The fact that there's fans that keep the sport alive is what matters.
Filipino fans are here to stay and they indeed are some of the most knowledgeable out there. Don't get it twisted. There are some writers out there who spell doom to people like me saying that after Pacquiao leaves, the "hits" we get will drop. To them I say, nay! Philippine boxing is no one-trick pony. You got "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Jr., Rodel Mayol, Marvin Sonsona, Milan Melindo, AJ Banal and all these other fighters that aim to carve their names as well, inspired by Pacquiao. If anything, it might even boost my "hits" count because all these other bandwagon writers who never wrote about Pacquiao back then when he was simply trying to be noticed, that are writing about Pacquiao now on a daily basis will go away too when the Pacquiao hits are gone.
The proof is in the pudding. Even years ago, I followed and wrote about Pacquiao the way I do now even when I did not get paid a single cent doing it. Just like Michael Marley and Ronnie Nathanielsz, Quinito Henson, Dong Secuya and several other Filipino writers before us, I cover Pacquiao because I saw something special in this kid. We believed way before any of these other writers who never really wrote anything about Pacquiao then came out of the woodwork and started busting out Pacquiao articles everyday the way we did so they can capitalize on the internet hits. That's a good thing though. It further indicates how Pacquiao has transcended the sport of boxing and has made believers out of people from different parts of the globe.
With that said, legends like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan only come once every so often. There will be some drop-off the way the NBA and boxing experienced it after they retired, but the fact of the matter is, it will be better off for having great athletes that came and went like them. Just like Pacquiao. Sooner or later, a Kobe or a LeBron will scintillate Filipino boxing fans the way Pacquiao did. But thanks to Pacquiao, those extra eyes will be there, waiting to witness it.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment