Milking Manny dry

Newly-crowned consensus people’s world featherweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to fly back home tomorrow night. He’s booked on a Northwest Airlines promo ticket, economy class. The flight will come in from Los Angeles.

But wait. There’s talk that an attempt is being made to delay Manny’s arrival–perhaps, to Saturday or Sunday.  Never mind the Northwest booking. That’s been paid for. A sponsor is willing to pay a new one-way ticket for Manny–business class, of course–via Philippine Airlines. At least, he’ll come back in style.

What about his traveling companions? It’s not certain if the sponsor is willing to cough up more cash to take care of Manny’s wife Jinkee, trainer Buboy Fernandez and others in the entourage. Manny won’t 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, it’s likely some thick-faced politicians will muscle their way close to him for publicity mileage. That would pre-empt Malacañang’s plan to give the Chief Executive first crack at officially welcoming the champ back home.

Poor Manny. He’s 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. Didn’t you notice Manny thumping Barrera’s breadbasket with rapid-fire punches like FPJ does in his movies, they point out. Ping Lacson backers are claiming Manny’s no-prisoners attitude is like their hero’s. And the President’s rabid rah-rah boys are saying Manny’s just like GMA–small and indefatigable.

Someone said a prospective senatorial candidate is arranging to be the first to greet Manny out of the plane’s chute when he arrives tomorrow night. No wonder Manny’s being asked to delay his arrival.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is coordinating Manny’s motorcade. Makati Mayor Jojo Binay is involved in the preparations, too. It’ll be a ticker-tape parade like no other. Manny’s a national treasure and he deserves a tribute for making us proud to be Filipino.

To be sure, Manny’s victory wasn’t a cakewalk. Barrera hit him hard, too, and a lesser man would’ve gone down. After the fight, there was blood in Manny’s mouth and both his eyes were puffed–testimony 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 wasn’t 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 shouldn’t be exploited. The life of a prizefighter isn’t a forever thing. How long can Manny possibly reign as the world’s best featherweight? Three or four more years? Maybe, five. Maybe, less. While he’s on top of the world, Manny should take advantage of his situation–not others to take advantage of him.

Manny’s business manager Rod Nazario has shrewdly negotiated contracts to set the fighter up for life. He’s arranged deals to guarantee Pacquiao a string of hefty paychecks with US promoter Murad Muhammad and local TV’s Solar Sports network. But Manny’s 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 Manny’s case, it could be a little longer because after all, he’s in a league of extraordinary gentlemen.

Postscript. It won’t 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 brands–No Fear and Merrell–are participating. Ruela Prado of Skechers says the volume of items and discounted prices are unprecedented in Philippine history. It’s 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.