More than once the sentence about Pacquiao being the greatest fighter who ever drew breath has been uttered since he rearranged the face of Antonio Margarito in Dallas.
And thus begins what is always the best and worst debate in sports. “The greatest (fill in your choice of sport, team, position or appearance in a video game) to ever play the game”. No phrase has initiated more camaraderie or black eyes. No comment is at the same time so factual and fraudulent. No series of words is more thoughtful and knee-jerk.
No need to see the scorecards on this one.
Pacquiao’s pugilistic achievements are but a mere trifling of his accomplishments and in many ways, perhaps the least of what drives one who could also be considered the finest example of a man. One who outwardly cares about much more than using a physical skill for personal gain.
In a world where we are always tagging athletes and entertainers with the hollow cliché, “role model”, there perhaps also could be no greater example of one historic sports figure who more deserves to have these two words permanently attached to his legacy.
At first glance, Pacquiao’s hardscrabble beginnings are no different than thousands of boxing champions. A broken home, thanks to a philandering and lying father. A father Pacquiao ran away from after this sorry excuse for a human being actually ate Manny's dog.One part of a big family struggling to make some semblance of life in an impoverished situation. Odds stacked so heavily against him that, at times, even the next meal was in question.
There was never any real reason why Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao would be more than another laborer, struggling to feed himself and a family. At the age of 16 when he decided to become a professional boxer in tribute to a friend and aspiring fighter who perished much too young, Manny was 4’11” and weight in at 98 pounds, a full 7 under the minimum weight. While we have no recording of the actual words, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine someone telling the kid about a job bagging groceries or hauling lumber that would be more suited for his future.
But this was more than an ordinary kid seeking a way out of poverty. He already had what used to known as “moxie” in American slang. A hefty dose of daring to make things happen. A liberal dash of courage, that lack of fear for what he was about to get himself into.
This diminutive wisp of street kid jammed weights into his pockets to hit the 105 mark. A star was born.
A brilliance of which is certainly not limited to blinding hand speed, controlled savagery, and infectious smile.
He is a devoted husband and father who has neither strayed nor even mentioned in the same sentence as so many other current-era jocks. Those who believe that being revered for an athletic skill gives them carte blanche to cheat on spouses and leave trails of children scattered across the landscape like so many dirty socks.
He believes one can serve a Nation while at the same time serving a talent few could ever hope to match, much less even possess. Pacquiao is a member of the 15th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army. He is currently in the military reserves with the rank of Sergeant Major, and has often said he would surrender his boxing career in defense of his country.
Following his devastating recent victory, the Aquino government is considering using Pacquiao as their main peace negotiator, trying to quell issues with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Just three years ago, Pacquiao made good on a personal promise, and while his incredible wealth could buy him anything, he went back to school and earned his high school equivalency diploma. He then wasted little time in enrolling for a degree in business management at a college in his hometown.
And he was far from done.
In May of 2010, Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the Philippine 15th Congress. And just for giggles and grins, he’s slated to be in an upcoming Sylvester Stallone film.
Oh yes, one more thing. As an elected official, Pacquiao has promised he will not only work toward making the Philippines a boxing power at the Summer Olympics, he promised to use his congressional funds to build schools, hospitals and provide alternative skills training for poor farmers and fishermen in his three-year term.
Sure, you might say. Just another politician making hollow promises to keep the huddled poor masses happy.
Sure. Right.
As for those allegations about Pacquaio using steroids? Nothing more than a Floyd Mayweather concocted lie to cover up a palpable fear of facing the 8-time champion.
It really didn’t take much to write about these accomplishments. After all, anyone can find them listed in dozens of places on the Internet.
What is harder to find and must be unearthed in these words is the measure of the man.
For while Manny Pacquiao has earned our praise, our admiration, even our envy, he has earned much more.
Our respect for him as the definition of an athletic role model.
I have long believed there is no such thing, and shouldn’t be. Role models should be parents, those who fill the role of father and mother who guide and set the course for the lives of those who need direction. They are the ones who take these shapeless lives and mold them into something greater. To help them uncover not just who they are and what they can be, but what lies beneath the human façade.
With very rare exceptions, that has, in my opinion, never been the role of an athlete. Especially the 21st century star athlete.
Manny Pacquiao has thankfully changed my mind. And he should change yours as well.
Admire him for what he has done. First and foremost, outside the ring.
And then marvel at what he does inside that ring. And what we only wish we could accomplishment.
In both places.
Source: examiner.com
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