While both companies deserve blame for the complete mess of their relationship, you know who deserves the most blame?
Pacquiao.
Too many people forget, or ignore, that he is responsible for so much of the acrimony.
Remember: Under cover of night in 2006, Pacquiao took a bag stuffed with hundreds of thousands of dollars from De La Hoya, who had picked him up in a limo at Los Angeles International Airport and whisked him away to a clandestine dinner at a steak house to seal the deal.
De La Hoya, of course, didn't win any points for the inappropriate manner in which he conducted business, especially after he got on his high horse and proclaimed when he founded Golden Boy that it would do business differently than other promoters.
But Pacquiao deserves the blame because he is the one who signed with two companies at the same time. When he took De La Hoya's bag of cash, he apparently forgot that he had just recently signed with Top Rank.
Pacquiao's idiotic move ultimately left the companies mostly at each others' throats since, even though he eventually pledged loyalty to Arum.
Pacquiao has never been held accountable enough for his atrocious judgment. Although questioned about this over the years, he has, at least to my knowledge, never really addressed his disturbing decision in a serious manner.
When asked in the past, Pacquiao has blown off the legitimate question -- "Why did you sign with two companies at once?" -- by smiling his way through it and pulling his best Sammy Sosa. You know that move, the one where you suddenly forgot that you actually can speak English when you don't like the question.
In any case, the next time you get upset because Top Rank and Golden Boy won't make a fight you want to see because of their childish, ongoing feud, you have every right to blame them. But don't forget to include Pacquiao in your crosshairs.
- Dan Rafael
Pacquiao.
Too many people forget, or ignore, that he is responsible for so much of the acrimony.
Remember: Under cover of night in 2006, Pacquiao took a bag stuffed with hundreds of thousands of dollars from De La Hoya, who had picked him up in a limo at Los Angeles International Airport and whisked him away to a clandestine dinner at a steak house to seal the deal.
De La Hoya, of course, didn't win any points for the inappropriate manner in which he conducted business, especially after he got on his high horse and proclaimed when he founded Golden Boy that it would do business differently than other promoters.
But Pacquiao deserves the blame because he is the one who signed with two companies at the same time. When he took De La Hoya's bag of cash, he apparently forgot that he had just recently signed with Top Rank.
Pacquiao's idiotic move ultimately left the companies mostly at each others' throats since, even though he eventually pledged loyalty to Arum.
Pacquiao has never been held accountable enough for his atrocious judgment. Although questioned about this over the years, he has, at least to my knowledge, never really addressed his disturbing decision in a serious manner.
When asked in the past, Pacquiao has blown off the legitimate question -- "Why did you sign with two companies at once?" -- by smiling his way through it and pulling his best Sammy Sosa. You know that move, the one where you suddenly forgot that you actually can speak English when you don't like the question.
In any case, the next time you get upset because Top Rank and Golden Boy won't make a fight you want to see because of their childish, ongoing feud, you have every right to blame them. But don't forget to include Pacquiao in your crosshairs.
- Dan Rafael
Comment