Ron Borges, the consensus king of boxing journalism, wrote a brilliant piece this past Wednesday detailing the contradictions that abound in the coming fight including would be holier-than-thou sports media giant ESPN for its condemnation of Mayweather’s reported physical abuse of women on the one hand and their hypocritical financial exploitation of Mayweather on the other. One of the contradictions less covered this week has been Mayweather’s selfish-beyond-measure approach to life and the profound disconnect apparent in Vegas where on the one hand is the celebration of wealth and the accoutrements of same amongst the glittering casinos, and the desperate poverty in the streets outside of the strip on the other.
Watching Floyd Jr. sit down at a press conference and ridicule Pacquiao and his management team for mishandling Pac’s finances and exploiting him then at the same time detailing how Money May was going to spend his own money reeked of not just disconnect but of selfishness. While he plans on giving the bulk of his money to his children, the self-styled best-ever has no plans to share the wealth with those that might need it most.
Pacquiao is on record informing the public of his plans with regard to the bulk of his Powerball-esque windfall. Pacquiao insists that the poverty he sees around him requires a loving, compassionate response. While his lifestyle is rather comfortable Pacman has been known to offer up much of his wealth to those less fortunate and in so doing putting himself, according to Freddie Roach, at financial risk.
Mayweather, on the other hand, admits to having a shopping compulsion that has him going out on shopping sprees where he routinely spends half-a-million in hard cash. Asked why he goes on these sprees he simply says, “I got’s (sic) to do it.” In an infomercial for incompetent journalism Stephen A. Smith “interviewed” Money May at his mansion, and among other things, Floyd Jr. confessed that most of his million dollar cars sit and gather dust. Stephen A., being the hard-hitting, well-schooled journalist he is could only offer up the sycophantic “wow,” in return. While Smith is telling his detractors to “grow up,” others are telling him to “man up.”
The Mayweather selfish-beyond-measure moniker seems appropriately self-endowed as Money May, in his Tuesday press conference, seeking to clarify what was most important to him, his record or the money he makes, said that “my daughter can’t eat an 0.” What he might have done after the press conference is jump into one of his many dust-ridden Bugatti’s, take a right out of the MGM Grand and head north on the strip then take a left on Bonanza and head west. What he might have found is a shelter where the poor, disfranchised and transient population gather at night.
During a man-on-the-street segment, a journalist pulled up to the corner, identified himself, and asked what the men gathered thought about the coming fight. There was a certain animation that kicked in. Surrounding the car men offered up their predictions even detailing why they thought one or the other would win. There was seeming consensus that Mayweather would win but that it would be a great fight and that Pac would make it close.
For a man named Clarence, however, there was a sense of sorrow in it all. He was happy for Mayweather and hopeful of his victory, but he admitted that he felt a little more comfortable with Pacquiao. “Pacman” he said, “fights for a purpose, for his people and the poor. My man Mayweather doesn’t know or care that I exist.” What do you mean? He was asked. “Well, if he were to sell even one of his cars and donate it to the shelter or put it into the local schools he could make a big difference.” When asked whether Mayweather owed him a living the man said simply, “no but neither does Pac but he still cares.”
While it true that Mayweather’s daughter cannot eat the “O” at the end of his current 47-0 record, the men at the shelter could definitely eat a few Spaghetti Oh’s if Money May could see his way clear to donate a few cans. And while there are many that will jump to Money May’s defense and, getting on a high-horse of sorts, remind gainsayers that he made his money honestly and has every right to spend it the way he wants.
For those so inclined, it is important to, when jumping to his defense, Mayweather’s free-agency notwithstanding, remember that Clarence and millions of children and adults will go to bed this evening without enough food in their bellies. Many in Mayweather’s own African-American community will wake up in the morning without opportunities to find gainful employment and take care of their hungry children. While the system appears to be just on many levels, the sight of such abundance just a few miles down the strip, and such abject poverty and desolation just a few miles back up the strip, reeks of contradiction, injustice and misplaced values.
As Pacquiao prepares for the biggest fight of his life he does so with a focus and determination that separates him from other world-class athletes. His strength is derived from an absolute, even fierce determination to serve others in their time of need. Mayweather’s heart, the purpose and meaning that informs his existence, beats to a different tune.
While surely not a bad human being, although beating on women might qualify for same, his lifestyle sends a message that the poor and suffering of the world not only do not matter, they may as well not exist. While many have excoriated journalists for drawing this distinction, well-reasoned and good people will, in moments of clarity, admit that the fight is bigger than boxing. Indeed, it has become a symbol of something much bigger, even grand beyond measure.
Mayweather’s selfish-beyond-measure approach to life, like the poor side of Vegas the disfranchised are forced to live in, needs rehabilitation. While it is not the business of the world or any journalist to dictate these terms it might be suggested that after he fights on Saturday night, Mayweather might consider taking Pacquiao up on his offer of bible study and to, perchance, refuse the temptation to buy another dust-collecting Bugatti. And in spending time on the west-side of Vegas where heavy dust continues to settle he might find in Clarence and the others collected there, the purpose and meaning that must inform any hope that he will eventually be accepted as the “best-ever.”
Commentary By Matthew R. Fellows
Sources:
Boston Herald
Mashable
Eur Web
Vegas Rescue
Photo By: Franco Folini – Creativecommons Flickr License
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Mayweather: Selfish Beyond Measure
Ron Borges, the consensus king of boxing journalism, wrote a brilliant piece this past Wednesday detailing the contradictions that abound in the coming fight including would be holier-than-thou sports media giant ESPN for its condemnation of Mayweather’s reported physical abuse of women on the one hand and their hypocritical financial exploitation of Mayweather on the other. One of the contradictions less covered this week has been Mayweather’s selfish-beyond-measure approach to life and the profound disconnect apparent in Vegas where on the one hand is the celebration of wealth and the accoutrements of same amongst the glittering casinos, and the desperate poverty in the streets outside of the strip on the other.
Watching Floyd Jr. sit down at a press conference and ridicule Pacquiao and his management team for mishandling Pac’s finances and exploiting him then at the same time detailing how Money May was going to spend his own money reeked of not just disconnect but of selfishness. While he plans on giving the bulk of his money to his children, the self-styled best-ever has no plans to share the wealth with those that might need it most.
Pacquiao is on record informing the public of his plans with regard to the bulk of his Powerball-esque windfall. Pacquiao insists that the poverty he sees around him requires a loving, compassionate response. While his lifestyle is rather comfortable Pacman has been known to offer up much of his wealth to those less fortunate and in so doing putting himself, according to Freddie Roach, at financial risk.
Mayweather, on the other hand, admits to having a shopping compulsion that has him going out on shopping sprees where he routinely spends half-a-million in hard cash. Asked why he goes on these sprees he simply says, “I got’s (sic) to do it.” In an infomercial for incompetent journalism Stephen A. Smith “interviewed” Money May at his mansion, and among other things, Floyd Jr. confessed that most of his million dollar cars sit and gather dust. Stephen A., being the hard-hitting, well-schooled journalist he is could only offer up the sycophantic “wow,” in return. While Smith is telling his detractors to “grow up,” others are telling him to “man up.”
The Mayweather selfish-beyond-measure moniker seems appropriately self-endowed as Money May, in his Tuesday press conference, seeking to clarify what was most important to him, his record or the money he makes, said that “my daughter can’t eat an 0.” What he might have done after the press conference is jump into one of his many dust-ridden Bugatti’s, take a right out of the MGM Grand and head north on the strip then take a left on Bonanza and head west. What he might have found is a shelter where the poor, disfranchised and transient population gather at night.
During a man-on-the-street segment, a journalist pulled up to the corner, identified himself, and asked what the men gathered thought about the coming fight. There was a certain animation that kicked in. Surrounding the car men offered up their predictions even detailing why they thought one or the other would win. There was seeming consensus that Mayweather would win but that it would be a great fight and that Pac would make it close.
For a man named Clarence, however, there was a sense of sorrow in it all. He was happy for Mayweather and hopeful of his victory, but he admitted that he felt a little more comfortable with Pacquiao. “Pacman” he said, “fights for a purpose, for his people and the poor. My man Mayweather doesn’t know or care that I exist.” What do you mean? He was asked. “Well, if he were to sell even one of his cars and donate it to the shelter or put it into the local schools he could make a big difference.” When asked whether Mayweather owed him a living the man said simply, “no but neither does Pac but he still cares.”
While it true that Mayweather’s daughter cannot eat the “O” at the end of his current 47-0 record, the men at the shelter could definitely eat a few Spaghetti Oh’s if Money May could see his way clear to donate a few cans. And while there are many that will jump to Money May’s defense and, getting on a high-horse of sorts, remind gainsayers that he made his money honestly and has every right to spend it the way he wants.
For those so inclined, it is important to, when jumping to his defense, Mayweather’s free-agency notwithstanding, remember that Clarence and millions of children and adults will go to bed this evening without enough food in their bellies. Many in Mayweather’s own African-American community will wake up in the morning without opportunities to find gainful employment and take care of their hungry children. While the system appears to be just on many levels, the sight of such abundance just a few miles down the strip, and such abject poverty and desolation just a few miles back up the strip, reeks of contradiction, injustice and misplaced values.
As Pacquiao prepares for the biggest fight of his life he does so with a focus and determination that separates him from other world-class athletes. His strength is derived from an absolute, even fierce determination to serve others in their time of need. Mayweather’s heart, the purpose and meaning that informs his existence, beats to a different tune.
While surely not a bad human being, although beating on women might qualify for same, his lifestyle sends a message that the poor and suffering of the world not only do not matter, they may as well not exist. While many have excoriated journalists for drawing this distinction, well-reasoned and good people will, in moments of clarity, admit that the fight is bigger than boxing. Indeed, it has become a symbol of something much bigger, even grand beyond measure.
Mayweather’s selfish-beyond-measure approach to life, like the poor side of Vegas the disfranchised are forced to live in, needs rehabilitation. While it is not the business of the world or any journalist to dictate these terms it might be suggested that after he fights on Saturday night, Mayweather might consider taking Pacquiao up on his offer of bible study and to, perchance, refuse the temptation to buy another dust-collecting Bugatti. And in spending time on the west-side of Vegas where heavy dust continues to settle he might find in Clarence and the others collected there, the purpose and meaning that must inform any hope that he will eventually be accepted as the “best-ever.”
Commentary By Matthew R. Fellows
Sources:
Boston Herald
Mashable
Eur Web
Vegas Rescue
Photo By: Franco Folini – Creativecommons Flickr License
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