Brits on Pacman

“That’s Pacquiao – he’s not a ‘me, me, me’ athlete,” continued Dixon. “He is not governed by money or fame. He is just a man who happens to be very good at what he does. For him and certainly his people, it’s not just about the money. It is about doing a nation proud.”

found this one sa yahoo. nakakatuwang basahin kaya share ko din.

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20090513/tsp-british-fans-awed-charmed-manny-d685dba_1.html

MANILA, Philippines - British fans are embracing Manny Pacquiao not just as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter but as a man who wears his heart on his sleeve – because what you see is what you get.

It was during Pacquiao’s recent promotional tour in London where the Filipino icon swept the hard-to-please British press off their feet. And when he knocked out Manchester’s Ricky Hatton, who once described himself as “the great white hope,” in Las Vegas two weekends ago, Pacquiao won over the British fans with his incredible fighting ability.

Pacquiao was referred to as Clark Kent and Peter Pan by writer Tris Dixon in the highly-respected London weekly trade paper Boxing News (May 1, 2009, issue). The reference to heroic characters spoke volumes of how Pacquiao is regarded in British media.

“He seems smaller than his 5-6 frame would lead you to believe and looks, unbelievably, almost vulnerable in a suit,” wrote Dixon. “It’s a sort of Clark Kent syndrome. Put him in boxing trunks, gloves and boots and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere near him in the ring. And he might be 30 but he has an ageless, Peter Pan-like quality about him.”

In contrast, the British press has been irreverent towards the disgraced Hitman. Some fans turned mercilessly against Hatton for failing to make good on his promise not to disappoint the legion of about 25,000 diehards who flew all the way to Las Vegas to chant, “There’s only one Ricky Hatton” to the tune of “Winter Wonderland.” Instead, the throng was treated to a dazzling display of Pacquiao firepower that sent Hatton to slumber.

The jokes from unforgiving British fans in the internet evoked a sense of disenchantment, if not displeasure. Hatton has been portrayed as almost a traitor to the British cause – rather unfairly. Surely, Hatton didn’t plan to end the fight the way it did.

Some Hatton jokes – ”Ricky Hatton walked into a library and asked for a book on boxing. The librarian said, ‘Try the ground floor.’” “What’s the difference between a 20-pound note and Hatton? The 20-pound note will last more than two rounds.” “For Hatton’s next fight, his sponsors are thinking about advertising on the soles of his boots.” “I think Hatton did a great job blocking the punches with his face.”

But it wasn’t the first time that a British champion fell victim to a Filipino in a world title fight. Flyweight champion Pancho Villa did it twice – over Jimmy Wilde in 1923 and Frankie Ash in 1924. So did another Filipino flyweight titlist Salvador (Dado) Marino, both over Terry Allen in 1950 and 1951. Frank Cedeno knocked out Charlie Magri for the WBC flyweight title in 1983 and Eric Jamili stopped Mickey Cantwell for the WBO minimumweight crown in 1997. With Pacquiao’s victory over Hatton, the count is now the Philippines seven and the UK, five in head-to-head world title fight wins.

Wilde and Magri are considered British ring legends despite their defeats to Filipinos and their life stories are immortalized in books. There were at least two books on Hatton published before he faced Pacquiao – it’s unlikely another will be out soon.

During his visit to London, Pacquiao charmed the British press by claiming Scottish ancestry then quoting what Dixon said was a “well-rehearsed” William Wallace monologue “with a decent, and wonderfully surprising, Scottish accent.”

Pacquiao said, “I’m from Scotland – my hero is William, William Wallace and we’re fighting for freedom.” Wallace, of course, was the 14th century Scottish freedom fighter whose story was the basis of the film “Braveheart” starring Mel Gibson.

“Pacquiao’s charm offensive pays off every time,” said Dixon. “He talks to the media with a twinkle in his eye, as if he enjoys engaging with people rather it being a chore. He is a man of the people. When he strips to the waist in a Las Vegas ring, a nation will stand still and hold its breath.”

Pacquiao told the British press he will be back in London “as a tourist.”

Dixon said one British writer asked if Pacquiao wanted to meet Queen Elizabeth since he named his daughter...Queen Elizabeth. Dixon noticed Pacquiao blushing shyly then replying, ‘Yes.”

“That’s Pacquiao – he’s not a ‘me, me, me’ athlete,” continued Dixon. “He is not governed by money or fame. He is just a man who happens to be very good at what he does. For him and certainly his people, it’s not just about the money. It is about doing a nation proud.”

It’s easy to understand why Pacquiao is now not just the property of the Philippines but the pride of the world. - By Joaquin Henson (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

proud to be a Pinoy.

ako nga bro sa tutuo lang kapag binubuksan ko ang tv at boksing, wala ng excitement.. kasi nasanay na sa quality ng laban ni pacquiao yun nililipat ko na lang ng channel.

actually agree ako that something happen with the name Philippines after Pacquiao fight. mga co- teachers ko (americans, canandians, british o australians) congratulations inabot ko. although hindi ako si Manny ha.. Filipino kasi ako.

mabuhay ang Pinoy...

add ko na lang din ito dito...

By Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, London | 05/15/2009 8:12 PM



A group of British-Filipino artists in London has lodged a complaint against a newspaper in London for allegedly printing racist comments against people’s champ Manny Pacquiao.

Sports columnist James Gill wrote in his regular column published by the thelondonpaper, “Top five ways Ricky Hatton can upset Manny Pacquiao,” a day before the Battle of the East and West match in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2.

The group feels Gill was making fun not only of the Pinoy iconic boxer, but of the Filipino people and its culture as well.

The group maintains the sports pundit has to make a distinction between the Philippines and Mexico because they are not one and the same.

Gill’s number 5 item in his "top five ways" suggested that Hatton should wear poncho and sombrero. He wrote: "Make way into the ring wearing poncho and sombrero while coughing." The group said he was alluding to Mexico with "poncho and sombrero" while "coughing" is suggesting swine flu where the virus is said to have originated.

“I thought the British media are more globally aware and more sensitive,” said Joyce Veheary, an actress both in theatre and television.

"I speak for the British-Filipino. I wasn’t born here but I was raised in England and I consider myself British. I find it really insulting that they are making these broad generalizations that aren’t even true. It’s supposed to be witty but wittiness has to have some intelligence behind it and it hasn’t,” she added.

Inflammatory

Ed Lao said although the write-up occupied a small portion in the paper, it was very inflammatory. He thought it was tongue-and-cheek at first but the last comment got on his nerves.

“It says 'Change the nickname from the 'Hitman' to 'Me Love You Long Time.' For me that was out of order, way, way out of order. For one thing, how does that relate to Filipinos? That’s why we are making this show because we feel there is an injustice and we are labelled incorrectly. If you are going to make a joke, at least make it correct,” explained Lao.

The British-Pinoys spoke with ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau after the success of the group’s first production, Pearls of the East, which showcased British-Filipino artists and Filipino culture.

Economic offense

For Emily Foster, it was the fourth item in the ‘Five ways’ that irked her: “Mock the Philippines’ poor GDP per capita, while being careful not to highlight their robust agricultural sector.” She said it was not a cultural comment but an economic comment that is equally offensive.

“The fact that this country is poorer than this country and to think that we are all going through economic crisis at the moment and that’s all they muster up? It’s offensive to everybody whether you are Filipino or British,” said Foster.

“This blatant racism in thelondonpaper, James Gill, that you think it’s actually okay to mock another culture because if it was anyone else, there will be complete uproar. This is absolutely ridiculous. This high level institutional racism which the country says ‘Oh no, we don’t do’ is so apparent in thelondonpaper which everyone can read,” said Shaun Ricafranca, a theatre actor and writer.