Money!!!

So, I took some time off……. I sat back the past few weeks and watched the sports highlight-reels develop; even traveled to cover a few events on the East Coast (which included my first experience at Yankee Stadium).  But anyway, lets get some “real talk” going………. 
 

Floyd “Money” Mayweather returned to the ring a few weeks ago, and over the past few days I’ve been reading some of the sports-wires with their biased Pacquiao fans who hate anything Mayweather and love everything PacMan.  As a fan of the sport and (not some fanatic-follower who youtubes highlights of any one particular fighter), I’ve found the one-sidedness out there to be bit disingenuous, so for those who haven’t been introduced to “Money,” and only know him from HBO’s 24/7, allow me the privilege to do so. 

“Money: not just because he pays everything in cash, lives a Hip-Hop lifestyle, or is the “over” on EVERY betting line to which his name is attached, but because the boy is good!!”  Over his Career, Mayweather has won 6 belts in 5 different weight classes, has held a title 10 of his 11 yrs as a pro, is undefeated as a professional (and by the way his amateur profile is just as impressive, which includes a Bronze in the ’96 Games in ATL), and he has NEVER won a vacant title (meaning he beat the top guy to win each strap he’s championed)… and he is by far the most dedicated athlete in the sport, as its been well documented that you can sometimes find him in the gym running sprints at 4am. 

I’ll admit, lately his fights have become more predictable, and who could blame him for chasing the Euros considering how GoldenBoy Promotion is hungry to feed him whoever he wants from their roster (even De la Hoya himself would get back in there for a $20M payday).  And as much as people want to blame Floyd for not posting a KO every time he fights, it cannot be disputed that he’s still the greatest defensive fighter of this generation!  Not only has he never been knocked down, but he’s never been in any serious trouble… not one round, ever!! 

Speaking of money, he’s by far the biggest PPV draw in the sport, hence the bullseye he wears as an accessory to his flashy lifestyle.  So now, everybody wants to fight him; some to make a statement, while others like Shane Mosley just want to bankroll their retirement… And to discuss this further, there’s this “misconception” that ”Money’s” been avoiding Shane Mosley… Could be true, but one has to also address the fact that Shane hasn’t been in too much of a hurry to fight Floyd either (until now, ala “bankroll”)!!  Let’s be frank, Shane avoided Floyd in ’06 around the time Floyd beat Baldomir & Juda, talking about he wanted to go on vacation with his family. Now that Sugar’s 38, he wants to retire having fought everybody… so he’s anxious, and perhaps rightfully so.  Now, I can’t blame these guys for wanting to preserve their careers, and take time when necessary to get things straight in their personal lives; “Money” did the same thing 2 years ago when a fight between him and Cotto was Primetime TV.  I personally don’t think a fight between these two will ever happen, (ala Roy Jones & Bernard Hopkins)….. 

I realize most fans want to see head banging action, and don’t particularly have an appreciation for pure boxing skills… for those fans, allow me introduce you to the UFC!!  Fact is, Floyd isn’t that kind of fighter…. never has been, never will be.  His defensive technique will overwhelm & frustrate any fighter in the division (including Manny Pacquiao, whom I have great respect for)…. Which leads to another point: The Lack of Appreciation// 

Reality for “Money” is, unfortunately it doesn’t matter WHO he beats, the critics will always create an excuse for his opponent: Gatti had issues with the weight (RIP), Oscar was too old, Hatton wasn’t disciplined enough, Marquez was too small, etc.  Next it will be: Shane was over the hill, Pacquiao was the smaller man, Cotto was never the same fighter after Margarito, and it was too early in Berto’s career (if that fight ever happens).  The truth is, in 2 years he (quite possibly) will have beaten every big name between 144 and 150 lbs, and hold a record of something like 44-0; which again will get chopped up by those who drop $50 on PPV just hoping to see him lose. 

But if he ‘Windexes’ the division, what will the critics have to say about “Money” then?  Nothing really, they’ll continue to take shots at his career… But the truth is, if he chops up the division by 2011, he could go down as one of the greatest Welterweights of all times!!   

That post will read something like: “Hall of Fame, allow me to introduce you to Money!”    

 

T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com 

“Rookie Hold’em: smart negotiations or greedy bluffs?”

Imagine receiving a offer-sheet in the mail… employment consideration with earning potential at a tax bracket higher than 85% of the country’s population; and a first year’s salary greater than the combined incomes of your entire family!  I’m talking major figures, the kind of money that pays cash for new high-rise property, and still has enough to furnish the entire real estate project.  Imagine that for a second… in today’s economic downturn where ordinary folks are losing jobs everyday and retirement funds expire like last week’s milk… that you were given an opportunity to step into your dream job with guaranteed financial security. 

You’re 21 years old.  Spent the last 3 years staring into school books & the bottom of cheap bottles of gin.  Don’t get me wrong, life hasn’t been easy; watched Dad drive off at an early age & mom worked 3 jobs to pay for your Big-10 education.  But none of that matters today, because you have a job offer sitting across from you that can erase the shame of having to wear hand-me-downs in Jr. High!  Ink pen in hand, mom’s smiling… “Did they spell my name right? CHECK!!”  Only thing left is to sign the contract, and you will be delivering 2 generations of your family from poverty.  

 ”Hold up… I thought we agreed on $45 Million?!  This looks like $43.5M… I need them to come up to Top-10 money or I aint signing!!!”

Look, I’ve been in the board room a few times, and believe in tough negotiations.  Every cent matters, and if it were an offer for $43,500 instead of the $45,000 that you’d hoped, I think I’d be more sympathetic considering fluctuations in gas prices.  But, when you were basically running back punt-returns the previous year FOR FREE, cradled a 2.1 GPA just so you would stay academically eligible for Saturdays, dropped out of college with a job offer while your fellow students prepare for their senior year… and offered a package to embrace a celebrity lifestyle for the rest of your life, “CRY ME A ______ RIVER!!”

It’s a joke to most reasonable people, that you would jeopardise your future on a few decimal points, especially when they can be accounted for in possible endorsement offers, returns from proper investment, bonuses, & future earnings if you come to training camp on time/do the right things.  When week-1 comes, and you haven’t made ANY strides with the organization or the local community, not only does it look bad for the business of “Self-Promotions,” but other teams, who could eventually pick up your contract years down the road, will always remember how you stuck it to your drafting squad over $1.5M (which is more like $650K after taxes & fees). 

And worse case scenario: if you injure yourself with a spoon while eating Fruit Loops & watching ESPN “First Take” one morning and can’t report to camp, you risk being dropped COMPLETELY… thus ending up as “the guy around the corner who had an offer to play in the NFL, but now teaches P.E. at Peavy Middle School.”

 

 T.J. Breeden
www.iblmedia.com