09.09.07 – By Vivek Wallace: In approximately two weeks, pound 4 pound Champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. will take part in ABC’s ‘Dancin’ with the Stars reality show and as expected, the words from his mouth in regards to this adventure totally rival those from the mouth of his cynics. In every corner of the boxing world, critics, antagonist, and perhaps even a few fans, continue to criticize the move but for Floyd, it could be well timed and pay dividends in the end.
For starters, what better way to do damage control – in terms of sharpening his image in the public eye – than on a nationally televised show that has a rating only rivaled by television’s leader, ‘American Idol’?
For a man who – in his words – spent most of his last fight trying to uphold a ‘bad-guy’ image, there’s no question Floyd will have an unprecedented stage being viewed by millions to show his more humble, human-like side.
Floyd, in many ways remains a man firmly entrenched in the midst of two vastly different worlds. There’s Floyd the philanthropist which most never hear of, then there’s Floyd, the money spending, jewel wearing kid with tons of talent. There’s the humble Floyd spending time with his kids off the camera’s, then there’s the bling-brandishing Floyd in front of the camera’s. The difference between the two seem to remain a bit distant, but in a recent interview with ESPN”s Steve Kim, Floyd’s dance partner, Karina Smirnoff, shed light on this equation as she stated that his antics “come with the territory”, as it would in any case where a person is used to “going in the ring against an opponent who could physically hurt them”. Cementing her theory, she also spoke of how there’s also a very “charming, almost like a kid side to him, that’s absolutely appealing”. Far from the words that most fans who see him on television have to say.
Giving the anti-Floyd denomination even more ammo is the fact that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has adopted controversial Rapper 50Cent as his running mate when in public. The irony in this whole scenario that no one has seemed to truly grasp is the fact that Rapper 50Cent (Curtis Jackson) decided to use that stage name for the same reason that Floyd may benefit from it now. Few outside the underground rap world actually know the name ’50Cent’ was used metaphorically to express ‘CHANGE’….A change from the ‘street’ ways that nearly took his life, to a more marketable, yet still ‘street’ image that eventually would help propel and preserve it. A strong hint of ‘street’ life remains in him for album sell purposes, yet the acts of yesterday (i.e. attempted murder, drug distribution, etc) are all things of the past. For Floyd Mayweather Jr., it appears it’s gonna take a change as well to help propel him to the greener pastures he continues to desire.
His continued efforts to achieve greatness have been well chronicled, but no matter how well he’s looked in the ring, his actions outside of it have kept him from being respected and in many ways even considered as a fan fave by the masses. The timing of this television adventure could not be anymore suspect, but the results it could yield may very well have come at the right time. This appearance will undoubtedly net him more viewers than he’s ever had at his disposal, but what he does with them now sits firmly in his control. Rapper 50Cent probably isn’t the best role model in the world, but the fact that we don’t understand something – or in this case someone – doesn’t mean that those who do understand it, can’t learn from it. Hopefully Floyd uses this metaphorical opportunity for ‘change’ wisely, because on the morning of December 9th when the headlines are printed, he shall stand alone. Either in supremacy after a victory, or in denial of himself after a defeat.
Floyd knows, but only time will tell.
(Got feedback?: Write Vivek Wallace at vivexemail@yahoo.com or show some love at myspace.com/anonymouslyinvolved).