Paul Strauss: Some are portraying the differences between the Margarito and Pacquiao camps as personal and geniune, not the usual hype boxing fans are used to seeing as part of the promotional build up. However, the fact is there’s nothing unusual about things getting personal. It happens all the time. Many times there are differences in personalities or jealousies. Sometimes there’s even more than a little bit of insanity………i.e. comments about “tearing someone’s heart out”, or “eating someone’s children”, or the more mundane things like, “I will kill you!”
Usually fans and the media shake their heads, sometimes chuckle a bit, and shrug it off as a symptom of the less than desirable aspect of the sport. No one seriously tries to change it, or heaven forbid, prevent it.. First of all, how could it be enforced. Promoter Bob Arum expanded on that fact when he explained he is powerless to do much about the Margarito Camp’s recent exhibition of stupidity involving making fun of trainer Freddie Roach. Specificially, Antonio Margarito and Brandon Rios revealed their true bullying, mean spirited type of character when making fun of Freddie’s involuntary tremors, shaking and tilted head due to Parkinson’s disease. Arum explained he is not an NFL commissioner with the authority to fine them. As a result, there’s a helplessness, because fans realize that all that usually happens is a little bit of media dialogue and posturing about “Something ought to be done!” Then nothing is. But, the fact is many who might not have been pulling for Manny before probably are now, because of the astonishingly bad behavior of Margarito and his camp. .
The pathetic attempts by Margarito’s Camp to offer an explanation and apology do not ring true. Trainer Robert Garcia asserts Rios didn’t know that Freddie had Parkinson’s. Rather, this “head in the sand” fighter just thought Freddie’s symptoms were the result of losing thirteen fights! That of course suggests shifting one type of thoughtlessness for another. It implies it is okay to make fun of someone who has brain damage due to blunt force truama.. Incredible!
Antonio and his Camp sound like spoiled dangerous children, who tell their parents or teacher, “Yeh, but he started it!” They claim that Freddie made the first jab by talking about the infamous handwrap scandal, when in fact anyone contemplating a fight against Margarito ought to be concerned about it. But, they shriek over the nerve of Freddie for bringing it up when Margarito has denied any guilt. What gall! Apparently they feel the California and Nevada commissions “rushed to judgment”. It’s surprising that Antonio didn’t claim “the glove(s) didn’t fit”. Rios insinuates that in his opinion Freddie wasn’t necessarily stating fact, but was attempting to play mind games. As a result, Rios’ pulled his head out of the sand (or somewhere else) long enough to raise his hackles and angrily spout, “Mind games don’t work with Mexicans!” What? Must be something in the water?
Consequently, the differing levels of distastefullness continue to rise to the surface. When Margarito used to say that “I will do anything to win”, fans took that to mean he was willing to make the tremendous sacrifices necessary to be a champion, depriving himself of normal essentials, driving himself beyond the normal limitsl, willing to absorb tremendous punishment to accomplish his goal However, the more he and his Camp come out of the dark and into the light, the more they reveal their true character and the dumber they sound. There’s hope though. Maybe Saturday night, they will be exhibitiing more than just a token of respect for the opposition. Let’s hope so.