They chose everything

Most of the national dailies were still asking yesterday what was going to be the name of England's new royal baby. It is obvious they hadn't read the DAILY STAR, because we already announced the little princess' name as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. We guess that to have been chosen to honor Charles, her great-grandpa, Elizabeth the great-grandma, and of course, we all know why they had to include Diana.

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How can we stop talking about the disastrous Pacquiao-Mayweather fight when all the media are still full of it to this day? And there is also the discovery that poor Manny went into that fight while nursing an injury in his right shoulder. It turned out this was an old injury, that recurred only during the last days of training, and they did not want to seek postponement because they might be suspecting of evading the fight. Despite the pain he must have been feeling terribly, he did a very wonderful job, and would have won that fight, if not for the “forces” that went into play in Nevada.

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Why did we ever think that our Pacman had a chance while fighting with those people in that territory? Let us recall that they – the Mayweathers and their gang – were the ones who chose to agree to the fight, after more than five years of attempts to hold it. They were the ones who chose the date, the time, the place the purse, the sharing, the judges, the referee. And see, they even chose the scores! How could one believe the score that one of the so-called judges gave the fight of 110-118? Was he sleeping? Or was he under threat, as well as the others, of scoring it that way, or else?

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And there was also the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Informed about the pain in Manny's shoulder, and asked that he be given a shot for the pain, refused him outright. And yet, reports said that Floyd had also been given a shot earlier! If he weren't absolutely sure that they already had everything tied up, why did Mayweather get up that stand in the ring and shout “I won, I won!” even before the scores were announced? Anyway, his cries, as well as the announcement, were greeted, not by applause and cheers, but boos and jeers, which he deserved.

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In the meantime, Pinoys who were heartbroken after what happened to their idol, continue to curse the Mayweathers and their cohorts for the utter lack of “sportsmanship” as they saw in that encounter. One could sympathize with the jeepney drivers, the taxi drivers, and even street vendors in Manila who claimed that they were not able to earn anything all morning, and until the fight ended, because they chose to stop and watch it. Worst, at least three people were reported to have suffered heart attacks while watching it in Sorsogon, in Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, and in Tabaco, Albay. I bet many more almost suffered one, after hearing the verdict.

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A news report on TV said yesterday that, with his earnings from the recent fight added to all those from previous matches, Manny Pacquiao has joined the ranks of some of the world's top earners, that is, billionaires, in sports. The list includes the likes of Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and, ugh, Mayweather. I bet only the BIR Commissioner is licking her chops over that, but Manny himself doesn't seem to care, and probably would have spurned that, if he could have delivered what he wanted to give his kababayans – the victory over the boaster.

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A bright spot in these days of gloom, especially for us in Negros Occidental, is the recent appointment of one of our very own, Rowena Guanzon, as one of the commissioners of the Commission on Elections. We know that Rowena had been among those considered for the Comelec for some time now, but some attempts were being made to block her way. But, as they say, oil will float in water, and, the choice of somebody with her record could only augur the best for that very controversial agency.

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We are especially proud of this accomplishment of Rowena, having followed he career ever since the DAILY STAR was born, and for having her as one of our columnists until higher positions in the national scene called for her contributions. Congratulations, Commissioner Guanzon, your own folks may not be making much of this accomplishment, as humble and low-keyed as they are, but we sure are proud of you. And I bet Negrenses are, too! Good luck, and May God bless and inspire you always!*

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