by Greg Bishop
New York Times
LOS ANGELES — The condominium looks like a fraternity house, not the resting place for boxing royalty. Stained carpets cover the floor. Dartboards hang from the wall. Bowls of food, half-eaten leftovers, line the kitchen
Manny Pacquiao, one of the best boxers in the world, sleeps here. But he does not sleep alone.
Pacquiao, who faces Miguel Cotto in a welterweight title fight Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, does not do anything alone.
His entourage — swollen, dysfunctional and, in his mind, necessary — makes sure of that. On a recent visit, while Pacquiao slept upstairs, one member did the laundry. Another surfed the Internet. Yet another sprawled on the couch, his booming snores interrupting another otherwise peaceful morning for Team Pacquiao.
“They’re all competing to be golden boy for the day,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “Clean his pool. Take his shoes off. They will do anything for Manny Pacquiao.”
Roach paused, unable to suppress his laughter.
“I’m telling you,” he continued, “the funniest thing is, whoever is on the best terms with Manny at that moment sleeps closest to him, at the foot of his bed.”
More than anything, they wait. They wait for Pacquiao to wake up, to eat, to spar, to sing, sign autographs, do interviews, act, shop.
Before one sparring session last month, members of the entourage arrived early, fetched towels, cleared the gym and debated what type of Gatorade their employer would prefer, finally settling on orange. When word came that Pacquiao was sleeping, that he might not practice, they waited, dozens of lives affected by the whimsical decisions of one man.
Team Pacquiao has perfected the art of functional dysfunction. The entourage consists of trainers, assistants to the trainers, advisers, assistants to the advisers, cooks, dishwashers, car washers, drivers, publicists, gofers and security.
Its size varies, as do assignments and sleeping arrangements, members shuffling from bunk beds to twin beds to the foot of the most important bed. Usually, at least 20 aid in Pacquiao’s routines.
“I see new guys every day,” said Joe Ramos, an assistant. “Guys who I don’t even know who they are, or what they do.”
Pacquiao craves companionship, seeking comfort in numbers. He said he likes good company, which explains why he sleeps in the condo while the sprawling house he owns nearby sits mostly empty, leaves in the pool, ants in the kitchen.
Confidants believe this stems from his childhood, when he grew up so poor in the Philippines that his younger brother, Bobby, described each day as “survival mode.” The path to reclaimed youth includes all of the activities Pacquiao missed, like darts, billiards, basketball and marathon karaoke sessions.
Pacquiao tolerates little disrespect based on placement in his hierarchy, another policy produced by his upbringing.
He once sold doughnuts on the street. So when Ramos suggested they find less expensive alternatives for washing his car, noting that Pacquiao paid a man at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, where he trains, $200 three times a week, Pacquiao warned Ramos never to eliminate the job of someone trying to earn a living.
This leads to tasks that overlap, filled by people who perform the same function. Or people who perform essentially no function.
“There’s a lot going on,” said Rob Peters, the head of the security detail. “You have to know who everybody is, what they do. It’s almost like I need a chart.”
The entourage compares itself to a large family, but the daily competition for Pacquiao’s affection and power makes this brood competitive and intense. Winners receive perks, like riding in the car with Pacquiao, or sitting next to him while he eats.
They say they must fight to prove themselves, and while they do not mean this literally, sometimes fisticuffs occur. Recently in the Philippines, two members of Team Pacquiao, the adviser Michael Koncz and the conditioning coach Alex Ariza, came to blows over the coveted corner slots for Saturday’s bout.
Koncz said the fight was overblown and that he always operates with Pacquiao’s best interests at the forefront. Ariza said Koncz remains at the center of the team’s conflicts, whether attempting to have Roach fired, or failing to give credit to others, two charges Koncz dismissed
During training, an unidentified culprit hung a sign inside the gym. It read: The meeting for the Mike Koncz Fan Club has been canceled. Roach claimed no knowledge of the sign’s source. But he was in no hurry to remove it. “I don’t know if he’s socially maladjusted, or if it’s just an ineptness to socialize,” Ariza said of Koncz on Wednesday in Las Vegas. “I know it sounds funny, but I’m serious. He’s caused disarray.”
Referring to Pacquiao, Roach added: “I know this: Alex doesn’t cut his meat for him. Mike Koncz does.”
Such is life in what may be the strangest entourage in sports. For as complex as their interactions with one another are, each member of the entourage has his own relationship with Pacquiao. And he is the only man each answers to.
There is Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s childhood friend, who worked as a janitor in Pacquiao’s first gym. Fernandez once handled the duties now performed by 15 men, like washing his boss’s socks, or holding a rice cooker near the vent in a hotel so staff could not smell food being prepared. His reward? His own room in the condo.
There is Koncz, who, despite the criticism, still holds significant sway, particularly in regard to Pacquiao’s finances. There is Peters, the security guard and Boston sports fan who must turn away families seeking autographs. There is Ramos, who handles tickets. He secured 500 for Saturday’s fight alone and still heard complaints from folks who wanted 30 instead of 29.
The worst job?
“The cook,” Pacquiao said. “Because there are so many. He must cook a lot.”
What concerns Ariza are those who take advantage, the hangers-on who can pay for their own tickets but choose not to, who spend all day waiting to pitch Pacquiao their products, who receive something and still want more.
Sometimes Pacquiao sequesters himself inside his bedroom, waiting for the living room to clear. Most nights, Peters stops by to expedite the process.
“The downfall of Manny Pacquiao, if there is one, will be his kindness and generosity,” Koncz said. “At some point, I fear that’s going to catch up to him.”
On Tuesday in Las Vegas, Pacquiao conducted interviews inside a trailer. When he finished, someone grabbed a jacket and helped him put it on. Someone else stood at the bottom of the stairs, in case he fell. Someone else started the team bus, each seat filled.
Off they went, the dysfunctional entourage that still manages to function, the boxer surrounded by his staff.
Sleeping arrangements, at least for some, were still to be decided.
“The downfall of Manny Pacquiao, if there is one, will be his kindness and generosity,” Koncz said. “At some point, I fear that’s going to catch up to him.”
Does this mean uto-uto at nagpapabola sa mga sipsip si Manny? Tsk, tsk!!! 😛
Mas masarap mag comment kapag politiko or yung mga kulasisi nya ang kasama sa pictures.
Hindi lang kasi alam nang Koncz na yan ang pinoy psyche. Iba ang pinoy makisama. Minsan nga up to the extent na nauuto pa, tulad ng sabi ni Pareng Mike.
There were many “famous” sports personalities who made millions during the height of their career and lost them all just as fast…the only consolation for the one in Unionized Professional sports is that they get their very Generous Pensions at younger age, which is not subject to garnishment or any debt obligation whatsoever. I would like Manny P. to be very careful with his wealth and the people he keep for company, especially the Politicians…
Read somewhere, that Manny squandered millions when he ran for congressman. They say a lot of amuyongs and sipsips asked money from Manny telling the latter that they will give it to political leaders and use it also to print campaign materials, etc… only to learn later that the money went to their pockets. Another incident was in the US when a former driver (I think) stole money from his bank account. Dapat kay Manny mag ingat talaga sa pinaghirapan niyang pera. Daming mapagsamantalang kunwari ay kaibigan.
GOOD LUCK MANNY
If Manny continues to hang around sabit swingson, he is bound to be an underworld character, patong patong ang asawa, leader ng mga sugalan at kung ano ano pang illegal na businesses. He has to be wiser with his decision. If he wants to one day be one of the movers and shakers of the country, he should at least finish higher education. Marami naman dyan home study. He can afford a tutor at home. Until then, alam naman natin ang mga Pilipino, tumitingin din yan sa qualifications kahit papaano. It is to his best interest to be schooled and stay away from the hoodlums!
I like him as a boxer but as a politician? NOPE!
Much as I would want Manny to still win every fight until he retires, with those hangers-on surrounding him, I don’t know, me feels they’re gonna drag him down a bit faster. I’m not even sure if he is gonna beat Cotto. So many distractions during his training like the typhoons, politics, so-called friends, etc…
And what happens when the time comes he’s not popular anymore after loosing several fights and with that, shrinking fortunes… those faces you see in the picture? You wouldn’t see those jokers faces near Pacman anymore. They will avoid him like a plague. Manny would be lucky if he still could retain one or two of those schmucks.
what money can do indeed…isn’t he in the inner circle of singson and mike?
Iron Mike Tyson lost 350million buckaroos earned from 10 years as a pugilist. He once had a 10mil house in Vegas, loaded with expensive exotic cars, and a pet Tiger (I always wished the tiger bit Iron Mike’s head even once to see how it feels to get bitten, hehe…), he paid his bodyguards from 60 to 90 thousand bucks a month, wished I was one of them.
Manny seem a likable little thug, and he just needs to be reminded of his poor upbringing and sorroundings, what it’s like down there in the slums – he should never go broke ala Iron Mike. But if does, I’ll laugh hard.
My fight prediction: Manny will lose. Why? This is the first time I dropped a bunch for him to win. I’m his jinx?!
“The downfall of Manny Pacquiao, if there is one, will be his kindness and generosity,” Koncz said. “At some point, I fear that’s going to catch up to him.”
Agree!
Parang malulusog ang mga ala-lay ni Manny. Siguro lechong baka araw-araw.
Sa artikulong ito, naaalala ko si Pretty Boy Lukas.
Minsan din siyang naging sikat nung panahon niya. 2 titulo din ang minsang niyang hinawakan. Maraming tao ang nasa paligid niya at nakikinabang sa kanya. Marami siyang tinulungan ar dahil dun maraming naging kaibigan kuno.
Minsan niyang ipinagtanggol yung kanyang korona bilang (flyweight champion ata yun). Natalo siya sa laban at sinapit din ang isang aksidente mismo sa laban na iyon.
Sabi ng mga dalubhasa, nag-shrink yung utak niya dahil sa isang malakas na suntok na tinamo niya. Di nagtagal pati bungo niya nag-iba na rin ang itsura. Di na raw siya pwedeng lumaban kahit na kailan. Dahil din sa kondisyon niya hanggang ngayon. di siya makakuha ng trabaho para buhayin ang sarili. May asawa siya at mga anak. Pero nung mangyari sa kanya ito, iniwan siya ng asawa niya isinama pati mga anak. Nawala na rin yung mga tao na nasa paligid niya noon na nakikinabang. Isa lang ang natira, yung kapatid niya.
Ang buhay nga naman. Pag marami kang pera marami ka ring kaibigan. Pag wala na iyon sa iyo, maswerte ka kung may matira sa tabi mo para umalalay sa iyo.
Si Singson? Kung matira itong lintik na ito sa tabi niya, milagrong tunay.
Ano ba ang mapapala ng isang tao sa isang ahas?
I don’t want Pacquiao to win this fight because he is allied with Glueria and Singson.
Hindi maganda ang ” sense ” o pakiramdam-pang-amoy ko ngayong laban ni Pacman. Una sobra sa abuso ang mga Tongressmen, lingkod bayan,$$$-sugarol, etc.. sa pag-punta sa MGM-LV para mapanood ang laban ( addicted-fanatism na ang nagyayari. Nakalimutan ang tungkulin sa Bayan, at tumulong sa mga nasalanta ng Bagyong, Ondoy at Pepeng ). Isa pa na napuna ko / namin, nasaan na ang Rosary-Prayer
brigade ni Aling Dionisia, Ina ni Manny. Napalitan na ng, pasayaw-sayaw, pakanta-kanta, at mga grandstanding-shows.
Ang mga ito ay di magandang sign at malas ( kailangan humility palagi, kahit na ang swerte ay nandyan..) saka yata sa mga sangkot sa beauties. Si Pacman bilang Icon ng Pilipinas sa sports-boxing, masakit sa lahat ng Pinoy na matalo sya, ngunit, sa mga pag-babago ng mga inpluwensya ng salapi, AY AYAW NG PANGINOON iyan. Baka bigyan ng leksyon ang mga sumo-sobra, at nakakalimot sa pag-darasal, lalo na ang Ina, at mga naka-paligid sa kanya.Ang record ni Cotto, isa ang talo, at mukhang bakal ang mukha’t-katawan, pati tipo ay dilikadong kalaban. Dapat ingatan, ang araw na malas, mga linta, at pag-limot sa pag-darasal.
Ang kalooban ni Manny ay Okay, maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-bayan, ngunit ang mga guma-gamit sa kanya ay baka mag-bigay ng MALAs NA ARAW..Winning is a gift of GOD,when one forgets God, you lose. Sa laban na ito, earthly ang aura ni Manny, at si Cotto ay nasa aura ng air o ” hangin “, spiritual..I wish huwag magkaroon ng aksedinting mga suntok, na di sina-sadya. SANA, maipanalo uli ni Manny ang labang ito, kaya lang baka lalong maglakihang (ulo-tainga) ang mga allied nya, na syang mga kontrabida, at sumisira sa
“gifts” ng Diyos sa bansa at pamilyang Pacquiao. Analysis lamang po ito.
kay “Cotto” ako…
Isa pang distraction ni Pacman ay si Krista, ayon sa mga tsismis. 😛
Sikat si Pakyo nasa HBOEH.
O.T.
Filipino boxer ZC Oliveros “The Dream” Gorres remains in critical condition after winning.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/11/14/09/z-gorres-wins-over-columbian-foe-rushed-hospital
Praying for the fast recovery of Z Gorres.
Mananalo pa rin iyan si Pacquiao. Mananalo rin siyang congressman next year.
Pero hanggang diyan na lang dahil yung dasal niya ay hindi na pakikinggan ni Bro pag kumabit siya sa mga taong nagpapahirap sa bayan.
Maawa naman kasi kayo kay Paquiao. Kaya sya lumalaban ay para sa pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino. Kapag nagkaisa na mga Pilipino, lalaban pa rin siya para hindi muli magkawatak watak ang mga Pilipino.
Walang kinalaman si pacquiao sa pagkakaisa sa mga pinoy… ipagpatuloy nalang niya ang boxing at huwag ng makisawsaw pa sa pulitika dahil ISA RIN SIYANG WALANG ALAM.
Kapag ipagpapatuloy niya sa mga taong nasa likuran niya darating ang araw kapag siya ay laos na babalik na babalik siya dating estado ng buhay niya. Walang umasenso sa boxing…
Mga tsamba lang ang pinanalo ni pacquiao dahil halos lahat ng nakalaban niya paretiro na at matatanda na rin. Kung talagang magaling si pacquiao dapat olympic gold siya.
Mamaya matatapos na ang kanyang career dahil bugbog sarado kay idol cotto….
Sa larong Manny vs. Cotto, ang masasabi ko, “Manny-huhin” ng husto ang kanyang bilis sa paa-suntok-kaliwa’t-kanan, karanasan, at fucos sa kalaban ( dasal ), dahil, baka, “Co-CoTTuhin, sya ng husto, mula, 1st-3rd-5th rounds. Paglumampas si Manny dito, okay na lang siguro ( how about a lucky punch in the 10th-11th rounds, kung aabutin pa ?..).
I give credit to MP for having so much trusts on these servants. Did it ever occur to him someone is poisoning him? At the same token, am pretty sure Pakyaw has mole in there closely but non-chalantly listening and keeping his eyes wide open on everyone’s movement. I believe that’s the person being paid the most.
I’ve said tis many times in other blogs, boxing is no different to UFC/MMA. Floyd Gayweather and the Pakyaw had been elusive and quite a difficult target for their opponents. One hard punch in the head is all it takes and kiss the canvas goodbye. My prediction is the same: Pakyaw will lose coz my dough is all over him. I’m his jinx. In less than six hours, the fight will be over. The Filipinos will dis-unite once more whether he wins or have lost. Barilan na naman sa Mindanao and all over the islands, what else is new.
Balik ulit sa batikusan ng mga wannabes.
(UPDATE) Pacquiao knocks down Cotto twice
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/11/15/09/pacquiao-knocks-down-cotto-round-3
CONGRATULATIONS ULI KI MANNY !..HE DID MADE HISTORY IN BOXING all over the world..10th-11th-12th was the deciding factor.
He really did managed all his GODLY gifts for the country, the Filipinos and to his family. CONGRATULATIONS !.. We should be truly proud of him…Sana tangapin ng husto ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya na sya ay na-iiba sa lahat ng lahing Pinoy, huwag inpluwensyahin sa kalukuhan. Manny is truly, Maka-DIYOS, Maka-TAO, at MAKA-Bayan..Thank you Lord-GOD for making us proud of MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO !…He is the best Filipino today.
The smartest thing Pacquiao can do now is not to run for public office but instead put up a foundation to help those he wants to help.
Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao, he deserves it. Now, as to those people around him especially the politicians, buntalin sana kayo ni Pacman sa mukha para lumambot naman, ang titigas na kasi ng mga mukha niyo. Pwe!!!
Sa MGM-LV, Pacman’s Prime Time, wala sa eksena ang magagaling na 50+++ politicians sa atin. Yuong isa laging naka bunto’t ( naka-chavit-sabit ), mukhang kawawa, ngunit
parang naka-kahiya ang pwesto sa kamera. Dapat sana inayos nila muna ang mga problema sa Pinas, bago nagpuntahan para
aksayahin ang pera, at oras ni Juan de La Cruz, na siyang
unang tungkulin nila..Pwede naman palang “live-TV-shows” ang labanan nina Manny Vs. Cotto sa Pinas, ay kung bakit pa sila pumunta sa LV ( lalo na sa mga tongressmen at puno or pinuno nila ). They should have shown the ethical and moral values as elected officials of the poor nation. Good the wining of Pacman brought everything an honor to all Filipinos , and the malayan race or asia, that erased their
questionable presence in Las Vegas ( I mean they should be men of principles and descipline, like Pacman ).
Some observations:
Second row at ringside seemed like Nograles, at one point donned a dark glasses to conceal himself??
Nograles claimed he sat with Dionisia on a coach flight to LV and he never got bored with her. He also made a statement his friends from his hometown paid for his trip.
Sab-it Switekson before and after the fight was so nervous and pale; surmised he bet on Cotto. Baka mangutang ki Pakyaw ng one million dollars.
There is a Filipino boxer from Cebu whose name is Gorres; he’s been in a coma since passing out after winning his bout. He’s at the UMC (Univ Medical Center), several miles from MGM and the Pakyaw, up to this point hasn’t paid him a visit. With the Pakyaw’s over 20 million payoff, he could easily pay for Mr Gorres’ medical bills IF he is “maka Diyos” as many would say. I’m hoping for this kid’s recovery with or without the Pakyaw’s help.
tru blue, I think the boxers in this kind of bout are insured. So, no need for Manny’s financial help. But a visit from the champ would be nice though. 🙂
Manny is now considered as one of the greatest fighter in boxing history.
Manny is great.
Mike, he’s insured but tourists and working visa holders have different types of insurance if they only read thru the lines. From what I know, it’s mostly capped, meaning if he stayed there longer than what his insurance require; then the rest of the expenses will be borne by him. Being told he’s in a coma is quite serious requiring all sorts of medical attention and hospital stay of a week or more gets to be expensive. The only upside of his situation is that UMC is a public hospital.
Still, I’d like him to recover and able to go home alive. It’s more expensive to be sent home stiff and I hope that’s not the case. Cheers.
My runner told me Pakyaw is an early favorite with his “to be determined” (tbd) fight with PBF. Odd were posted early this morning at -140 Pakyaw and +140 PBF.
Of course it may not even come into fruition since the ever-greedy Floyd Gayweather (just like most of our noypi politicians; it’s always a good metaphor, hehe…) wanted a 65/35 share of the purse. Hooooy Floyd!!! Look who’s favorite by the oddsmaker.
If I was Pakyaw, I’ll not fight this idiot. Pakyaw is the current draw, so whoever he will face in the coming months – the money is there. He will certainly make a lot.
Magandang icon ba para sa kabataan si Pacquiao?
Huwag na kayong mag-aral, boksing na lang, bilyunaryo pa kayo wala pa kayong ninakawan. Basta dibdibang ensayo at dasal lang!
Kung si Efren Bata Reyes naman ang idol nila, magbilyar na lang kayo, anong silbi ng edukasyon? Magiging DH lang kayo. Pero kung sa exclusive school magco-college, baka pagkatapos mo ng Nursing, o Engineering, pwede ka nang maging…call center agent!
Si Bata, $20K hanggang $200K ang kinikita sa loob ng tatlong araw pag nagchampion.
Si Pacquiao, mahigit dalawang Bilyon ang kinita sa tatlong huling laban niya.