Sunday, May 6, 2007

TO THE HBO COMMENTATORS AND FREDDIE ROACH

You are all a disgrace. Let's start off with that so-called trainer, Freddie Roach.

Aren't you supposed to advise Oscar on what he's doing wrong in the ring, what he's doing right, what he should be doing, what he needs to avoid doing, and what would be the BEST course of action in the next round? In other words, aren't you supposed to tell him the truth about what's going on in the ring?

Not, tell him that he's doing, "great" when the man's punches are inflicting as much damage to his opponent as a clawless cat's futile attempt to climb silk drapes. Also, why in the name of, "everything that is holy in boxing" to quote the always hilarious Larry Merchant, did you remain silent 99% of the time when Oscar would go back to his/your corner rather than tell him exactly what was going through your mind? Why didn't you tell poor and understandably trusting, because after all you ARE HIS TRAINER, Oscar that he was getting the life beat out of him by the few yet precise and VICIOUS blows he was receiving to the head, from a WELL-ADVISED Mayweather? Guess what? YOU ARE HIS TRAINER. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TELL HIM WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TELL HIM THE TRUTH. THAT IS WHAT THE MAN PAYS YOU FOR. He does not have you there to shut your mouth like a MUTE, during one of the most important matches of his life. He does not have you there to give him the wrong advice. To quote Freddie Roach, "Keep doubling up on that jab. Keep doubling up on that jab" Are you bloody kidding me? Keep doubling up on that jab? The man has nothing left in him! He's swinging into the air half of the time like a GIRL and you don't see that? Why would you tell him to exhaust himself even more by throwing jabs rather than to tell him to block and move until he AT LEAST regains a little bit of energy in a round or two? You were sending him to career suicide by not being honest. Now, I'm not a millionaire with paid workers and staff who might enjoy, and is perhaps accustomed to hearing people say what they want to hear all of the time, or laugh at my not too funny jokes, or agreeing with me when its clear that I should be disagreed with, but trust me - yesterday's match was NOT one of those ha-ha-ha, I'm just laughing right now at your unfunny joke because you sign my paycheck moments. What do you think Oscar REALLY thinks of you today? Forget about what he told you after the fight about being the world's best trainer and yesterday's match and subsequent decision just being, "the breaks". Those were just the pleasantries of his outside thoughts. He thinks you are just like everyone else standing there with their hands out looking to suck money out of him like a leach sucks blood out of its prey. You don't give a HOOT about him or his career. You just want to laugh at his not funny jokes and get paid. Was the analysis of, "you're doing great" that you gave Oscar yesterday when he couldn't even catch his breath, more a force of habit, or do you just really not give a rats behind about this man, YOUR BOSS, or his career? Or was that insulting comment a way for you to hide your inability as a trainer? Why wasn't Mayweather out of breath by the fourth round as Oscar was? Why was Mayweather laughing in Oscar's FACE when he would deliver one of those unpainful jabs you wanted him to, "double up" on? Why? Because his trainer advised him properly. Because his trainer was honest with him about how to win that fight and was honest with him about his strengths against his opponent. His trainer told him EXACTLY what to do when that bell would ring at the end of each round. His trainer give him an honest analysis about the previous round. Not you. When it wasn't dead silence in that corner, you were telling Oscar outright lies about his performance, words like, "great" and advice like, "keep doubling up on that jab" are words I'm POSITIVE would not have come out of the mouth of the Mayweather trainer had the shoe been on the other foot. Now, I'm all about encouragement. But there is a fine line as to where encouragement ends, and sending someone to into battle with just a wing and a prayer begins. And that's exactly what you did yesterday. You are not a friend. You are not a trainer. You are nothing. How hurt must Oscar feel today by your complete disregard and betrayal not only as his trainer, but as a friend? How does it make you fell to know that YOU are the reason that man lost the fight. YOU are the reason he lost his title last night. YOU are the reason Mayweather was laughing in Oscar's face last night. If Oscar fires you as his trainer after he reviews last night's fight, you only have yourself to blame. Now, on the HBO commentators.

Tell me, what is your job description? Is it to comment on boxing matches and everthing that involves it? Why weren't you commenting on the bad advice from Oscar's trainer? Did you all go to the ladies room together like a group of girls when the bell would sound? Or were you just as shocked as the rest of us at Roach's behavior? Either answer is unacceptable. Powder your noses before the match begins and reserve your shyness for first-dates like the rest of us. And open your mouths like you are paid to and try just try to COMMENT as if you were a COMMENTATOR about the massacre that Roach was sending Oscar into. What happened yesterday? Did they run out of Tanqueray last night in Vegas Larry? Is that why you didn't say what you were thinking, what everyone was thinking? Is that why you were censored? You I forgive.

And what about you Jim Lampley you seem to have somewhat of a short-temper, why did you not rip into Freddie Roach in classic Lampley style? You seem to have little tolerance for nonsense of any kind, (which incidentally is the reason why I'm your #1 fan), why the HELL did you remain silent on Roach throughout the entire match? What happened to your tell-it-like-it-is commentary that is so refreshing today? Did someone not like your brand of honesty? Were you given orders to, "tone it down a bit"? Or did the house doctor recently begin prescribing Prozak for you on the orders of the suits upstairs? I hope that your answer is the latter and that you went down frothing at the mouth before they injected you with that liquid zombie juice. Any other reason is unacceptable and if I were you, I would hold myself personally responsible for not getting into that ring and saving Oscar by pushing Roach to the side and telling him EXACTLY, NO HOLDS BARRED, brother to brother that what Roach was saying was bologna. If you weren't on some form of mood-altering drug Jim, there is no excuse acceptable for you either. Allow me to be even more frank (if you're med-free that is): Peter Parker = Spider Man, Bruce Banner = The Incredible Hulk, Jim Lampley = Freddie Roach. And now to the world's premier boxing trainer, manager and commentator.

Let me tell you something Buddy. Take the above sentence off of your resume. It makes you look poorly, when you can't comment as a, "world's premiere" trainer/commentator on your peers lack of skills. It makes you look like you agree with his brand of disturbing advice. It makes you look like an amateur broadcaster and trainer. It makes it look like Lennox Lewis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Leon Spinks and our favorite boxer from last night had you on board because of pity. Why pity? Because you must be blind or have some other form of disability not to have spoken up honestly last night against the lies that Roach was telling his boss. Or did you too think Oscar was doing, "great" when Mayweather struck that world-class blow above Oscar's left ear? I take your silence to mean that you agreed with Roach's lackadaisical advice to, "keep up that jab" when Oscar could barely lift his arms. Since you did remain silent, you are an accomplice to last night's fiasco. You Mr. Steward are no premier boxing trainer.

There is also another possibility. Maybe we were all duped last night, and this was all just part of the big picture and everyone that I have just named were actually co-conspirators in ensuring De La Hoya vs. Mayweather II.

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