Now that it is over, after watching the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight on Saturday night, do you feel cheated? Do you feel like you were deprived of a Saturday night’s worth of entertainment? Is it like that date night where the expectations were high and when it was over a peck on the cheek was not even to be considered a trip to first base?
Perhaps you were a cable subscriber who did not even see most of the evening’s events because of a technical malfunction. Were you one of the many who were part of a watch party that featured good food, drinks and conversation with friends – and the one know-it-all who almost ruined the night? What about the straggler who shows up with an invited guest empty-handed and proceeds to devour everything in sight as if it were their last meal?
If so, then you should feel consoled that you are part of a large group that feels your pain.
As for the boxing match, neither fighter took a chance that could have landed him on the canvas. Then again, neither has the knockout power to do great damage to the other. This fight was a physical mismatch. Pacquiao was outclassed, as he gave up too much size, reach and speed to Mayweather. Mayweather could have picked Pacquiao apart any time he wanted, though that is not saying much.
Perhaps it would have been a better fight when these two were in their prime, but you cannot turn back the hands of time.
The bigger story of this whole ordeal was the hype about the money that was going to be made. Every record known to the boxing and sports worlds was shattered with the purse, not to mention the amount of money that was wagered. The ticket pricing was staggering even to those who think sports ticket prices are out of control. The star-studded attendees were well documented, marketed and hyped.
The main event, however, did not live up to the hype. It was a dud that left many saying that they will not buy into another boxing event. Many said the same thing the last time Mayweather fought.
It’s a bad habit that many of us have when it comes to boxing. Many will put the sport down and say that it is dead, as well as being seedy, dangerous, unhealthy and just plain wrong. Then we buy the pay-per-view in hopes of a night of joy watching two people beat the tar out of each other. The viewers, of course, do not wake up sore the next day. In this case, they also did not wake up $100 million richer.
Show me, NFL
While some already have grades for how well teams fared in the most recent NFL draft, I will pass on that. Like those who are giving grades, I really do not know, so I will move onto something more local.
As you know, there is an effort to save pro football in St. Louis. And while most media types have bought into it, I have a few questions that no one seems to be able to answer.
Who is building the new stadium? We have heard sketchy reports with respect to financing, but by all accounts taxpayers are not supposed to be on the hook this time. I’m from Missouri. Waiting to be shown.
Who are we building it for? Stan Kroenke would not spend any of his own money to build one in St. Louis, but he is willing to build one in California? How could he own any team in St. Louis at this point, given how he and his local stooges have handled negotiations, or lack thereof?
If Kroenke is not the guy, who is? Who is vetting the next owner to make sure he is not another Kroenke? Does anyone care?
For almost a billion dollars, what other uses will this stadium have other than being on a postcard to depict the St. Louis riverfront and skyline? Soccer, you say? Has anyone taken a look at the Major Soccer League’s record when it comes to leading cities on, only to leave them at the altar?
While the NFL nodded its head at the presentation that the St. Louis contingent put on, no one said that St. Louis was going to have a team after this season. I am sure there is some dialogue taking place, but I would just like a few simple questions answered before I buy in.
