Pacman hot copy for US media

ARLINGTON, TEXAS —When you cover a Manny Pacquiao fight like this one against Antonio Margarito, you are in awe that the international press is covering a Filipino.

All the boxing writers of the major media entities and even fan-based international websites were all here. To them the pound for pound king is the hottest story in boxing today.
Pacquiao’s on all the news programs in Dallas and on ESPN nationwide. And now that Pacquiao has won his eighth title, he is even greater copy in a sport that’s really looking for more heroes.
After the fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the media patiently waited for Pacquiao at the postfight press conference. He had already done “ambush” interviews with our Solar TV team, led by young producer Andrew Santiago, and other Filipino and American reporters inside the locker room.
But the Fighting Congressman still stood tall at the presscon, showing only a few scars and bumps from the 12-round battle.
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One such American writer who found the Pacquiao story fascinating is Gary Andrew Poole, the author of “Pacman: Behind the Scenes with Manny Pacquiao, The Greatest Pound for Pound Fighter in the World.”
He has written for the New York Times, GQ and Time and authored “The Galloping Ghost,” a football book.
I already saw the book in airports across America and in our own bookstores in Metro Manila but hadn’t gotten around to securing one.
Interestingly, in the morning of the fight, I met Poole at the media room of the Gaylord Texan, just after GMA’s Chino Trinidad handed me a copy of the book.
Through the years, Chino and I have shared books and information to improve our coverage of sports. Chino kiddingly injected that, “It’s the closest I’ll ever come to writing a book,” but you know there’s a book someday about Chino’s travels with Pacquiao.
Later at the fight venue, I bumped into Poole in the media room. He revealed that he latched on to the Pacman phenomenon while visiting Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood.
Together with Trinidad, he traced Pacquiao’s roots in Sarangani and traced Pacman’s journey.
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What struck Pole is the sincerity of Pacquiao’s desire to help others that stems no doubt from his own arduous journey.
“As an outsider, it seems easy to understand the poverty angle on Pacquiao’s story,” Poole said, “but seeing it up close, there’s a humility in the way he reaches out to others.”
Poole felt that Pacquiao is now a global star and the US audience is getting to know him better.
“His appearance in ‘60 Minutes,’ a mainstream US show, introduced him more to Americans,” Poole said. “At first, it seemed his fame was more a result of a subculture phenomenon but it’s bigger now.”
The book attempts to be a candid portrayal of the Filipino icon, recounting the journey from Pacquiao’s childhood to his early years at the L&M gym in Manila.
Poole held no punches as well in describing the world Pacquiao moves in now, from his entourage to his role as politician and sports hero.
Poole also wrote a cover story on Pacquiao for the in-flight magazine of American Airways, a big deal given that thousands board the airline each day and spend countless hours in the air.
Pacquiao’s sensational win over Margarito has added more glitter to Poole’s story.
A few more chapters could still be added in the future as Pacquiao completes his ring exploits and moves on to other duties as a congressman and a global Filipino icon.