Reyes, Pacquiao charming greats

Sone years ago, in a couple of polls on a TV show as well as on the Internet, Efren “Bata” Reyes was voted No. 1 sports icon in the Philippines  over pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Since then, however, things have changed dramatically and decisively and Pacquiao is now the most popular if not the most sought-after personality in sports, primarily because of his incredible achievements in boxing.
Both men, the 56-year-old Reyes and the 32-year-old Pacquiao have  undoubtedly been the finest examples of humility and respect for their opponents, both at the pool table and in the ring.
This is one other telling factor that has endeared both men not just to Filipino sports fans but to people around the world.
With his tremendous success in the ring, his election as congressman in the May 10 elections last year and his emergence as a major product endorser of internationally established brands as Nike and Hewlett Packard to name just two, Pacquiao has made the transition from a fighter who has won eight titles in eight weight divisions to a genuine crossover star in the fiercely competitive American market.
While Reyes has won more than his fair share of major international pool tournaments, the prize  money seems a pittance compared to what Pacquiao rakes in from his fight purses, pay per view percentages, endorsement deals and personal appearances.
Both men have common endorsements and often shared the stage in San Miguel Beer and Ginebra San Miguel television commercials. But it’s clear that the fees Efren earns are nowhere near what Manny receives.
However, in the pool arenas around the world, from Asia to the United States and Europe, Efren “Bata” Reyes is revered not just for his magical touch which has spanned more than three decades and held pool enthusiasts and opponents alike spellbound, but for his unbelievable simplicity often highlighted by a toothless, impish grin and a scratch of the head when he makes what to many seems an impossible shot.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is all business inside the ring, with his unbelievable speed and power, rapid in and out movements from all angles and an explosiveness that often sees his opponents deposited on the seat of their pants or separated from their senses as in the case of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton.
When Reyes, unquestionably in the twilight of his pool playing years, won the US Open One Pocket Championship the other day it was an achievement in which he held the audience in the palm of his sometimes arthritis-stricken hand, amazed at some of the magical shots he conjured,  all for a winning purse of $8,000.
Pacquiao, in stark contrast probably earns an average of over $1.5 million for a round that lasts three minutes. But the difference in their earnings doesn’t in any way reflect the closeness with which they both stand in the esteem, affection and respect of their countrymen.
As Reyes slowly fades as the dominating player he was and Pacquiao continues to reach new heights in his fistic career, we should all be thankful that it was during our lifetime that we had the privilege of watching and knowing two all-time greats who shunned the arrogance and abrasiveness of many sports personalities but instead charmed the world with their decency, simplicity and humility.