By the time they stepped into the ring on Dec. 8 last year, episode four of the ongoing dialogue between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez seemed to be the only logical option for either fighter. Both were close to the end of their careers but still near the pinnacle of their capabilities.
The portion of the calendar rationed out to serve as the official offseason of the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour spans about a month and a half, from the conclusion of the World Tour Finals in mid-November to the start of the first sanctioned tournament at the end of December.
Freddie Roach has been told that he is the third most famous man in the Philippines—the first is Manny Pacquiao, the second is the president—and, though it baffles him to think of it, he has no reason to dispute the claim.
Those who follow boxing will be quick to remind you that no matter how dire the situation may seem, a fight can change with a single swing. “A puncher’s chance” is the phrase most often thrown about as some poor soul wobbles in a reverse diagonal with his white trunks stained red, through 10 rounds, unable to connect with the heavy right hand that could nevertheless arrive at any moment.
The promotional campaign for the fourth installment in the rivalry between Manny Pacquiáo and Juan Manuel Márquez began in earnest last month, and if you haven’t heard about it, you aren’t alone.
The Portland Timbers hosted FC Dallas on Sunday in bright and balmy conditions at Jeld-Wen Field. The action was sloppy at times and thrilling at others, with each team easing into a rhythm and then getting kicked right back out of it.
Recently, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade ignited a minor controversy when he suggested that players in the NBA who spend the offseason competing in the Olympics should be paid for their efforts. The tournament, Wade argued, is a tremendous financial risk for players already under contract with other organizations, especially as it takes up a large portion of time that could be utilized for rest and rehab.
“It’s like seeing your dad in a cocktail dress.”
That’s how a friend of mine described the feeling of watching Ichiro Suzuki jog out onto the field at Safeco in the New York navy and gray.
We often use hyperbole to sell sports. A close game characterized by defense becomes a dogfight; a late-round playoff matchup between the top seeds is a war. Battle references occur more frequently during sports programming than sports references at political rallies.
It was with bitter relief that fans of the New Orleans Saints received the news of Drew Brees’ contract extension Friday.
On Sunday, the most important match in the history of British tennis took place, though you will probably only hear it mentioned in passing—something to fill the 53 horrible seconds of an otherwise dead-silent elevator ride with co-workers, or as an offhand attempt at civil discourse with a neighbor over the fence. Maybe just a bit of trivia to take in and file away for use down the road. All we can be certain of is that it will be a mildly pressing development for nearly a full news cycle, and then we will move on.