Often times, what you see on TV is not reality. Chris Angel is able to make you believe that he has powers of the super natural. In this natural world that we live in, we know it not to be true. Seeing at times is believing and portraying a certain aura or character can many times be an illusion all in itself. The wrestling hey day of the 80’s instantly comes to mind as heels such as The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff gave us the very real impression that a cold war battle was being fought day in and day out in the squared circle. Unknown to us these same “villans” were out night in and night out getting drunk with the very American heroes they were feuding with. Its an effective way to get attention, especially if your in the situation of being overlooked. Look at Lady GAGA for instance, I’m sure we wouldn’t be buzzing about her if it were not for her over the top performances, questions if she is really a man and her solid choices in fashion ranging from a Kermit the frog vest to wearing something the equivalent of a tumbleweed meeting a Eskimo hat at the MTV music awards.
When you think Floyd Mayweather Jr., many emotions come to mind. Cocky, Flashy, disrespectful. Lets face it, hes not the most popular athlete in the world and people love to hate him. From what we have seen on HBO’s 24/7 series and countless interviews Floyd likes to talk, alot. He brags about his bagillion dollar mansion, his fleet of cars sitting on 22’s and the weight of the bling he carries around his arms and neck. That’s not even mentioning all the talking he does about his skills. Its the equivalent of evangelical preaching to the maxim. Seeing is believing. What we see is just an illusion mirroring what these real life magicians want us to see in the spotlight. Floyd let me in on a magicians secret today and the bigger picture became so much clearer.
Flashback to this very hour two days ago(its 11:38 as I write this) and the thought had cross my mind to attend the Mosley/Mayweather press conference at the Nokia Center on Thurs. It wasn’t intent on going, I had no for sure media lock in for press credentials, I wasn’t getting paid to cover the event and I had worked til my balls had dropped to the floor this whole week. I really just wanted to chill. Something in the back of my head kept telling me to go. I decided I would leave it to destiny. I made a agreement with myself, “If I happen to wake up anytime before 10 pm I’ll see it as a sign to go, If I wake up after I’ll just chill and play Assassins Creed 2 on the Xbox. Hell, I even stayed up til about 2:30 before going to bed. My eyes closed and just as fast they opened to the sound of my phone.
It was 8:33 in the am on Thurs the 4th. I went in to look and it was a client I have been doing some work with. Great, what a way to start the morning. Not only does this guy speak in a horrible accent, he’s one of those blessed people that love to stretch every damn thing they say. I met countless people like that in college, even lived with one in a barn house. Yea, those barn house college days are for a different time, good times though. I got off the phone and I went straight to bed and then I thought, ” I think I was meant to get that phone call.” I packed my shit and bounced straight to LA. I arrived at 1130. Looked around and there wasn’t to big of a crowd. I looked to my left and I see my first obstacle. The press table and the gate keepers.
“Well shit, here goes nothing,” I thought to myself. I went up and waited in line for a bit. To the front of me was this reporter that had ass for days! behind me were what seemed like the Filipino paparazzi, obviously there to stir up any comments from Floyd about their national icon, Manny Pacquaio. I was scheduled to cover the Nokia Fight night a week before, I even had credentials and everything. So I figured I’ll just name drop and wing it. Not like I was lying to them, I report and write frequently. I went up, signed the press sheet and told them who I was with. I immediately got a blank stare.
“This is a last minute thing for me, I got a call this morning to come over here and cover this presser,” I said.
“Ok, well do you have a business card?”
Shit! I immediately respond of course. I move to the side and go thru my wallet acting as if I have a card when in reality I know I do not. I stumbled upon a business card that was given to me by a MMA agent that runs his own management company. “Shit, I got nothing to lose.” I present him the card and tell him I dont have a card for writing but I run my own management company for fighters and I go by the name on the card. I also let them know if they have a laptop they can look me up on the spot. By this time the Filipino peoples are making a stink because they kept saying they are being discriminated against by being barred on asking questions about Pacquaio. It’s turning into quite the spectacle, and dude at the front looks me straight in the eye to see if in bluffing and hands my two press passes. “Check in your gear to the left and lunch is inside ESPN Zone.” I walk away and a huge smile cracks on my face..
Fast forward 5 hours later and I’m in a mob of people behind Floyd Mayweather Jr. Some are asking for autographs, others looking to take pictures. I’m stuck in between this huge roid head looking bodyguard and a damn screaming baby. God I hate screaming babies. I stay like this for about 20 minutes until both my camera guy and myself see a hole to get closer to the pound for pound king. It’s showtime.
I put the mic out and ask Floyd if he will answer some questions while he is signing autographs. He doesn’t respond intially, I ask again and this time I get his attention.
“Floyd can you answer a few questions for me?”
“Who are you with?”
“Fight Hub.”
He looks around to his entourage. “Who the hell is Fight Hub?”
“Come on Floyd give a up and comer a chance.”
Something clicked in the mans head, the illusion gave way to reality as Money May, transformed to Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Yea I’ll give you a chance.”
It may of been he had pity on me or it triggered a memory of the past in which the young and talented Mayweather was being overlooked by the names of De La Hoya, Mosley and Jones. This was the beginning of what turned out to be a 5 minute interview with the champion. I wasn’t nervous at all and he tried to put me on the spot dodging questions on Manny Pacquaio the same way he dodges punches in the ring. By the end of it, Floyd said something to me that will stick from this day forward.
“What you see on TV is a character. Money May is a character. When I get home, I have people that love me just as much as the next person. I do charitable work and people don’t see this side of me. All these writers, all the media its a lose-lose for me. They never get to see the real me,” he said. For a moment I felt I had gotten thru the facade and then all of a sudden Floyd put his arm around me and looked right at the camera.
“I know how it is being a up and comer. You need people to support you when your up and coming. Support this guy right here.”
Wow. Never in a million years I would have ever thought I’d be face to face with Floyd Mayweather Jr., let alone have him give me a nod of support. I thanked the man and soon realized it really was all an illusion. What you see is not really what you get. Floyd is making magic, one person at a time, showing that the real Mayweather, the realy nitty gritty person is just as normal as you and I. Willing to give people chances. Thanks for the interview Floyd, you turned me into a life long fan.
