Malilong: Pacman’s evolution
By Frank Malilong
The Other Side
THERE goes the goat.
Hours before Manny Pacquiao fought David Diaz in Last Vegas last Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reported an incident during a news conference in which the fight’s promoters established what the paper described as a new “high (low?) for gimmicks.”
“Diaz, a big Chicago Cubs fan,” wrote LA Times columnist Bill Dwyre, “was told that there would be a goat on hand, that it would represent the famous curse of the goat that Cubs fans often point to as the reason their team has been generally worthless and that were he to win the fight, the curse of the goat would be off.”
Diaz was, however, informed of the plan only minutes before the goat was brought out and, wanting no part of it, headed for the men’s room.
Here is how Dwyre narrated the scene that followed Diaz’s quick escape: “In his absence, Pacquiao welcomed the goat, smiled broadly, petted the animal and uttered the immortal words: ‘Goat is my favorite food.’” (more)