Floyd Mayeather waited for Manny Pacquiao to get old… right?
LATEST IN A RECURRING SERIES PREVIEWING THE BIG FIGHT In late June 2010 Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach passed through Toronto on his way to Casino Rama to corner women’s champ Ana Julaton. No disrespect to the fighters at the news conference, but Roach was the story that day — a legit boxing celeb with some … Continue reading
Weekly Recap: PacWeather, Cuba, TFC and more…
A few times in recent weeks I’ve had folks tell me they enjoy my Facebook posts. I always smile and thank them and accept the compliment, but the truth is I’m ambivalent about that type of Facebook praise. Facebook is fun, and Facebook is useful, and harnessing the power of Facebook is a must for any … Continue reading
Manny Pacquiao is Awesome at Basketball…
The awesomest. To say otherwise is to admit you don’t value your career as a pro basketball player. And if you don’t believe me, ask Daniel Orton. He’s a former University of Kentucky Wildcat and Orlando Magic first round draft pick who is currently a member of the Purefoods Hotshots looking for work after being … Continue reading
Pour out some liquor for #Sportonomics
When I teamed with videographer Anne-Marie Jackson to start the Sportonomics video series last year we had no clue where the project would take us. We knew we were doing something different. None of us could think of a newspaper publishing a weekly video series exploring the sports industry, and certainly not one that aimed … Continue reading
Uncle Roger Training Pacquiao for a Mayweather Fight?
I mean, what other conclusion should I draw from this new Foot Locker ad? It features Manny Pacquiao training hard, highlights Foot Locker’s Week of Greatness promotion, and has fun with the idea that everybody in the world except Floyd Mayweather wants to see him fight Floyd Mayweather. Did you guys catch Pac’s T-Shirt? Clearly says … Continue reading
Roy Jones: please stop boxing and rapping
Yes, Roy Jones Jr. continues fighting. No, I don’t know why. I can only assume traveling to Latvia to face fighters best described as “aspiring tomato cans” adds some credibility to his job as an HBO ringside analyst, and possibly pays better than his other side gig writing and performing crappy rap songs about Body By … Continue reading
#Sportonomics x Pitch Talks = You need to be there
A quick note to remind you guys I’m presenting Thursday night at the latest edition of TallBoys Craft Beer Pitch Talks, which the organizers describe as TED Talks with grass stains… and beer. They happen roughly once a month here in Toronto and bring together famous folks (like ESPN’s Dan Shulman) and not-so-famous folks (like Toronto … Continue reading
I really don’t hate America, but…
… But I’m accused of treason every four years. It last happened in the press box at Citizens Bank Park in Philly, where the Blue Jays played the Phillies after G20 protests prevented the teams from playing in Toronto. I was a baseball beat reporter back then, and I spent the morning at Roy Halladay’s belated farewell-to-Toronto … Continue reading
So I’m Running the Chicago Half Marathon
Like many journalists I’m a procrastinator by nature but this week, for once, I made a decision and took action well in advance of any deadline. Tuesday night I registered for the Chicago Half Marathon, which takes place Sept. 7, starting and finishing in Jackson Park. A crew of us are getting together in Toronto for … Continue reading
Robert Mathis: Please shut up about your positive test
Late last week Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis earned a four-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, but instead of accepting the punishment he and his agent launched a media counterattack. Over the weekend they explained Mathis flunked a drug test not because he knowingly embarked on a doping program, but because … Continue reading
Morgan Campbell: A Writer on Sports and More 