Has BAD BOY Conor McGregor lost some of his sizzle and box office appeal? - (Photo - Police MUG SHOT)

Being almost 42, can Manny Pacquiao beat 32 year-old UFC fighter Conor McGregor in a boxing match? - (Joaquin008i - photo)

Then loud mouth Rhonda Rousey basically put the UFC on the major map but took beatings in the process - (Screen shot - photo) Is Trump lover and the UFC's Colby Covington's bite as bad as his bark? - (Screen shot - photo) Can LeBron James shut up and dribble? - (NBA Photo) My man... NEON DIEON SANDERS said the lord gave him a calling to coach at the college level - (ericifeng - Photo) Dallas Cowboys (aka America's Team) owner Jerry Jones calls Donald Trump regarding racial protests - (Keith Allison photo)

SPORTS NOTES - BAD BOYS of SPORTS TALKING $#!T & WANNA FIGHT!

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

As the saying goes talk is cheap BUT some athletes make tons of money by doing just that. The problem is can a trash talking athlete back up what they spew? September has been a month of tough talk and challenges. Included in the mix are Conor McGregor, Manny Pacquiao, Colby Covington, LeBron James and Neon Deion Sanders. Some gave trash talk and and others received. The point is DOES IT SELL?

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

McGREGOR vs. PACQUIAO FARCE?

Go figure… just when their bloom was off the rose two of the most dynamic fighters of all time seem to be agreeing to fight in a cross fighting match. Bad boy Conor McGregor and boxer turned politician Manny Pacquiao have talked about a match between the two. The problem is this is a fight we though would be interesting several years ago before McGregor went ballistic and committed crimes tat earned him a police mug shot.

After his assault charge he went underground and became a silent voice. A silent voice is not what McGregor is renowned for.

The Irishman's trash talking stimulated interest in the UFC that was in decline when Rhonda Rousey resigned from the organization and turned to the pro wrestling to apply her fame and trash taking image. Rousey could make big money without her pretty face being bashed in. It was this transition that McGregor seized to become the Golden Boy big money attraction of the UFC.

After our publishing that this match-up would be interesting Pacquiao lost a fight in Australia to Australian Jeff Horn in June 2017. Pacquiao disputed the result BUT we feel he lost the fight and THE PLOT. Since that time the Pac Man has won three fights BUT his publicity factor has suffered and the fights largely gone unnoticed. It' sad to say THE BLOOM IS OFF both if these fighters roses. With that in mind it's fitting for a rhyme... Roses are red violets are blue, if you lost your appeal, too bad for you.

The question is… has interest of a bout between two almost forgotten fighters warrant for a strong Pay Per View event? Pacquiao has generated approximately 20.1 million in pay-per-view (PPV) buys and $1.2 billion in revenue from his 25 PPV bouts. According to Forbes, he was the second highest paid athlete in the world in 2015.

McGregor's boxing match with Floyd Mayweather drew 4.3 million PPV buys in North America, the second most buys in PPV history. History indicates the numbers are good BUT... that was then and this is NOW!

Since the Mayweather fight McGregor has been on a tear fighting with the law. Following throwing a metal equipment dolly at a bus windows and injuring fellow UFC fighters he's been accused of sexual assault. It's as if McGregor has made too much money and it has gone to his head and he lost the plot and went OFF THE RAILS.

In 2016 Pacquiao was rated by ESPN s being the 2nd best pound for pound fighter EVER in the world. Pacquiao will be 42 in December and McGregor turned 32 in July. Although he's 10 years older than the Mick (no slur, meant with love since my ex drummer called himself Dirty Mick (O'Donnel)) he's taken out some credible opponents since his loss to Horn. The defeated include: Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman in 2019.

Undoubtedly Pacquiao will be a stronger fighter in a boxing match. McGregor's lack of speed for a boxing match is his major handicap and would he be severely challenged to hit the still mobile aging Filipino. The Irish against a Filipino would be an interesting selling point BUT both fighters have been absent from the major media attention far too long. The question is.... HOW LONG IS TOO LONG?

Who is the first player to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player Title and in what year? The chart is below.

BOW WOW, WUFF WUFF... Another UFC BAD BOY who recently raised some eyebrows is Colby Covington. Following his decisive win over former champion Tyron Woodley he started to flip his lips and challenge anyone that was against his favorite president Donald Trump.

In the ring after the decision he went off about what he doesn't like including Black Lives Matter. He went balistic with his comments, “The Black Lives Matter is a complete sham. It’s a joke. They’re taking these people that are complete terrorists. They’re taking these people that that are criminals.”

Covington has a history of using racially charged language around his fights. In 2017, Covington referred to Brazil as "a dump," and called Brazilians "filthy animals" prior to a fight against Demian Maia in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

On the way to the dressing room he looked into the camera and blurted out LeBron James' name.... blurting... LeBron. The media failed to note this but we did. It was as if Covington was implying to James to... SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE.

NEON LIGHTS UP AGAIN

One of my favorite athletes of all time is Neon Dieon Sanders. Sanders, now 53, stated on his new podcast that he will be the next football coach at Jackson State University. Sanders is a member of the Football Hall of Fame BUT... he also played Major League Baseball. The truth be told he did well as a baseball player.

Sanders played professionally for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants. Sanders won two Super Bowl titles and made one World Series appearance in 1992, making him the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. He was a member of two Super Bowl title winning teams. In 1994 Sanders was voted the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

After being hired as the Jackson State football coach Sanders said, "Isn't this the moment? Isn't this what's needed? To match what our (Jackson State) president eloquently said, it's a match made in heaven. This is a God move."

God must be busy trying to answer all of the requests from around the world but he/she to take time out to help or save them. The good news is God had time enough to give us another shot of Deion to supply the world some laughter and smiles.

In addition to his sports career, Sanders also had a career in music as a rapper. He released his debut album, Prime Time, through MC Hammer's Bust It Records label via Capitol Records, in 1994.

It was then that I interviewed Hammer regarding the signing of Sanders. That season Hammer was in the Washington Redskins dressing room following a game. At that time Hammer was also managing the Washington Redskins running back Reggie Brooks

The funny thing is prior to that when I interviewed his former college football coach at Florida State Bobby Bowden. When I brought up Deion's name the coach sighed and said, "He's something ain't he?"

With that statement I agree the Neon is back and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to being a coach and become accustomed to other personalities while perhaps meeting someone like him.

Of note regarding the current anti racist agenda that is ongoing Sanders defend his former Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones as not being a racist.

Sorry about the Redskins note BUT I love the name and their former logo. I don't feel its racist at all. If the team was winning Super Bowls as they did in the 80's when they had an offensive line named THE HOGS then everyone would be happy campers. People are proud to identify and be winners and currently the now Washington Football Team is having a tough time doing that.

TRIVIA ANSWER:

Bob Pettit was the first winner if he NBA's MVP Award in 1956. See the All-time MVP winners list below.

To be continued…

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