Quijano: Economics 101

Monday, January 16, 2012

I’M becoming less enamored of my compañero Bob Arum with each passing week and the barrage of excuses he is offering as to why Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao won’t happen.

What vexes me is that he currently maintains that his job as a promoter is to get Manny the fight he wants and make it happen.

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We all know that Manny wants to fight “Money” Mayweather.

However, Arum posits that there is an “economic problem” that derails the fight from happening in May. Apparently, he wants a bigger venue to accommodate more people and earn more money.

Now, even if I shamelessly slept through most of my economics classes with Prof. Monsod at UP, I for one can immediately define what an economic problem is without batting an eyelash.

It’s ah, um…when there is a…err…actually, ahh…

Never mind. Here’s Wikipedia for you: “The economic problem, sometimes called the basic, central or fundamental economic problem, is one of the fundamental economic theories in the operation of any economy. It asserts that there is scarcity, or that the finite resources available are insufficient to satisfy all human wants and needs.

The problem then becomes how to determine what is to be produced and how the factors of production (such as capital and labor) are to be allocated.”

So maybe unemployment qualifies as one? How about poverty? Yes, of course. But the lack of enough seats for Pacquiao-Mayweather at the MGM Grand?

Seriously Bob. Are you sure you didn’t go to UP Diliman with me?

CUTS. Another excuse that was mentioned was that the cut Manny suffered during the Juan Manuel Marquez fight won’t heal until June.

This is absolutely irresponsible and puts Manny in a bad light as if he is ducking Mayweather.

Before the Pretty Boy’s service of sentence was moved back, Manny was alright to fight in May. Is his cut becoming worse as each day goes by?

Sigh. I know it’s too much to ask. But the fans made Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao superstars in boxing. And this is the fight the fans are clamoring.

Call me naïve. Call me a dreamer. But for once, I hope the fight happens for the love of the sport.

NOT COTTO. And while all this is going on, I can’t believe Miguel Cotto is one of the frontrunners as an alternative opponent for Pacquiao. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

Sadly, this talented fighter has seen better days. The rematch with Margarito for me all but confirmed that Cotto has lost the snarl that once defined him as a fighter.

He boxed brilliantly to win, but he fought scared. Manny will blitz through him faster than in their first encounter. He’s in the running solely because he is also being promoted by Arum. And that’s sad.

UFC 142. Is it just me or was ref Dan Miragliotta aiming for a record in fastest resets during the Vitor Belfort-Anthony Johnson bout at UFC 142?

Johnson had Belfort on his guard on a couple of occasions and was trying to administer his own albeit ineffective brand of ground-and-pound, when, quick as a flash, Dan would reset the action.

Not that it mattered as Johnson came into the fight severely dehydrated and was looking for a quick finish before the gas tank ran out.

Unlike stand-up striking where speed kills, the grappling game is more intricate and complicated. It requires the application of techniques and tactics that take years to master.

Oftentimes, it entails a lot of deception. Some of the best BJJ practitioners are masters at making their opponents think they are trying to maneuver themselves into a particular position when in fact they are actually gunning for a leg or an arm submission.

How are you supposed to apply these tactics when you get a tap in the shoulder after just 20 seconds in the guard position?

LAST ROUND. It’s on Atty. Monachica Gillamac of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas who celebrates her birthday this week. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)