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Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Sayson: Homer earns another milestone
By Homer Sayson
Secondovertime
CHICAGO — When I enter the Thomas and Mack Center Jan. 21 to cover the Manny Pacquiao versus Erik Morales rematch, I will be just one small fish in an ocean of journalists officially credentialed for the event.
“About 275 to 280 media credentials have been approved for this fight,” said Steve Flynn, who owns SFE Public Relations, the company tasked by Top Rank Boxing to screen and process credential requests from sportswriters around the globe.
My credential confirmation (No.96) was e-mailed to me last Jan. 9. Unfortunately, my seating assignment remains in limbo until the next few days, when SFE Public Relations and the fight promoters finish going through the approved credentials list.
In our telephone conversation last week, I was quick to remind Flynn that I had a floor seat during the first Pacquiao-Morales fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last March 19, 2005.
But given the bulk of sportswriters eager to chronicle super featherweight history unfold at the Thomas and Mack Center, I wasn’t guaranteed of a ringside seat in this redux. Flynn, however, assured me that my previous coverages to big-time world title fights put Sun.Star Cebu in serious contention for those coveted ringside seats.
Still, this upcoming slugfest promises to be one of the better ones that I’ve been to.
CONCRETE PARADISE. The Wynn Las Vegas, a $2.7 billion hotel which opened just last April 29, 2005 hosts many of the official functions leading to Pacquiao-Morales II.
A press conference is scheduled at the Mouton Ballroom at 11 a.m. on Jan.18, while the official weigh-in takes place at the Margaux Ballroom at 3 p.m. on Jan.20.
Credentialed sportswriters can have free internet access at the media center inside The Wynn, a 42-story, coppery-bronzed building located at mid-Strip beside the famous Venetian Hotel. Owned by casino kingpin Steve Wynn, Wynn Las Vegas has 2,700 rooms.
Credentialed sportswriters can stay at the Wynn for a discounted rate of $189 a night. Regular patrons pay an average of $399 a night for a resort room while tower suites go for $1,050 a night.
E-MAILS. Garvey Dy (changchianchay@yahoo.com) asked: “Homer, is it possible for Second Overtime to appear everyday?”
If only to annoy my critics to death, I’d love to write daily on a permanent basis and not just when I’m on huge assignments.
But in an imperfect world, writing seven days a week is simply unrealistic because I have a regular job here in Chicago.
“I’m from Cebu but I’m now earning my living here in Dubai. The only sports shown in TV here is cricket, football and rugby. I’m really thankful for your updates in boxing and basketball. Thanks and God bless,” so says Kevin Tison (mahanbin2000@yahoo.com).
Sorry about the overdose of cricket and rugby out there in the desert, Kevin. I shall do my best to continue uplifting your spirits by providing valuable news and information on the kind of sports which you care most about.
Finally from Ramoncito B. Piana (mon@guam.net), foreign correspondent of the Philippine Free Press: “I always read and enjoy your articles....’judge with candor, admonish with friendship and reprehend with justice.”
Compliments are always nice, and they taste better coming from another writer. Thanks, Ramoncito.
P.S. Leafing through a stack of e-mails recently, I was stopped dead on my tracks by a letter from a wonderful woman named Mary Grace Octaviano-Baylosis. Her letter was short, 30 words neatly packed in a single paragraph.
But even in its brevity, her letter made me ponder long about the good ‘ole days of yesteryears, days when she and I were so young and so madly in love with each other.
Thanks, Grace. Thanks for the memories.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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