http://thyblackman.com/2014/08/04/floyd-mayweather-jr-all-money-aint-good-money/ (ThyBlackMan.com) Long lost are the days when our fighters embodied the collective pathos of our community. The last one to do it effectively was Muhammad Ali, whose eloquent delivery and stylish bravado captured and certified the black communitys desire to define itself by its own terms. Ultimately the message that he delivered to the world was that Black was the new cool. The black community has always upheld its boxers to an almost mythical standard. From Jack Johnson to Joe Louis to Sugar Ray Robinson to Joe Frazier and even Mike Tyson, black fighters have always represented the indomitable will to withstand and conquer adversity. They represent the unapologetic truth that the fight in all of us is strong and heroic. In them we affirm our ability to be victorious over all of our personal battles that we too hope to be victorious over. The boxing ring has been the earthly dwelling place for many of our real-life superheroes. It is the place where our champions get to prove that they are giants. All of that comes to a screeching halt when it comes to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Notwithstanding an impeccable professional record of 46 fights and nofloyd-mayweather-jr-2014 losses, notwithstanding the fact that he has a net worth of close to $300 million, higher than any other professional athlete regardless of sport, notwithstanding the fact that he works probably harder than most other fighters in all of boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has done more to bring shame to the black community than any other boxer before him. The moral character of most boxers is sketchy at best. Neither can it be said that many boxers have lead personal lives that are exemplary of the finer elements of the black community. Its rare that you see people from wealthy or even well-to-do families turn to boxing as a way out. This was no different for Mayweather whose family struggled to raise him during his fathers incarceration. Those years were tough, but thanks to his work no one else in his family will have to work for many generations. This is commendable. But Floyd Mayweather Jr. misses the boat when it comes down to being the representative voice for black people. Why? Because if youre going to talk about being the worlds best fighter in your weight class then be the worlds best fighter in your weight class and fight all of the challengers. Case in point was a radio show that he did back in November of 2011. The host, ironically a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fan, asked him a question that many boxing fans have wanted to ask him for a long time. The question was why wont you fight Manny Pacquiao. For those of you not in the know Manny Pacquiao is considered to be the best pound for pound boxer in the same weight class as Mayweather. A few years ago when a fight between them was all but certain the Floyd Mayweather Jr. team requested, to the shock of boxing fans all over the world, that Pacquiao take a drug test to prove that he wasnt using steroids. After considering it Pacquiao agreed, only to be stifled by being requested to accept a lower portion of the gate than he felt he should receive. The fight never happened. This was an affront to boxing fans, and it wouldve stayed an in-house boxing fan debate had Floyd not opened his big mouth on a radio show and turned it into an issue of race. Youre not black, are you, he questioned the DJ who was interviewing him. No, and what does that have to do with anything? the DJ responded. Wait a minute. Asking a legitimate question about a legitimate issue that deals specifically with how you make a living became an issue of racial solidarity? Its not like he asked you your shoe size or where you go shopping for toilet paper. What? By re-directing the tone of the conversation, the precipice of May weathers argument became what I did was about being black. You aint black. Fall back. The conversation then degenerated into what can be best described as a school yard fight between two first graders with Mayweather leading the assault that went from everything to his race to the hosts ***ual orientation. It was an embarrassment of the highest degree. In spite of all the discrepancies of many other fighters who have gone before him, none of them have ever shielded their cowardice behind race. And since he brought it up, one of the most sacred ideals that the black community holds in the highest esteem is justice. Making someone prove their worthiness by subjecting them to a spurious test is the same tactic that racist southern whites used to prevent masses of black folks from voting. In the lexicon of boxing, justice is when two worthy opponents have earned the right to fight one another. In the end Mayweather supplanted his own lust for money over the honor code within his own sport. In that instance Floyd Mayweather Jr. effectively pimped himself out to the highest bidder. In other words, he played himself, AND used his blackness (and apparent homophobia) as a shield to prevent his inability to answer a straightforward question. To make matters worse he equated that with being black. So, being black is not being able to articulate a response? It apparently also means that the only thing youre good at is executing a non-sequitor argument. Thanks Mayweather. By making it a black thing, then know this: the black community applauds champions and not chumps. Since you have claimed to be one of ours, we will uphold you to the greater good, and call you out when you come up short. The black community knows the difference between men and boys. And lastly the black community knows how to say all money aint good money. Staff Writer; Steven Robinson
Long lost are the days when our fighters embodied the collective pathos of our community. The last one to do it effectively was Muhammad Ali, whose eloquent delivery and stylish bravado captured and certified the black communitys desire to define itself by its own terms. Ultimately the message that he delivered to the world was that Black was the new cool. The black community has always upheld its boxers to an almost mythical standard. From Jack Johnson to Joe Louis to Sugar Ray Robinson to Joe Frazier and even Mike Tyson, black fighters have always represented the indomitable will to withstand and conquer adversity. They represent the unapologetic truth that the fight in all of us is strong and heroic. In them we affirm our ability to be victorious over all of our personal battles that we too hope to be victorious over. The boxing ring has been the earthly dwelling place for many of our real-life superheroes. It is the place where our champions get to prove that they are giants. All of that comes to a screeching halt when it comes to Floyd Mayweather Jr. :rofl
what a ****ing shame from jack johnson a truly great pioneer who was a black hero to louis who (an uncle tom) beat the nazis though then ali really paved the way for blacks to be more than just a side attraction if ali embodied the black civil rights movement than Tyson represented NWA public enemy and hip hop culture roy jones ran with the ball and then floyd mayweather became a wife beating ****** wow, how the greats would be turning in their graves at the state of black boxing today
if youre a woman beater, you can definitely look up to theftjr. had the radio interviewer been a woman, theftjr woulb all over her ass. thefjr is a serial woman beater, compulsive liar and racist. a good role model for the idiot *****s.
ray robinson- killed 6 babies carlos monzon - threw girlfriend of balcolny mike tyson - ****** michael dokes - ****** ike- ****** dougie fishers fave son- wife killer tony ayala - ****** see the pattern now, does floyds indiscretions match these guys?
This article is pretty great, but it does sound a bit biased. However, its refreshing to see that not all black men are slaves to the money factor, and can see the world without rose tinted glasses of floyd ass-kissery
All this black community, latino community, black hero, latino hero, ANY nationality shouldn't be recognized that way. Sports are too nationality driven IMO. Floyd doesn't speak for the black community and Rios doesn't speak for the latino community. These are individuals with individual personalities born and raised in different parts of the world, they're not representatives for their nationality or race. We're all created equal.
if youre a serial woman beater and a lying racist, you shouldnt be anyone's role model, black or no black.:good what's worse, theftjr just beat them women infront of their children.
Since when does being a role model matter? Does it make him any less of a boxer? :huh Who said he was anyone's role model?