Latest of Everything

The Expendables: Sylvester Stallone

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:30:00 -0700

Expendable: capable of being sacrificed in order to accomplish a military objective.

THE EXPENDABLES is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren't quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger the men struggle with an even tougher challenge, one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the Leader, the Sage and the Strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. His is a true cynic who describes what he does as "removing those hard to get at stains". The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.

Movie Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Movie Released: August 13, 2010
Video Length : 1 hr 43 min
Website Rating: 4.1/5
IMBD Rating: 3.8/5 (18,457 votes)

Watch the Expendables official movie trailer

From Paris With Love: John Travolta

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:24:00 -0700

A personal aide to U.S. Ambassador in France, James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) has an enviable life in Paris and a beautiful French girlfriend. But his real passion is his side job as a low-level operative for the CIA. All James wants is to become a bonafide agent and see some real action. So when he's offered his first senior-level assignment, he can't believe his good luck until he meets his new partner, special agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta) - a trigger-happy, wisecracking, loose cannon who's been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack.

Wax leads James on a white-knuckle shooting spree through the Parisian underworld that has James praying for his desk job. But when James discovers he's a target of the same crime ring they're trying to bust, he realizes there's no turning back... and that Wax himself might be his only hope for making it through the next forty-eight hours alive.

Movie Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Movie Released: 4 Feb, 2010
Video Length: 1 hr 32 min
Website Rating: 3.00/5
IMDB Rating: 3.20/5 (17,892 votes)

From Paris with Love official movie trailer

Unthinkable: Samuel L. Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:20:00 -0700

The story of a white American Muslim, who claims to have planted three nuclear bombs in large cities of the US, threatening to kill millions. He is interrogated and tortured by an 'agent' who uses every possible mean to crack him into revealing the location of the bombs.

It's a hard and brutal 'game', which challenges ever possible definition of right and wrong, as well as lawful versus criminal behaviors: how far would you go, based on a 1% chance the the bombs really exist and may kills millions, to protect those? And when even the most brutal acts of torture don't break your subject, what becomes the next 'unthinkable' boundary of human decency, which marks the difference between the terrorists and the order? Where do you stop?

The movie goes really far in asking these questions and - correctly - leaves the answers to each viewer for him/herself.

Movie Genres: Drama, Thriller
Movie Released: 5 Nov, 2010
Video Length: 1 hr 37 min
Website Rating: 4.00/5
IMDB Rating: 3.60/5 (10,968 votes)

Watch the official movie trailer of Unthinkable

Middle Men (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Mon, 9 Aug 2010 08:47:00 -0700

"Middle Men" centers on a straight-and-narrow businessman who builds the first online billing company dealing exclusively with adult entertainment and finds himself in the middle of a whirlwind filled with starlets, conmen, Russian mobsters, federal agents and international terrorists -- all while trying to hold on to his marriage and family.

Movie Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Movie Released: 6 Aug, 2010
IMDB Rating: 3.40/5 (182 votes)

INCEPTION: Leonardo DiCaprio

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sat, 7 Aug 2010 07:17:00 -0700

Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobbs rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved.

Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.

Movie Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Movie Released: 14 Jul, 2010
Video Length: 2 hr 28 min
Website Rating: 4.00/5
IMDB Rating: 4.60/5 (107,128 votes)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 13:57:00 -0700

A new live action comedy adventure loosely based on the Sorcerers Apprentice segment of Disneys Fantasia.

In modern day Manhattan, the master sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage) attempts to protect the city from his arch nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), an evil wizard with nefarious plans. Horvath is determined to claim New York City for his own evil purposes, and enlists an illusionist (Tony Kebbell) to help him toward that end. Given the formidable forces working against him, Blake does not feel that he can accomplish this mission alone. To help in his venture, he seeks out a seemingly average guy, Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), who is recruited to be Blakes apprentice. Stutler is initially skeptical, and reluctant to get involved, but eventually is convinced by Blake to help in this cause. Blake gives Stutler a crash course in magic, and mishaps invariably ensue. There is also a love interest in peril angle to the storyline that provides additional motivation for Stutler. Together, Blake and Stutler take on Horvath in a classic good versus evil struggle.

Movie Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller
Movie Released: 16 Jul, 2010
Video Length: Unknown
Website Rating: 2.67/5
IMDB Rating: 3.20/5 (5,177 votes)

Toy Story 3

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 13:40:00 -0700

The creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of our favorite gang of toy characters in Toy Story 3. As Andy prepares to depart for college, Buzz, Woody and the rest of his loyal toys are troubled about their uncertain future. Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo), Toy Story 3 is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3D that lands the toys in a room full of untamed tots who cant wait to get their sticky little fingers on these new toys. Its pandemonium as they try to stay together, ensuring no toy gets left behind. Meanwhile, Barbie comes face to plastic face with Ken (yes, that Ken).

Movie Genres : Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Movie Released : 16 Jun, 2010
Video Length : 1 hr 26 min
Website Rating: 5.00/5
IMDB Rating: 4.50/5 (52,042 votes)

SALT: Angelina Jolie

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 01:46:00 -0700

As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salts efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: Who is Salt?

Movie Genres        : Action, Thriller
Movie Released    : 21 Jul, 2010
Video Length        : 1 hr 40 min

Pacquiao Reatins Title

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:28:00 -0700

Relentless From Start, Pacquiao Retains TitleManny Pacquiao throws a right to the body of Joshua Clottey during the World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.

ARLINGTON, Tex. — As Manny Pacquiao dispatched another welterweight contender in the easy manner of a sparring session, the talk turned immediately and emphatically to Floyd Mayweather Jr. As expected. Once again.

On Saturday night in Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao defeated Joshua Clottey by unanimous decision to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight championship. He pummeled Clottey’s ribs and midsection. He turned Clottey into a punching bag of bruised and battered muscles.

Afterward, the spotlight swung back toward Mayweather. Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, implored Mayweather to drop his demands for blood testing. He said Pacquiao had mimicked Mayweather’s fighting style during sparring, making fun of perhaps his most difficult opponent.

Roach said of that style, “We will crush it.”

The fight that boxing fans demand looms, larger than ever. Because Pacquiao continues to dismiss all challengers, except Mayweather. On Saturday, Pacquiao essentially won his semifinal, leaving Mayweather, who fights Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas, to win his bout before negotiations between boxing’s two best fighters can resume.

“We’re ready to fight him any time,” Pacquiao said of Mayweather, before landing his hardest punch of the night, adding, “I don’t think he’s ready to fight.”

In this bout, Clottey boxed defensively, conservatively, as if unable to summon an attack. He threw 399 punches to Pacquiao’s 1,231. In the seventh round, Clottey managed to bruise Pacquiao under his right eye, but Pacquiao remained on the offensive, stalking Clottey, landing body shot after body shot.

The question lingered. When would Clottey let his hands go and unleash his superior strength and size? When would he, you know, fight?

Clottey opened up occasionally in the later rounds, but by then it was too late. By then, Pacquiao had dispatched another challenger. By then, cries for Mayweather-Pacquiao had already begun to echo across the stadium.

“He has great speed,” Clottey said of Pacquiao. “It was difficult for me to handle that.”

The fight had a surreal premise: an African and a Filipino fighting in Texas, the birthplace of Top Rank Boxing and, fittingly, the Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones.

The fighters entered the ring to deafening noise and an electric atmosphere. Clottey danced. Pacquiao stalked into his corner, bowed, prayed, then climbed the ropes, smiling at the masses. Nervous? No. He had spent the previous two hours watching N.B.A. basketball on television.

This being football country, the crowd swelled with N.F.L. players, ex-players, coaches, ex-coaches, even owners. It included Jimmy Johnson, the retired coach, and Woody Johnson, the Jets’ owner, along with a bevy of former Cowboys: Deion Sanders, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Barry Switzer.

Early on, it was Clottey, the bigger, stronger fighter, who landed the bigger shots. But it was Pacquiao, the skilled technician, who appeared to win most, if not all, of the early rounds, as Clottey treated each punch as precious, thrown only on special occasions.

Clottey managed to slow the pace through the middle rounds, but Pacquiao continued to attack, landing combinations. He controlled the fight early, controlled it late, the outcome all but certain.

Afterward, Pacquiao said: “It was not an easy fight. It was hard. I felt his power.”

Just before noon Saturday, Pacquiao and staff members assembled for Mass at the exhibition center adjacent to their hotel. They sang hymns and said prayers and received communion, while fans snapped pictures with their cell phones. Pacquiao worshipped God, while hundreds worshipped him, a peaceful moment to conclude a kumbaya-style camp.

The last two months, from training through fight week, unfolded in atypical serenity for Team Pacquiao. The fighter flew some 130 members of his entourage here on a private jet, then spent most nights inside his suite, playing poker and belting out his favorite karaoke tunes.

Even Michael Koncz and Alex Ariza, the Pacquiao employees who engaged in a fistfight last training camp, teamed up so Koncz could win a staff weight-loss challenge worth $3,000.

“I’m starting to worry,” Roach said, half joking. “I’m going to start something, because this camp has gone too smoothly.”

Normally, Pacquiao thrives amid dysfunction. This time, the opposite worked, too.

As the circus around him swelled, Pacquiao won 12 straight fights, including this one, won seven titles in a record seven weight divisions and won the award for fighter of the decade. Roach earned his fourth trainer of the year award this year, another mark for the punishing pair.

Pacquiao appeared more entranced by Cowboys Stadium than by his opponent this week. Walking in for his first news conference, wearing a white jersey, Pacquiao said he felt like a football player, like the receiver Michael Irvin.

This gleaming, palatial stadium with a scoreboard the size of a small town helped replace interest lost when Pacquiao’s negotiations with Mayweather fell apart over blood testing.

Boxing wanted to expand its fan base. Jerry Jones wanted to show off his latest toy, its price tag in excess of $1 billion. The fight featured three stars: Pacquiao, Jones and the one at midfield, underneath the ring.

Even with Clottey, a competent if relatively unknown welterweight, opposing Pacquiao, the bout sold more than 50,000 tickets, some standing-room only. When Clottey’s manager called his fighter with Pacquiao’s proposal, Clottey first asked if he was kidding. Like everyone else, Clottey expected Mayweather and Pacquiao to fight.

Maybe they still will, but dozens of factors demand answers, difficult ones at that. Mayweather has not backed off his blood-test demands. He must beat Mosley in early May. Pacquiao will soon run for a congressional seat in the Philippines, and to fight Mayweather, he would presumably need to drop his defamation lawsuit.

On Saturday, as the Mayweather questions swirled amid the celebration, Pacquiao said he would decide on his next fight after the election. In reality, only one opponent remains — for boxing fans, for Pacquiao, for Mayweather, for the sport itself.

Pacquiao proved that on Saturday, after another convincing win against an overmatched welterweight opponent.

The Hurt Locker

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:05:00 -0700

Plot Summary for The Hurt Locker

An intense portrayal of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge, by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. James behaves as if he's indifferent to death. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James' true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.

US Army Sergeant First Class Will James, Sergeant JT Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge comprise the Bravo Company's bomb disposal unit currently stationed in Baghdad. James is the tech team leader. When James arrives on the scene, Bravo Company has thirty-nine days left on its current deployment. It will be a long thirty-nine days for Sanborn and Eldridge whose styles do not mesh with their new leader. James is a renegade for who the thrill of the dismantlement seems to be the ultimate goal regardless of the safety of his fellow team members, others on the scene or himself. On the other hand, Sanborn is by the books: he knows his place and duty and trusts others in the army to carry out theirs as well as he. And Eldridge is an insecure soldier who is constantly worried that an error or misjudgment on his part will lead to the death of an innocent civilian or a military colleague. While the three members face their own internal issues, they have to be aware of any person at the bomb sites, some of who may be bombers themselves.

Watch it here, on streaming video
http://vidreel.com/video/NTk0Mzgx/

Avatar is 'King of the World'

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:59:00 -0800

Avatar is 'King of the World' after beating out Mel Gibson's new movie to take the top spot for the seventh week running.

The hit 3D movie, directed by James Cameron (pictured), took in another $30million at the US box office, making its North America gross a staggering $594.5million since it opened.

The movie is now the highest world-wide grossing movie of all time, beating Cameron's previous blockbuster, Titanic.

Hollywood.com's Paul Dergarabedian, revealed: 'As if beating Titanic's worldwide box office of $1.8billion wasn’t enough, Avatar does the formerly unthinkable and surpasses the $2billion mark in global box office.

'This film is also on the verge of becoming the highest-grossing film domestically of all time and is just $6million away from surpassing Titantic and its $600.8million in North American total.''

Edge Of Darkness, a crime drama starring Mel Gibson, debuted in the number two slot with $17.1million in ticket receipts.

The latest Disney romantic comedy When In Rome, starring Josh Duhamel, took the number three spot with $12.1million.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:11:00 -0800

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man 2 is an upcoming 2010 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name from Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, and the second film in a planned trilogy. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and master engineer, also known as the superhero, Iron Man. The film is scheduled to be released on May 7, 2010.

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances -- and confront powerful enemies.

Casts

Robert Downey, Jr. as Anthony "Tony" Stark/Iron Man: The head of Stark Industries, inventor and the film's eponymous superhero and protagonist.

Don Cheadle as Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Virginia "Pepper" Potts: Stark's closest friend, budding love interest, and business partner.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanovna/Black Widow: An undercover spy posing as Stark's assistant.

Filming

Principal photography began April 6, 2009, at the Pasadena Masonic Temple. The fake working title was Rasputin. Filming also took place at Edwards Air Force Base and also at the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix. The film's principal photography concluded on July 20, 2009.

The Official Trailer

Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:18:00 -0800

Cotto Insists On Victory
Champion insists he won't let Pacman take his title away in Las Vegas

Although he will go into the fight as the underdog, Miguel Cotto insists he will beat Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Cotto defends his WBO welterweight crown against the Filipino superstar at the MGM Grand on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1.

Pacquiao is looking to take home a seventh world title as he continues to rise up the weights without too many problems, but Cotto says this time it is a step too far.

The Puerto Rican is adamant that Pacquiao will not find it so easy this time around, and vowed to come away with his title intact.

"If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent," said Cotto.

"If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."

Knockout

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach says Cotto could be knocked out in the very first round, but Cotto has scoffed at such suggestions.

"Forget about Freddie Roach," he said. "The only thing Freddie can do is train Manny. He can't go over the ropes and into the ring to fight against Miguel Cotto. He can only train Manny the best he can.

"He may say and think Manny will knock me out but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring.

"No matter what kind of things Freddie Roach says before the fight, I have a very strong mind. The psyche game? I'm not going to follow that game."

There have also been suggestions that the Pacquiao camp are already planning for a superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. next March, but Cotto warned that he must be their main focus.

Focus

"What they say and what they do does not concern me," Cotto added. "They know what they have in front of him. He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.

"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."

Instead it could be Cotto facing Mayweather should he win on Saturday night.

Asked about the prospect of such a fight, Cotto said: "I am here for the big names and ready for the hot opponents. That's what boxing needs for the guys at the top to fight other guys at the top, like it was 20 years ago. Make the fights that fans want to watch.

"I am here for any boxer that wants to fight Miguel Cotto. They have to start with my company and I am more than ready to fight the biggest names in boxing."

Pacquiao vs. Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:10:00 -0700

Firepower Pacquiao vs. Cotto Two Weeks Out

What are the fans' expectations from the Pacquiao – Cotto match?

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto mega-fight is just over two weeks away. The big night of course is Saturday, November 14, when both men will step into the ring in Las Vegas. The match has been eagerly anticipated for months and it has big implications for not just the welterweight division, but for the pound for pound rankings and the future competition for one Floyd Mayweather as well.

Leading up to the big Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto match fans have generally been lumped into just a few main groups. Here’s a look at how some fans are feeling about Pacquiao vs. Cotto as the fight approaches.

The Pro-Pacquiao Fans
Manny Pacquiao has a diehard group of fans, not just from his home country of the Philippines, but from around the world as well. Generally speaking, these fans would support Pacquiao and pick him to win regardless of the match-up. This fight against Miguel Cotto is no different, and people in this camp are eagerly awaiting a dominating Pacquiao performance.

The Pro-Cotto Fans
Miguel Cotto has his own diehard followers of course, most of which come from the island of Puerto Rico. What do they think about their hero’s chances against the pound for pound king? His size advantage, experience against bigger men and all-around skill set will win him the day without too much of a problem.

The “Pacquiao is Overrated” Camp
People in this group point to a few key pieces of evidence for their stance on Cotto and Pacquiao. The first is that Oscar De La Hoya was past his prime and weight drained. The second is that Ricky Hatton was past his prime and was recently planted into the canvas by Floyd Mayweather. This group of fans feels that all of the Pacquiao – Cotto hype has forgotten these facts, and is anticipating a rude awakening come November 14th.

However, should Pacquiao win they are ready to discredit with their third piece of evidence , that Pacquiao has forced Cotto to weigh in at a catch weight instead of the welterweight limit.

The “Cotto is Shot” Camp
We all saw how Antonio Margarito brutalized Miguel Cotto, and this group of fans feels strongly that there is no returning from that kind of beating. The subsequent shaky victory over Josh Clottey has done little to change their minds, and memories of Cotto’s scares at junior welterweight are all too prominent as well.

The Realists
Then we have a fifth and final group of fans, the realists. They can see everything from both sides, and ultimately want the best man to win so that the biggest fights can be made afterward. They recognize that Cotto has suffered a brutal loss, and has been less than his best since then. They also recognize that Pacquiao’s weight class jumping and contract stipulations raise some question marks.

Ultimately though, they want a good fight that brings positive attention to the sport of boxing. These fans want the winner of this match to be promptly put into the ring with Floyd Mayweather in what would easily be the biggest fight of the generation. These fans may be rooting for one fighter over the other, but they’ll be happy with any result that brings other fans out of their seats and sets up more exciting moments in the future. Count me a realist.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:31:00 -0700

Freddie Roach offers US$1,000 to anyone who can floor Manny Pacquiao

• Trainer challenges sparring partners to take on Filipino
• Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto in LA on 14 November

Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has offered US$1,000 [£611] to any sparring partner that can knock down the Filipino.

Pacquiao, widely regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, started training on Tuesday at Hollywood's Wild Card club in Los Angeles ahead of his 14 November bout with the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

"The money is still with me and I am telling the new sparring partners that they will be rewarded with $1,000 if they score a knockdown over Manny in sparring," Roach told the Manila Bulletin newspaper's website.

Pacquiao's last fight was his second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:09:00 -0700

Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7: Episode 1 (October 24)
By Randy

Pacquiao vs Cotto 24/7

Number 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world Manny Pacquiao will be making his third appearance in the HBO documentary series “24/7”. The Emmy Award-winning series will feature the preparations leading to the “Pacquiao vs Cotto” match this coming November 14 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Nevada.

The new four-episode series will debut in the US on October 24 with the remaining episodes on October 31, November 7 and the final episode will air on the eve of the fight, November 13.

“The ‘24/7′ franchise provides an engaging and accurate look into the lives of boxers as they toil and sacrifice to get ready for a huge showdown in the ring,” Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports.

“Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are dynamic individuals in and out of the ring, and our cameras will be there to capture all the drama prior to their fall face-off,” he added.

Manny Pacquiao was first featured in the 24/7 series when he was preparing to fight boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya whom he defeated last December 2008. His second was with Ricky Hatton whom he knocked out last May in just 2 rounds.

Watch: Pacquiao vs Cotto 24/7 build up video

Watch the fight live on November 14 here: Pacquiao vs Cotto free live stream

Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Pacquiao vs. Cotto: Miguel Will Send Manny Into Retirement
By Manuel Perez

Manny Pacquiao is thinking he’s going to be fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime next year, but I think World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is going to have a lot to say about that and I’m counting on Cotto beating Pacquiao bad and sending him into retirement rather than into mega fight with Mayweather. Cotto, 28, will be facing Pacquiao on November 14th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao and Cotto will be fighting with Miguel’s WBO welterweight title on the line at a 145 pound catch weight.

I still think it’s absurd to fight with the title on the line if there’s a limit that requires the champion Cotto from fighting at the normal weight for the belt. That is so wrong. It won’t matter, though, because Cotto is still going to beat the stuffing out of Pacquiao and will do badly enough where Pacquiao will have to retire rather than continue on. That’s my prediction!

Pacquiao has been beating up weight drained fighter like Oscar De La Hoya and nearly defenseless ones like Ricky Hatton. Now Pacquiao is facing a real threat and he’s going to have a real mess on his hands on November 14th, and I can’t wait to see Pacquiao getting beaten up.

It’s going to give me a lot of pleasure to see Pacquiao’s face getting rearranged by Cotto. I can’t express how much satisfaction I’m going to get watching Pacquiao get knocked down a peg. I just hope that Cotto does it slowly and methodically because I want the beating to last as long as possible.

If Cotto ends things too quickly, Pacquiao won’t suffer all that much and will likely still move ahead and take the fight with Mayweather in 2010. That rightfully be Cotto’s fight, but I know that Mayweather will probably still fight Pacquiao anyway, leaving Cotto, the victor, to have to scrape up whatever he can put together as far big money fights go.

Okay, so back to the beating. I want Cotto to focus on working over Pacquiao’s midsection, but he has to be careful that he doesn’t hit Pacquiao too hard because I don’t want Pacquiao flopping around on the canvas like a fish out of water, gasping for breath after Cotto lands a big body shot. Cotto needs to throw to the sides to make sure he doesn’t knock the air out of Pacquiao’s tiny body.

You can’t have the fight ending early from a body shot. I can just see the excuses that will role in on that one. ‘Ah, I was blinded by flash from a camera and, ah, didn’t see Cotto throwing to my stomach area.’ Next, after working over Pacquiao’s midsection, Cotto needs to go for the face. He’s got to hit him but no too hard. I want the eyes to puff, the lips to bleed and the nose to get flattened, but Cotto mustn’t try to brain Pacquiao with anything too hard because that will be letting him off the hook.

Source.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:57:00 -0700

The fight will take place in a 20-foot, and not 24-foot, ring.

Promoter Bob Arum today said that the Pacquiao/Cotto fight would be contested in a 20-foot ring, contradicting a report in Primera Hora yesterday in which Cotto's trainer, Joe Santiago, stated that it would be held in a 24-foot ring. Santiago was under the impression that the ring would be 24-feet square because that is apparently what Pacquiao's team requested in the negotiations. But the Nevada State Athletic Commission adheres to a standard ring size of 20 feet and rarely makes exceptions. Arum claims that he doesn't know where the rumor of a 24-foot ring started, but it's not true. Most observers believe that a larger ring would be to Pacquiao's advantage, allowing him more space to box against a fighter many deem to be much slower than him.

Freddie Roach says the fight will go the distance.

In this interview with David Tyler over at Doghouse Boxing, Freddie Roach predicts that Pac/Cotto will go the distance. "Cotto certainly has his hands full but he has some advantages against us," Freddie says. "By fight time he will be 20 pounds heavier than us. He will be the bigger, stronger fighter who is a very resilient guy. Of course he has started to cut lately and I’m hoping that will be a factor for us. Manny’s speed will bust him up a little bit, I hope. I just believe that Cotto is taking this fight more serious than any fight he has had."

No site yet determined for Pacquiao's training camp.

Because Pacquiao is unable to hold his entire training camp for the Cotto fight in the U.S., other sites are currently being sought by his team, although nothing has been decided yet. Cancun is supposedly high on the list of potential locations. Pacquiao wants to train in the Philippines, but Freddie Roach is against it, feeling that their would be far too many distractions for the native hero. When one considers that the fighter is currently over there shooting an action movie (his eighth action movie, actually), well, you kind of have to think Freddie might right about that. Speculation is rampant on the internet that the confused state of Pac's training plans and that the movie-star distractions may catch up with the mighty Filipino when facing a bigger fighter of Cotto's caliber, but for myself, I seriously doubt it. He's had distractions in his camps for years, and he always shows up on fight night focused and in tip-top shape. I've seen it with my own eyes - the guy has a Jedi-like quality in the midst of chaos.

Anticipation high for press tour kicking off at Yankee Stadium.

The first official presser for the fight will be a gala event, open to the public and held at Yankee Stadium on September 10. It's well-known that members of the Yankees are Pacquiao fans, including Derek Jeter, who likely will be ringside for the Pac/Cotto fight. From New York, the press tour moves to Cotto's hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico on September 12, and then moves to AT&T Park in San Francisco on September 13 with an open-to-the-public event after a Giants/Dodgers game. The tour concludes with a press-only event in L.A. on September 14.
***
I think this fight will end in round 8 with Pacquiao gnashing Cotto.

Firepower: Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:38:00 -0700

FIREPOWER: Pacquiao vs Cotto

Jerry Glick reporting: Top Rank knows how to put out a good product. Whether it be a fight or a press conference, they know what they’re doing. On Thursday, September 10, Bob Arum, Lee Samuels, and the rest of the promotional team invited the media and the public to the new Yankee Stadium to launch the five city tour to hype one of the best matchups in a while, “FIREPOWER”, WBO World Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), of Puerto Rico facing the pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 KOs), from the Philippines in a twelve round title fight on November 14, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It will be broadcast, live, on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Not only was there glory from baseball at Yankee Stadium, but boxing has a history there as well. Back on June 22, 1938, Joe Louis fought what felt like at the time the first battle of WWII, when he gained revenge for his only, at the time, loss in a boxing ring when he stopped Max Schmeling in a round in the house that Ruth built. On June 26, 1959 unbeaten Ingemar Johansson shocked Floyd Patterson and the world as he scored seven knockdowns in the third round, finally halting Patterson in that round annexing the heavyweight title. Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, and others graced the grand old stadium with their skills. On Thursday, boxing was alive in the new stadium as it was used to announce the Cotto vs Pacquiao fight.

Also at stake will be the WBC Diamond Belt to be presented to the winner who will own the jewel encrusted belt outright. On hand to show off the impressive hardware was Mauricio Sulaiman, the Executive Secretary of the WBC.

“The WBC realizing how momentous and important this fight is,” announced Arum. “Has commissioned what we call a diamond belt to be given to the winner of this fight to keep forever.”

The outdoor presser succeeded in spite of often high winds as we sat in, on, and behind the Yankee dugout along the first base line. As usual Arum took the helm and after explaining all the details of the event brought out the fighters, including New York’s, by way of Belarus, Junior-Middleweight challenger, undefeated Yuri Foreman, 27-0-0-1N/C (8 KOs), who fights veteran title holder Daniel Santos, 32-3-1 (23 KOs), for his WBA belt on the undercard.

Arum proclaimed the Cotto-Pacquiao a sure bet for fight of the year.

“We’re here in Yankee Stadium,” said the ever fired up Arum, “to kick off the first press conference for what will certainly be the fight of the year, and maybe the fight of the decade.”

Fact is he may be right. It’s true that is in his vested interest to say that, on paper, this is a war. Not the explosive kind where you are warned not to blink, but one that will be a sustained battle of super fighters.

FREDDIE ROACH

I am not sure who the more confident person was; was it Pacman or his trainer Freddy Roach? Both acted as though the winner was a foregone conclusion. Pacquiao joked when he grabbed the Diamond belt, but I’m not so sure he didn’t mean it. Even their training has a super confident feel to it. Pacman has not really begun yet. “He started running a couple of days ago,” said the man who is the most respected trainer in boxing. “He’s getting in shape a little bit. We start camp on the 20th, which gives us an eight week training camp which is normal for Manny Pacquiao. Once we get to camp he’s like a machine, I have trouble slowing him down. He averages 44 rounds per day.”

Training camp will be in the Philippines, according to Roach.

As far as him taking Cotto lightly goes Roach assured me that that was not happening.

“Never,” he said emphatically. “He respects everybody.”

Roach called his man the greatest workhorse he’s ever seen. “He trains his ass off,” proclaimed Roach.

They are preparing a game plan, of course, for Cotto. Freddy admitted that while there are things that they intend to take advantage of in the Puerto Rican’s style, “There are things that we have to look out for too,” explained Roach. “We can’t let this guy land that left hook. He has a great left hook.”

He has brought in sparing partners who can help Manny avoid that punch, “We’re going to be well prepared.”

MIGUEL COTTO

There is something about Cotto that convinces one of his confidence, but it is a calm, relaxed sort of a business in his case. Not almost jovial as is Pacquiao, just a worry free posture.

He sounds ready mentally.

“I try to prepare myself enough to capitalize on every mistake that he makes in the ring,” said Cotto.

It’s true that he almost ran from the 140 pound class because of weight issues, but when I asked him about his agreement to a catch weight he assured me that it was not an issue.

“In my last fight I weighed 146,” he pointed out. “If I work another fifteen minutes, twenty minutes I can make this weight.”

Cotto believes that when it comes to comparing opponents and strength its advantage Cotto.

“De La Hoya was on his last steps in a ring,” said Cotto. “Pacquiao coming from 126 and he thinks he’s going to be stronger than I am.”

At the same time he respects the Pacman’s victories in the ring over De La Hoya, Eric Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Ricky Hatton. “I don’t think he is over rated,” added Cotto.

Speaking of ratings, Has little use for the pound for pound title. How important would it be for him to be considered the number one pound for pound fighter after beating the Pacman on November 14th? According to Cotto, not very much.

“I never fight for that,” said Cotto. “I just fight for my family. This is my work; I have four kids and one wife to support, and they come first. I’m here to do my best and everybody knows that the people who write about boxing they create a list who they made pound for pound. They can put Miguel Cotto in any position that they want.”

In speaking to Pacquiao it is clear that he relies on his speed. Cotto does not see that as an obstacle to victory.

“I am used to preparing myself for anything that can happen in the ring,” said Cotto. He is training in Tampa, Florida because of its proximity to his home in Puerto Rico. This, he feels will make it an easy and quick commute to home family or to fly them to Florida.

As far as the Pacman’s thoughts on the importance of speed, I asked him what he would say to Floyd Mayweather if he were asked to advise Floyd on how to beat Marquez.

“He would have to use his speed,” was the very sound advice from the man who knows. He said that his own advantage in a fight against Cotto is his speed.

PUNCHLINES

Yuri Foreman told everyone an interesting tidbit; his name, Yuri, is interpreted from Hebrew to English as George. Yes, he is George Foreman!

Yankee COO Lonn Trost made reference to all the great events that happened in Yankee Stadium. I know that we refer to Madison Square Garden as though all of its events happened in the same arena when we all know that the one that we go to today is not the same venue where Joe Louis plied his trade decades ago, but somehow looking at the ghost of that house that Ruth built standing ominously, across the street, covered in protective netting not unlike a shroud, all that this reporter could think of is that the blood of Louis, Patterson, and Moore, the men Trost mentioned as having fought in his Stadium, spilled, not where we stood, but across the street.

Oh, the new Yankee Stadium is wonderful. Great things will happen there, but the history happened elsewhere.

On hand to watch the festivities were former Cotto foes Joshua Clottey and Paulie Malignaggi.

Both Cotto and Pacman were presented with Yankee Pinstripe shirts.
***
Big fight it is. And I'll go for Pacman.

The Twiglight Saga: New Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:31:00 -0700

Movie Details

Summit Entertainment presents this sequel to the hot box-office phenomenon Twilight with this follow-up adaptation in Stephenie Meyer's series of romantic fantasy novels. The film will tell the continuing tale of the vampire/human romance between Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen... Stewart). New to the series is Dakota Fanning, who joins the cast as Jane, a waifish pixie type with an air of menace. ~ Jeremy Wheeler

Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

Director Chris Weitz

Theatrical Release 11/20/2009 (USA)

Released By Summit Entertainment

Watch the Trailer

The Twiglight Saga: New Moon

Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:51:00 -0700

Let him run, attack - either way he loses, says Pacquiao
Philstar.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Manny Pacquiao has already drawn up the scenarios for his Nov. 14 title fight with Miguel Cotto.

As he waited for the nine-hour flight out of San Juan, Puerto Rico to San Francisco via Atlanta yesterday, the Filipino crowd-drawer bared his deeper thoughts on the upcoming fight.

“Magandang laban (Good fight),” said Pacquiao, comfortably seated at the departure area, just after he had finished reading a few pages of the book “Builder of Dreams” by Antonio Meloto.

“Eto, ah, sasabihin ko sa inyo (This, I will tell you),” he continued.

“Tatakbo sa akin yan. If I press the fight I’m sure he would run. At kapag naghintay naman ako, papasok yan (And if I wait, he’ll come in),” said the reigning pound-for-pound champion.

In short, Pacquiao thinks that either way would be to his advantage, considering that he has both the speed, to catch Cotto somewhere along the way, and the power to put him down.

“Ganyan ang mangyayari, tumakbo man siya or pumasok siya, okay sa akin,” said Pacquiao, his pre-game analysis cut short by a line of Puerto Rican fans wanting to take pictures with him.

From fellow passengers to airport personnel and even the police, all of them wanted to be close to Pacquiao. One of them said, “I may be the only Puerto Rican rooting for you. Believe me. You’re a great fighter.”

It was around three in the afternoon, and a couple of hours earlier Pacquiao and Cotto were at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas, right in the heart of the WBO champion’s hometown.

More than a thousand packed the theater, and they cheered wildly as Pacquiao and Cotto made a dramatic entrance, slowly rising through a hydraulic box that had kept them beneath an elevated stage.

Key members of both camps, along with some Puerto Rican officials, were introduced by Top Rank president Bob Arum.

Cotto, in an elegant brown suit, spoke in Spanish and was cheered on, while Pacquiao, more casual in a white shirt, blue jeans and running shoes, spoke in English.

Even the Puerto Ricans cheered him on, and there were even chants of “Man-ny! Man-ny!” as he took the microphone. He said, “I’m sure you will all root for Cotto because he’s your countryman. But thank you for supporting me, too.”

Before their explosive stage appearance, Pacquiao and Cotto held separate interviews in separate rooms with the Puerto Rican media. Cotto came with his lovely wife and four kids, while Pacquiao was with his lean entourage.

At one point, however, they ended up in the same room when they were not supposed to, and Pacquiao sat beside Cotto, shaking hands and again smiling, talking to one another like they were old friends.

Pacquiao and his men checked in at the trendy El San Juan Hotel and Casino past midnight Friday, and checked out of the hotel by the beach before 10 a.m. headed to the press conference and straight to the airport.

A line of black, heavily-tinted Ford Excursions, with burly bodyguards in dark suits, brought Pacquiao and Cotto to the arts center, and the convoy, with police motorcycle escorts, drove swiftly for 45 minutes like it was carrying the President.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, did most of the talking during the interview, and faced tough questions on the schedule of their training which won’t start until Sept. 21 in Baguio City, while Cotto has been training for four weeks now.

“No one dictates our time but Manny and me. If they already started I don’t care. I know my job and we know what we’re doing,” said Roach.

“We’ll be in great shape and we’ll be ready to go 12 rounds. We want to take the rounds one at a time and if the knockout comes then it comes. We know he (Cotto) has a good chin but we’re gonna take away his advantage and use ours,” he added.

Pacquiao could only agree.
***
Wish it's Pacquiao-Cotto fight because it's gonna be a big fight.
Check out more of the latest update on Pacquio VS Cotto boxing fight.

The Beatles' Remasters Top the Charts Here, There and Everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:11:00 -0700

The Beatles' remasters top the charts here, there and everywhere
By Sean Michaels

Beatlemania has conquered the world once again with the Fab Four's remastered albums set to reach No 1 from Liverpool to Tokyo

Going for gold ... the Beatles celebrate their chart success in 1964. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

It's 1964 all over again – Beatlemania 2.0 is making its effects felt at cash registers over the world. From Liverpool to Tokyo, buyers are snatching up the Beatles' remastered albums – and even the £170 box sets.

In the UK, the Beatles will dominate this week's album charts based on only one day of sales (plus pre-orders). According to the Official Charts Company, Liverpool's finest will have five albums in the top 20 – and 15 in the top 75 – led by Abbey Road and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In their first day on the market, retailers sold more than 6,000 copies of the Beatles stereo box set – helping the expensive package into the UK top 20.

"[The Beatles] are likely to dominate the album charts over the next few weeks and set a new record ... for the most albums in the charts by the same artist at any one time," a HMV spokesperson told Billboard.

In Germany the box set is the top seller for both Amazon.de and internet retailer JPC. German shops are unable to keep up with demand – and EMI is reportedly back-ordered for weeks. "I suspect that EMI did not expect such a boom in Germany and is now having trouble keeping up with demand," a spokesperson for Hamburg's Hanse-CD told Billboard.

It's a similar story in France, where the stereo box set is at No 1 on Amazon, in Canada, where the Beatles occupy the top 15 spots on HMV's charts, and in Japan, where the imported stereo set is HMV Shibuya's biggest seller. "Japan has been hit hard by Beatlemania," said a spokesperson for HMV Japan.

The only sign of weakness is in the much-hyped The Beatles: Rock Band video game, which has not even broken into the top 10 on Amazon.co.uk. Rock Band and other deluxe video games have suffered over the last year due to their high price.
***
Cool band of all time.
Find out more of the Beatles.

Why 09/09/09 is So Special?

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 22:31:00 -0700

Why 09/09/09 Is So Special
By Heather Whipps
Special to LiveScience
LiveScience.com
Have special plans this 09/09/09?

Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.

In Florida, at least one county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99. The rarity of this Sept. 9 hasn't been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date. Focus Features is releasing their new film "9," an animated tale about the apocalypse, on the 9th.

Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.

Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09.

For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated - while others might see the date as an ominous warning.

Math magic

Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.

As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.

Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.

"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.

As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.

Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.

Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.

Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...

Loving 9

Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).

Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.

Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.

In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.

Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.
***
As for me, it's just an ordinary blessed day, Ahem!
Why 999 is special? Find out more.

Noynoy Inclined to Run in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:22:00 -0700

Noynoy inclined to run in 2010
Written by Butch Fernandez / Reporter

SEN. Benigno Aquino III inched closer to formally accepting a draft as Liberal Party standard-bearer in the 2010 presidential elections even as he admitted setting a series of meetings with an unidentified “core group” of advisers to shape a program of government in case he finally decides to run.

“I think I am very, very close [to a decision]. I am just finishing some of the commitments that I committed to with my sisters and other groups,” Aquino told reporters in a brief interview at the Senate session hall on Tuesday after undergoing a retreat with nuns in Mindanao over the weekend.

Aquino, who was elected to serve in the Senate until 2013, admitted that his meeting with the “core group” would help him finalize assignments and tasking for various committees that would need to be formed should a presidential campaign gets under way. The slightly balding senator jokingly hinted that the agenda might also discuss redoing his image, “including my haircut.”

Shortly after LP Sen. Mar Roxas decided last week to pass on “the torch of leadership” to Aquino by withdrawing his presidential plans, Aquino said he will be announcing his decision to accept or reject the offer at the end of the 40-day period of mourning for his late mother, former President Corazon Aquino who died on August 1. The 40th day falls today, September 9.

Pressed by reporters to give a hint on his decision, Aquino replied: “I am really sorry; I want to announce it but I am still fulfilling some of the commitments [I made] with my sisters and various groups.”

“I want to make it as easy for all those who are supporting me, especially my family whom I know have been as stressed as I have been…or even more,” he added.

Aquino hinted, however, that he would very likely tap Senator Roxas as his running mate once he decides to take up the challenge to run for president in 2010.

“In our discussions I did broach the idea that if my discernment says to accept this, I really would be very comfortable with Senator Roxas [as running mate].”

“In fact,” he added, “[in] the platform that we have in common, he is the one who has been articulating it, such as going back to zero-budgeting.”
***
I'll support your presidential candidacy Noynoy.
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Pacquiao VS Cotto

noreply@blogger.com (Melvin) — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 14:23:00 -0700

No rift with Roach: Pacman prefers Baguio training for Cotto tiff
By Abac Cordero

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao yesterday cleared the air as to where and when he’d like to start training for his upcoming fight with Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao also said there’s no rift between him and his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and they’d finalize the training schedule during the fight’s press tour next week.

Then the reigning pound-for-pound champion said Baguio remains as his choice as training headquarters. In fact, he said his Filipino trainer, Buboy Fernandez, is now up in Baguio.

“He’s up there to check the facilities,” said Pacquiao of the country’s summer capital, chilly most of the year, around 150 miles north of Manila and 1,500 meters above sea level.

Roach said Baguio is not an ideal place to train because of the distractions (too many fans and tourists), and has offered a secluded resort in Toluca, Mexico, instead.

Bob Arum of Top Rank wants Vancouver, but in the end it’s Pacquiao who makes the call, and as it is, it’s Baguio for the main bulk of his training for the Nov. 14 title fight with Cotto.

Pacquiao said he will discuss things with Roach when they hook up next week for the press tour in New York, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

“Then maybe from there he can come along with me, and we’d start training in Baguio. It won’t be short. Kailangan niya pumunta dito (He needs to come here),” said Pacquiao.

He said eight weeks should be enough to get him in top shape for the fight, and said the last three weeks he might move to the Wild Card Gym in LA for the final push.

“I understand our countrymen or my fans feeling worried about my training. I want to assure them that I’m not taking it for granted. I know myself. I know that eight weeks should do it,” he added.

Pacquiao faced the press yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas and announced his latest partnership with Solar Sports, led by Wilson Tieng and Peter Chanliong, regarding a new promotional outfit.

Together, they’re setting up an outfit that would help promote more Filipino fighters for fights overseas.

“Basically we’ll engage in the business of production, promotion and distribution of boxing shows to the world market, not only here in the Philippines. We have a lot of boxers who can fight on an international scale,” said Chanliong.

The Solar Sports chief operating officer said the outfit, which will be named soon, will not have any direct clash with the Manny Pacquiao Promotions which “has its own business.”

Chanliong said that in the new outfit, Pacquiao will be the “chairman and the boss” and that we’ll help “Manny make more money” as if Pacquiao is not yet close to being a Filipino billionaire.

“More money?” Pacquiao cut in.

He also said he’s now at 150 lb which is just five pounds off the catchweight agreed upon by both boxers.

“No problem,” he added, just enough to assure everyone that there’s really none.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao got another promotion in the army reserve force, this time being installed as sergeant major of his unit.

From being a master sergeant, Pacquiao was promoted to the rank of senior master sergeant, the second highest rank for enlisted personnel.

“Master Sgt. Manny Pacquiao was given the rank of Sergeant Major for the 15th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army,” said Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, army spokesman.

Pacquiao was also awarded the Outstanding Achievement Medal for the honor he has given the country in his past fights and serving as inspirations for many of the Filipinos, Burgos said.

In his speech, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also attended the event, said that the boxing champ, instead of joining other civic organizations decided to “volunteer for Team AFP and don the military uniform where he could be of service to the country.”

He said that his fights are no longer a quest for personal achievement, but for the honor of the country that is truly proud of his feats in sports.

“Even groups who are fighting against each other stop just to watch Manny fight,” he said. with report from James Mananghaya.
***
Another must see fight by pacman.
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