Manny Pacquiao stopped traffic outside the White House on Tuesday, during a whirlwind tour of the nation’s capital that included meetings with US President Barack Obama and US Senator Harry Reid, the senior member of the US Senate.
The Filipino boxing sensation was crossing the street near the White House when several drivers, trying to snap photos of Pacquiao with cellphones, caused a multicar pileup, Pacquiao publicist Fred Sternburg said. Nobody was hurt in the accident.
Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, spent time talking boxing and basketball with the president, along with a bit of business.
Pacquiao was elected representative in the Congress of the Philippines from the Sarangani province nine months ago in national elections and has taken the new job as seriously as he does boxing. He already has explored building the area’s first provincial hospital.
“This is an unforgettable moment in my life,” Pacquiao said earlier in the day.
The eight-division world champion posed with Obama for several photos, including a boxing pose, in the Oval Office, Sternburg said.
The president gave him three grocery bags full of light blue M&M’s with the presidential seal, along with a watch adorned with the seal, and said he hopes to someday visit the Philippines.
Pacquiao invited the president to his fight against Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sternburg said. Obama said he would be busy, but promised to watch on television.
“Manny said it was very impressive being in the Oval Office, seeing it first hand. He said it was a great honor to meet the president of the United States,” Sternburg said, pausing to laugh. “He also said the president is a very tall man.”
Earlier, Pacquiao roamed the halls of the Capitol as the guest of Reid, a Democrat and long-ago boxer whose recent re-election was no doubt helped by Pacquiao’s campaign appearances.
After Reid and Pacquiao exchanged national flags, Reid was asked how long he would last in his prime if the two exchanged punches.
“About five seconds,” Reid said.
Pacquiao arrived in town by train on Tuesday, wrapping up a press tour promoting his next fight that began in Los Angeles and included stops in Las Vegas and New York. The fact that he has arrived on the scene has been good for boxing, making plenty of high-profile fans and bringing some mainstream attention to a sport that has been seemingly dying for decades.
“You can become a great athlete and still be a great person,” Reid said.
Reid felt compelled to set up Pacquiao’s meeting with Obama because of Pacquiao’s enthusiastic following in the US. Hundreds of fans turned out for public -appearances in Los Angeles and New York City, waving flags and waiting hours to see him.
“I try not to bother the president,” Reid said, “but I bothered him on this occasion.”
Pacquiao’s every move was shadowed as he walked onto the Capitol grounds with his wife. Promoter Bob Arum said it was reminiscent of the heyday of Muhammad Ali, whom he also promoted.
“He comes at a very fortuitous time,” Arum said. “If anybody can bring boxing back to the mainstream ... it’s Manny Pacquiao.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care