It better be a humdinger

It’s pathetic how the Philippine National Police (PNP) had to grovel for P100,000 or so to be able to pay for the live satellite feed of the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight so policemen can watch it for free at Camp Crame.

Complaining that it used to pay only about P60,000 in past Pacquiao fights, the PNP came short of calling for sponsors to bankroll the showing of the fisticuffs, or for satellite and cable TV providers to give it a free live feed.

This is corruption at its most petty. It is no different from policemen visiting stores and business establishments to solicit funds for Christmas parties, sports fests or some other dubious activities.

Aside from the PNP, many other local government units will be showing live the Pacquiao-Mayweather, with tickets to big screen showings at gymnasiums being given to barangay officials and councilors for distribution (to their own relatives?).

It would not come as a surprise if even those tickets to the free showings would find their way into the hands of scalpers and sold for exorbitant prices, like what’s happening in Las Vegas itself where the ringside tickets to the fight were sold out online in mere seconds.

This Pacquiao-Mayweather fighter better be a humdinger of a fight by living up to the hype. Otherwise, many people may rue spending their hard-earned money in sports bars, cinemas and pay-per-view that have ratcheted up the cost of entry to watch the fistiana. -end-