A Rare Exception In Today's Sports Culture

Chris Mannix writes for SI.com:

If Manny Pacquiao didn't win a single fight in 2009, he would still be a viable candidate for SI's Sportsman of the Year. If Pacquiao had not put down once-beaten Ricky Hatton in a stunning second-round knockout last May, he would undoubtedly warrant consideration. If Pacquiao hadn't cemented his status as the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter this year, I would still be touting his candidacy.

Why? Because Sportsman, by my definition, is about more than just a superior performance. It's about contributions, to both sports and the world. And in that regard, Pacquiao has no peers.

A commonly used cliché in sports journalism is that (insert athlete name here) "fights with the weight of the world on his shoulders." A little hyperbolic, certainly, but in Pacquiao's case, it rings true. In the Philippines, Pacquiao borders on deity. He's an athlete and a rock star, an actor and a politician. He's Derek Jeter, Jon Bon Jovi, John Travolta and John F. Kennedy rolled into one. His popularity stems from his athletic accomplishments; the Filipino army, in which Pacquiao is a reserve, routinely declares a temporary truce (P-Day, they call it) with insurgents on days Pacquiao fights. But Pacquiao's impact extends even deeper into the culture.

Like most professional athletes, Pacquiao spends money as he makes it. But his paychecks don't go towards a fleet of cars or flashy bling. His money goes back into his country. For Filipinos, Pacquiao is a one-man stimulus package. When he's not fighting, Pacquiao can routinely be found in General Santos City, handing out bags of food and wads of cash to anyone who needs it. When a series of typhoons ravaged the islands recently, Pacquiao was on the front lines handing out supplies. His home isn't his hideaway. If someone shows up looking for a handout, chances are they walk away with one.

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(HT: PureChurch)