Andre Berto: The Gatekeeper is Always Last to Know

Back in 2008 Andre Berto burst on the scene winning in electrifying fashion vs. Miguel Angel Rodriguez and he was awarded a “Vacant” WBC welterweight strap. At the time the belt was worthless because Berto was widely recognized as a second tier champion, not by lack of talent but by his relative youth. Whispers about his style were only heard on podcast like “The Boxing Truth” and if you view Boxing from a cynical (see racial) point of view it would have been easy to dismiss the criticisms as sour grapes from Mexican journalists- but I didn’t.

 

 Early in his career the explosive athlete seemed to perfect jumping in with one, maybe two punches at a time and quickly locking up opponents in a way that hinted at his eclectic combat sports background. Purely reflexive, with a Martial Arts stance that left him wide open for anyone who could survive his athletic gifts? He also seemed to not be as slick as he would have to be for a welterweight who appeared to be a “generous” 5’8. Nevertheless Berto was connected to the Haymon Machine that appeared to feed HBO and Showtime with talent, a virtual monopoly in the sport if there ever was one. We would just sit back and accept Berto as a sort of “kiddie champion” in training wheels to be fed when his food is chopped up just so. In 2009 Louis Collazo, a casualty of “The Game” showed that Berto can be taken by a skilled technician-the fight also showed that Berto is the Real Deal in the heart department-a blessing and a curse. His response to extreme resistance was adequate enough to see him as a future player, but the performance also put him a little too close to being beaten by someone who isn’t. Shane Mosley was a perfect stepping stone for Berto, he could “out Shane” Shane and position himself for bigger purses and a possible showdown with the man the sport isn’t cranking out enough credible opponents for- Floyd Mayweather. The January 2010 unification bout would have given him at least something to say when the Money Team considered what crumbs to throw him, because we all know Floyd loves belts, it would all be “in house” and it all made sense. And then Hurricane "Tomas" happened, and it challenged the young Champion in ways Boxing will never be able to, against career considerations Berto flew to Haiti and nobody could ever blame him.

 

In April 2010 Berto came back and obliterated Carlos Quintana in a performance that now looks suspicious considering what happened in the near future. Victor Ortiz was supposed to be a “nice little tune” up for a Mayweather bout in late 2011, but the kid showed up bearded and looking like an NFL linebacker- they went life and death in the kind of fight that changes the loser physically and mentally. Ortiz was supposed to show up and quit under Berto’s physical skills and heart, but he stole the show while adding to Berto’s odometer. Steroid accusations flew both ways but after a clean Ortiz went “roid rage” vs. Mayweather the two “kiddie Champs” needed one another again. Punishment is something you never forget, and in an ironic turn Berto-the sore loser who accused Ortiz of using PED’s got popped for Nandrolone in the build up to their rematch. Victor Conte was standing near the car crash, but the reformed inmate is a new man with adherence to VADA so Berto was left to the wolves (that would be people like me) on this one. That rematch could have propelled Berto back into the discussion of heir apparent, or at least next guy up-instead he was the guy who made Ortiz a “24/7” Co Star. Instead of HBO highlighting the good works he did for his people in Haiti after the Hurricane it was Victor Ortiz and the ambiguity surrounding his alleged abandonment.

 

The Guerrero opportunity looked the same way Ortiz looked from a distance minus the quitting; smaller guy coming up, legitimate enough as a name to keep Berto moving in the right direction –or so you would think. Gatekeepers aren’t exactly in on the distinction in the beginning, in fact there are people who see something in them long before we see it, and they’ve perfected the art of knowing just when and whom they can match him against. Guerrero and Berto went in the Citizens Bank Arena ring last Saturday with empty report cards, Berto graded high in what you knew he would and Guerrero came up aces in area’s we didn’t know he could at 147 lbs. Gatekeepers are entertainingly predictable, you knew Berto would be dangerous and gutsy, and his murderous uppercuts in the middle to late rounds came as no surprise because he was marked and feted accurately by Guerrero’s team. The Ghost knew he could drag Berto into a dogfight, he also knew that Berto wasn’t elite enough to dictate it nor abandon it on his own terms- a flaw seen in Shane Mosley throughout his decorated career. After suffering knockdowns in the first two rounds Berto was back in a FOY Candidate which can’t be advantageous for the more talented fighter. Afterwards he showed little grace in defeat, the fight was filled with Fritzie Zivic manners that somehow drove Berto to actually initiate the first on screen post fight debate-only reinforcing his growing rep as a sore loser.

 

My theory is this, Berto was starting to realize the pattern that was taking place and at his relative youth (29) wanted to fight it as it was starting to set in. Will Danny Garcia come calling next, seeing Berto as a perfect access pass into the Money division? will every young guy looking to get near the "real" Haymon client come looking for Berto?. 2013 is a soul searching year for the once promising Olympian and he’s going to have to beat down the next guy trying to get to Mayweather through him for fear of being a chauffeur. If not he will fade back into a role that men even more accomplished than him have fallen into, the talented “Gatekeeper”-Watch guard of the Throne- there to test the mettle of the future elite while falling just a minuscule short of being elite themselves.

And this can’t be what Andre Berto had in mind when he started his promising career.

Athlete Led Collusion: The Only way to Attack NCAA Minority Hiring Practices

 

Malcolm X was more than just a great orator, he had a unique genius in being able to make the complex unfold plainly-he spoke to the layman in all of us. In 1963 when riffing his disdain for the “March on Washington” Malcolm illustrated a scenario whereby the leading Pastors were losing influence in our community through bickering that left a void filled by more aggressive grassroots demonstrations. This localized, more radical "grassroots" movement was more threatening to the powers that be-so they quickly summoned the now legendary “Big 6” and colluded to underwrite (and thereby control) the March on Washington and by Proxy “The Civil Rights Movement”. The Rights African Americans enjoyed immediately after the Civil War were more broad and enforceable than the virtual slavery we lived under in the 1930’s- how did the future become more bleak than the past?, a backroom deal between Northern Business and Southern Democrats that’s how. The SEC Football Conference, a defacto Semi Pro League is fun for you to watch but it took Bear Bryant and John McKay going through emissaries to secretly negotiate an Alabama home game vs. USC to make a racist fan base see what a dead end future racism guaranteed- and this was 1970!. In my own life I’ve grown up in a state (Illinois) that produced more Pro’s than people even know (Anthony Davis) about because black Chicago Public League Coaches have colluded to make sure the University of Illinois knew how they felt about their “practices”. Collusion is nothing new, it’s merely a way of charting your course by unofficial means and this country was built on it. The only time Authoritarian Collusion in Sports is thrown off is when labor (talent or in the NCAA’s case mules) utilizes the same tactic to make a political point, or simply to play for a team with cool uniforms.



My favorite Illinois Team was the 1989 Final Four Team that should have been led by Ben Wilson; he was the leader in player led collusion to go against the Boycott and stay home. After that crop moved on to the NBA there was never again another homegrown wave again, which is why I hate all so called College Basketball Powers. Collusion was afoot when LeBron James decided in 2008 to leave Cleveland for Miami-yeah that’s right 2008; it didn’t “just” happen which is why Dan Gilbert who probably colludes daily lost his shit. During the NBA “Lockout” Gilbert then recruited his own conspiratorial pack (starring Air Jordan himself) of small market owners and colluded to make sure that player led Collusions would be financially impossible for large market teams to finance. Boycotts aren’t as effective as collusions, they are merely spectacles that evoke awareness, but they are ultimately ended by a handful of people in a secret location-the proverbial “smoke filled room” in the back. Like unofficial biographies they aren’t bound by the same rules of engagement, that’s why they are ultimately more damaging to the subject and more entertaining to readers. In the case of College Football’s shameful minority hiring practices I believe the first thing anybody seeking change should understand is Alumni have shown a history of gloves off tactics and should be dealt with realistically.



Colorado Coach Jon Embry was just fired and with the backing of former Colorado Coach/Mentor Bill McCartney accused the institution of racial bias. I don’t have to get too deep into the NCAA’s record, I’ll let it be your homework for this article, just know that Brotha’s don’t get any second chances to screw up. The Washington State Coach Mike Leach is on his second tour of abusing players verbally and psychologically, when his torture chamber is located he’ll get fired and rehired by 2015-because he’s a “Good Ole Boy”. The NCAA and a majority of Football Factories profit from the indentured servitude of a workforce that is primarily Black. The schools who recruit their coaching talent from an old boy network of people they feel “comfortable” with have no problem trafficking in the worst black neighborhoods in the country because the mules are free-Coaches you pay on the record. The NCAA is loose on concussions, players hit more during the week than Pro’s and a Coach can rescind a Scholarship without fear of an appeal process or disciplinary action for unfair dismissal. What Power does a player have? He’s trying to get out of the circumstances he’s in so why bother with the fact that there are no men of color leading him? Rob Parker argues that the parents should take charge and enact a Boycott and vigorously examine Universities and their minority hiring practices but I don’t agree with this plan of action. Remember Boycotts are trying to lead to Collusion, and a lot of the parents of 5 Star WR’s aren’t available for such organization-they’re simply trying to survive until their sons get drafted. This is the Social Media, Technology age, every 5 star Athlete can find out what Schools are doing in their hiring practices with the click of a mouse. All of the kids are connected anyway through Travel Teams, Camps and 7 on 7 Leagues, it would be laughably easy to put the finger on a handful of schools and go elsewhere-without warning. It wouldn’t have to affect them at all, just migrate towards BCS schools that have shown a willingness to hire capable minority coaches and let it be known that you liked that about the institution-no 5 star kids should take themselves off the map by going to an irrelevant Conference. It took ONE Game to desegregate the SEC, TWO RECRUITING (in honor of the lousy 2 years Jon Embry was given) CLASSES could reform the hiring practices of Football Factories immediately. Two recruiting classes could tilt the balance of power in NCAA Football for 5 years, that’s like an eternity to institutions used to having their pick of unpaid labor. Alumni who put their money towards keeping Brotha’s from even interviewing at “Old State U” will be begging the NCAA to put their version of a Rooney Rule in Place-and the kids who prompted the change will not only be Pro Athletes but revolutionaries. Boosters will find it in their schedule to have dinner with talented men they had no incentive to “know” until 18 year old kids decided to use their IPhones to give them one. Sometimes it takes unofficial action to prompt the powerful to make official concessions and changes; in fact unofficial action is enough to sink a whole program…just ask Penn State.

Mississippi Goddamn

 Speaking of Big-time College Football, is it me or did the Ole Miss Election Night Demonstration get buried? My Southern friends from "down thur" all talked about it for a while and guess what they told me? This shit aint over. Ole Miss was an also-ran in the SEC, the proud recipients of the crumbs that fall from the Alabama/Florida/LSU table-they are more vulnerable to player led collusion than any school in the SEC. This will however be a story in the coming years because I predict Ole Miss will get moved along due to Div. level talent and results-Florida State will fit nicely in their spot before this so called “Obamanation” is over. They are out of their minds if they don’t think young football players down south aren’t talking about what happened and their probably going to have to get ahead of this thing in a way that might turn Confederate soldiers over in their graves…Or Perish as a Football Program. That it could even happen at a School that clung to the Confederate Flag and threw a tantrum when asked to change their sickening mascot is no surprise-but it is stupid. Big Time Football is played hard on and off the field; and the time has come for “Ole Miss” to choose: Do they want allegiance to the rednecks in the dorms that produce no revenue or the black athletes who pay for everything.

Robert Guerrero "I see myself fighting Floyd Mayweather next" talks Andr...

Vídeo Entrenamiento Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Márquez

Adrien Broner has a "Problem" with Branding

Remember “Frobe” Bryant? That fresh faced kid who came into the NBA hell-bent on letting the world know he was the next Michael Jordan. Well, eventually he became the closest thing we’ve ever seen to MJ but when he first arrived on the scene there was something unseemly about him-and that “something” was everything. The way he walked, the way he talked (Jordan’s tone, tenor and cliches) and about 99% of his game seemed so pandering and cheesy-so much so that we didn’t want to admit he was one hell of a basketball player. It was too soon, Jordan wasn’t yet among the Gods, he was still among us and we hated Kobe’s “first impression” so much it took adversity and 5 Championships to force us to appreciate him. Success can be broken down to a formula, but transcendent people are almost always damned near impossible to replace-especially in Boxing. Larry Holmes tried to recite poems and it only made us hate him more, he only turned out to be one of the greatest heavyweights that ever lived. Because of Tyson every stocky fighter wore the black trunks and mid-level old time boxing shoes for about 10 years and it only highlighted just how far removed the Bert Coopers of the world were from being “Iron Mike”. Remember Panchito Bojado? Who was Victor Ortiz before Ortiz? both fighters were branded as New Age Golden Boys and both proved just how elusive Gold is to find. Branding isn’t easy’ in fact there’s a science to it and many public figures fall through the cracks if they aren’t careful about what it is they want to project. Trying to piggyback off of an established brand is even harder, especially when that brand is an enigmatic combination of skill and polarization that we’ve seen in the Floyd Mayweather phenomenon. Last weekend Adrien Broner made his first statement as a legitimate “Problem” for elite fighters in the Lightweight division but his Branding hinted at a not so interesting facsimile of his predecessor despite possibly having a superior product.

 Boxing is simple, if you’re willing to Be Aggressive there’s no need for clowning
When Floyd Mayweather destroyed Diego Corrales (RIP) all those years ago it hinted at a career that would rival Sugar Ray Leonard’s, by 2006 due to brittle hands he was considered more on par with Pernell Whitaker (no insult). Adrien Broner looks like Mayweather if you’re squinting but his willingness to take a wide stance and fight Antonio Demarco makes him a different brand, a product that can sell itself in Boxing- a Boxer/Puncher. Marketing in all industries is a game of likeness but every black fighter with a shoulder roll defense and good speed need not marry themselves to being a jerk, besides if it “so happens” that Broner is a jerk we’ll make room for him if he can hurt opponents. Floyd Mayweather “happened” in a vacuum and just because it translated for him will not guarantee it for Broner, especially when there may not be a landscape filled with likable draws (Gatti, DLH, Hatton) to make that “act” successful. Broner is a self-professed “Class Clown” but not everyone is amused by his humor; his Baby’s Mama may be used to fake proposals but it played as crass and negatively stereotypical garbage in front of HBO cameras. Humor is a Science, a lot of fighters are funny but none of them promise to deliver humor in their appearances. Funny things happen all the time in post-fight interviews but when you come off as panned and rehearsed it won’t register. Coincidentally last week Eddie Murphy (the Muhammad Ali of Comedy) was honored by a generation of the best comedians of the last 20 yrs., men like Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Adam Sandler. All of Eddies progeny were naturally funny when talking about Eddie but when practically begged to “do his thing” Eddie demurred; because being funny is serious business and he hadn’t been in the lion’s den in years. Adrien Broner can easily be mistaken as a Classless Clown and a Mayweather Wannabe, something he’s too talented to subject himself to. Floyd Mayweather didn’t have Al Haymon and the Golden Boy machine behind him at Adrien’s age; a lot of his venom and emphasis on Money comes from bitterness regarding Arums unwillingness to see him as a PPV star. When you can punch like the Cincinnati native it’s OK and preferred that what you do in that ring is more important than post fight hair brushing-the late Emmanuel Steward said as much. The great ones have a way of micro managing but keeping priorities intact; once Broner learns how to balance what he does with who he is he’ll be fine. LeBron James was clearly gifted enough to win Championships but his early career was about Branding, while Jordan the game’s biggest “brand” was clearly in the “ass kicking business” first and foremost -and you could tell.

 The Time to differentiate the Problem from “Money” is now

When Mayweather called out De La Hoya his own Daddy said he was too small, but “Lil Floyd” knew that he walked around at 150 lbs. and proved himself actually stronger than Oscar. Broner is 5’7 with a 71’ reach and there’s nothing for him to do at 135 lbs. that wouldn’t offend HBO subscribers and fans. Amir Khan is going to be a paradox for as long as he continues to fight, whether GBP would risk him to get Broner going is a company question-but I would do it in a heartbeat because it could give them an asset going forward. No offense to Danny Garcia but if Broner chose to be the 140 lb. Champion by Spring in front of a rabid Puerto Rican fan base in Brooklyn it wouldn’t be hard. The Real “Man” in that Division, Marquez is going against Pacquiao and win or lose wouldn’t be blamed if he conceded the actual recognition to a 23 year old Lion like Broner-but if he wants to face The Problem, no Problem. Where does that leave Broner?, who by next year can easily be in or around a Division where Historically a lot of Financial Dreams have come true-can he resist speaking the name we all say to ourselves when we watch him fight? Could someone of Devon Alexanders proven passivity keep Broner off of him? Is it prudent to be so willing to share branding similarity with a legend you may be the only one equipped to defeat? That scale is a seducer in many ways and ultimately it can make friends hit friends and protégés beat the hell out of aging mentors. If Mayweather is getting caught going backwards (no legs) by a 67’ reach in Cotto can he deal with a mirror image packing thudding power at age 36? Really? Adrien Broner should do everything in his power to keep the focus on different aspects of his personality, because if he ever collided with Floyd the first thing out of the legends mouth will shed light on what we’re seeing now. When MJ faced Kobe in 98’ he still had enough psychological leverage to make the younger, superior athlete look like an amateur. Psychological leverage is paramount in a sport like Boxing, just ask Mike Tyson. Reminding us of someone in the ring is often inescapable because every fighter is influenced by someone, but De La Hoya is doing Broner no favors by hammering that point home in the media. When you’re as talented as Broner things happen very soon, one minute your mimicking an idol and the next Al Haymon is asking you what your price is-it can happen that quickly. The time is now for Broner to rethink his brand and project something that will contrast enough with Floyd to capture our imagination because we all know that is a huge part of selling a fight. Mayweather is a "Big Brother" to Broner but if he is still the preeiminant face of Boxing in early 2014 (Totally conceivable) the relationship will be tested purely based on economic survival. If not, Broner can find himself a mere standout in a land of young black fighters doing their best Floyd Mayweather imitation and that would be a shame.

In fact it would be a problem.