The decision to take Mayweather’s title came as a surprise for many, and has rightfully caused outrage from the members of his camp. The story that broke yesterday has re-opened the door of speculation among Melanoid people, particularly members of Black Society who are avid sports fans. For years now, Mr. Mayweather has been the subject of excessive criticism and scorn, which many believe stems from the simple fact that a young Melanoid man such as Floyd Mayweather is fully aware of his talents and impact on the sport of boxing, and makes no apologies about the storied career he has successfully tailored. Another reason of hate for Mayweather is perhaps the reason that is the most glaring: the immense fortune he has amassed from his prolific boxing career. In conjunction with Mayweather’s enviable boxing winnings, one Melanoid man has been a highly instrumental figure in making this happen. His name, you ask? Al Haymon.

Haymon, whose shrewd acumen has been an asset to Floyd Mayweather (Haymon also serves as an adviser to Mayweather), has long been a man in an authoritative position in the world of entertainment. Despite the power moves, Mr. Haymon is for the most part a low-profile figure, instead preferring to call the shots from behind the scenes…”like a boss”. Haymon’s business savvy could be one that Melanoid people in sports take notes from.

Al Haymon (shown on the left) is often recognized as boxing’s “mystery man”, but he’s no mystery to his famous mentee.

The NBA, which to many has been thought of as a Black sport for the past three-plus decades, is no exception to the need for Black ownership. Although Michael Jordan serves as the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, the sport which is known as perhaps the world’s “Blackest sport” is severely lacking Black owners to take the reins of some of the other 29 NBA franchises.

NBA legend Michael Jordan has served as the majority of the NBA’s Charlotte franchise since 2010.

During the 2011 NBA lockout which saw the NBA’s owners and players reach a rift in collective bargaining, there were discussions of some of the league’s highest profile players (with most–if not all–of the players in mention being Melanoid) form new basketball teams which would barnstorm around the country, putting up their own money to rent out venues and use their immense talents to put on what would’ve been a highly entertaining display of basketball for fans across the country. The rumors of the basketball players leaving the NBA’s negotiation tables for the prospect of putting their fortunes (and ownership of their basketball related business affairs) even prompted well-known veteran journalist Bryant Gumbel to speak on the restrictive nature of the NBA’s hierarchy. Here is what Gumbel had to say:

“[Then-NBA Commissioner] Stern’s version of what has been going on behind closed doors has of course been disputed, but his efforts were typical of a commissioner who has always seemed eager to be viewed as some kind of modern plantation overseer, treating NBA men as if they were his boys. It’s part of Stern’s M.O., like his past self-serving edicts on dress code and the questioning of officials. His moves were intended to do little more than show how he’s the one keeping the hired hands in their place.”

Gumbel’s criticism of then-NBA Commissioner can be seen in the following video.

The NFL is now generally regarded as America’s most popular sport. The professional football league, which boasts an approximately 70 percent Black population as of the beginning of the 2014 NFL season, has no Black owners residing over any of the league’s 32 franchises.

There is a shared belief in some circles of Black Society that harbor disapproval for Melanoid people being involved in entertainment in any capacity, including sports. However, professional sports, just like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, etc. is a business just like any of the previously mentioned examples that represent various sectors of the economy. While many of us in Black Society have come to a consensus that it is no longer a recommended notion to encourage our youth (particularly our boys) to choose a career as an NBA or NFL player, it is possible that the conversation with our youth can be slightly modified to encourage them to strive for ownership/management positions in sports instead. If much of the entertainment that the dominant society consumes and watches is based on marketing influenced by Black culture, shouldn’t it be wise for us to aim for ownership in entertainment-driven industries such as sports?

However, nothing was mentioned of Jim Lampley’s domestic violence history. Jim Lampley served as the chief broadcaster calling the fight and has served as a central figure in HBO’s boxing coverage.

Olbermann and a slew of other reporters were capable of going back to 2001 through court documents to find out about Mayweather, but they couldn’t perform a simple Google search to highlight Lampley’s abuse? Lampley’s then girlfriend said he abused her in front of his 14-year-old son in addition to violating a restraining order she had against him. Why was there no mention or outrage about that? Why didn’t Olbermann call for a boycott of Lampley?

The premise many of these moral grandstanding reporters and fans presented to the public was that if you buy the fight you somehow support domestic violence. That is utterly ridiculous. If that’s the case, then by watching or buying Pacquiao fights over the years you somehow supported adultery, cheating on your taxes in two countries, and you opposed gay marriage.

Not to mention Pacquiao admitted that his dad ate his dog. I mean, not even Mike Vick would do that. But did PETA protest this fight? No. People were mad at Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter for even mentioning Mayweather in tweets.

Boxing is a form of entertainment. It is a sport that people enjoy for athleticism, skill, and performance. We don’t’ need to take a moral position at the movies, so why do we need to take one while watching a sport?

Also, these reporters didn’t call for a protest of the Pittsburgh Steelers or the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of some form of sexual assault or harassment on three different occasions, yet everyone is eager to cover his sport and games. Nor did anyone protest goalie Hope Solo and the U.S. women’s soccer team. Solo assaulted her sister and nephew, (who was a minor) and she wasn’t even suspended. Anyone smell a double standard?

Furthermore, ESPN’s own Mike Tirico has been disciplined by the network for sexually harassing multiple women on multiple occasions during the 90s. Olbermann sure doesn’t have any problem taking that ESPN check. Perhaps he should boycott his own network because he’s clearly so concerned with the welfare of women everywhere. Oh and ESPN host Michelle Beadle should get in on the action.

Mayweather is the only one of the aforementioned that has served time for abuse and misconduct toward women. So what is the underlying issue with Mayweather and not the others on the list that have violated women? I’ll tell you what the underlying issue is: Mayweather makes them feel inferior. He makes them feel inferior financially and athletically. To top it off, he is an audacious, unapologetic black man that is a living example of the American dream. Just look at Twitter after the fight concluded. Many people were using the N-word to describe Mayweather just for winning a boxing match.

These reporters and many fans are astonishingly hypocritical and only try to limit his income because they believe the American dream was meant for them and those like them, not a black man from humble beginnings. That the root of the dislike for Mayweather. So all those outraged over Mayweather’s abuse, I urge you to be just as outraged over Lampley’s if you’re not a hypocrite.

And to those moral purists who say Mayweather’s abuse or allegations are worse, Pacquiao would certainly agree that all sins are equal under God.

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