Will Manny Pacquiao Lose Fans Due to Gay Marriage Comments?
SodaHead Sports
2012/05/16 19:00:00
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183 votes
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Boxing great Manny Pacquiao is back in the headlines -- and no, it's not for his never-ending feud with top-ranked boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather (although most of us still want to see that fight.) This week, Manny Pacquiao -- politician, not boxer -- has made headlines for his opposing views on the hot-button issue of gay marriage.
Pacquiao was asked about gay marriage by The National Conservative Examiner and the boxer, who is extremely religious and currently serves as a congressman in The Philippines, said he is clearly against it. He cited the Bible and said that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Also, in an interview with MMAFighting.com in 2010, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum insulted the sport of mixed martial arts, making the controversial comments “they [the MMA fighters] roll around the floor like homosexuals.” Pacquiao may have already started to alienate a part of his fan base then.
The point of mass marketing an athlete is to have them appeal to all races, all cultures, all religions, etc. With Pacquiao's comments, he brings publicity he probably doesn't want -- or need -- at this time, especially with a big fight on the horizon. Just because fans may not be too familiar with Bradley, it certainly doesn't mean he can't win. Anything can happen in the boxing ring and while Manny Pacquiao the boxer will likely show up on June 9, there's no guarantee those fans that he alienated will.
Pacquiao was asked about gay marriage by The National Conservative Examiner and the boxer, who is extremely religious and currently serves as a congressman in The Philippines, said he is clearly against it. He cited the Bible and said that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Also, in an interview with MMAFighting.com in 2010, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum insulted the sport of mixed martial arts, making the controversial comments “they [the MMA fighters] roll around the floor like homosexuals.” Pacquiao may have already started to alienate a part of his fan base then.
The point of mass marketing an athlete is to have them appeal to all races, all cultures, all religions, etc. With Pacquiao's comments, he brings publicity he probably doesn't want -- or need -- at this time, especially with a big fight on the horizon. Just because fans may not be too familiar with Bradley, it certainly doesn't mean he can't win. Anything can happen in the boxing ring and while Manny Pacquiao the boxer will likely show up on June 9, there's no guarantee those fans that he alienated will.
Top Opinion
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Shonny 2012/05/17 03:22:04No
+13I'm pissed about this whole situation. Everyone else shouts loud and stands up for the lifestyles and choices they choose, but every time a Christian stands up for our values we are ostracized. We already know that that comes with the territory but I feel that if corporations, people, and stores are going band Christians for our views Christian needs to Boycott their merchandise and businesses. I know I am and will continue to.
everyones has their right to their own opinion even though his view on marriage is wrong
The death thing was added by the reporter.
There WILL be some gay marriage proponents who will be offended and no longer like him. Perhaps it's not logical, but if I'm allowed to hate my physics teacher because she likes Twilight even though it has nothing to do with her teaching, then some fans are allowed to hate Pacquiao because he hates gay marriage even though it has nothing to do with his politics.
And, as Sterling's top comment clearly shows, even though gay marriage has nothing to do with boxing, it may even help for him to GAIN fans, despite how illogical it is.
For me, personally, I was neutral about him and still am. I can acknowledge him as a great boxer, and now I can acknowledge him as homophobic. It simply means I won't follow him when searching for support for gay marriage. No loss to me.
So will he lose fans? YES. Will it make a difference? That's unsure.
I wonder if he's equally against that, or if he's like the millions of Christian Hypocrites who remember the part of Leviticus that talks about homosexuality, but forgets the part of Leviticus that talks of the evils of scallops when they sit down to order at Red Lobster.
Yes, he will lose fans.