Manny Pacquiao: overtrained by Freddie Roach but overburdened by expectancy ?

Photo: Chris Farina, Top Rank

Freddie Roach has admitted that Manny Pacquiao was "overtrained" for the contest with Juan Manuel Marquez, and it stands up in some ways. I remember thinking, and saying to his biographer Gary Andrew Poole on Wednesday when Pacquiao spoke to us at small media conference before the main head to head shindig at the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand, that Pacquiao looked old in the face, sullen even. Is the burden of expectation, coupled with his pull towards politics beginning to weigh more heavily on him than ever before ?

In an interview Wednesday with The Sweet Science, Roach confessed. "I give him a B minus. He wasn't really himself, he had a bad night. I don't know why, but he maybe overtrained for the fight. Maybe we started him too soon. He helped Jorge Linares get ready, and we thought that was a good idea at the time. Maybe he was overtrained, and left a little in the gym."

However, while many believe on the strength of Pacquiao's performance against Marquez that Floyd Mayweather would enjoy tactical supremacy, Roach added: “Floyd Mayweather is my first choice. If he comes to the table, we’ll take the fight any day.”

Meanwhile, Marquez has laid out his demands ahead of a potential re-match. "The fight can't happen in Las Vegas, and there have to be neutral judges and we must do well economically," Marquez told boxingscene.com. "Then people will realise the fight is going to be completely neutral and a true winner will leave the ring."

"We must convey that boxing still has credibility. In the two matches that I've had with him, I found a weak point. And I've always said that if I fought him with the same speed, with movements of the waist and with counter-attacks, it makes things complicated for him. And that's just what we did, and we fought him with intelligence. If I don't fight [Pacquiao], there isn't anyone else, I'll just retire."

Marv Dumon, of Examiner.com, has had clarified the "yellow substance" being given to Marquez during the fight on Saturday night. Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), told Dumon: "Water and electrolyte drinks are allowed in the corner. Any electrolyte drink must be brought to the arena in factory-sealed, plastic bottles. Mr. Marquez used water and Pedialyte on Saturday night."

Pedialyte, an electrolyte solution, is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and is designed to rehydrate one's body, replacing fluids and mineral lost either through illness or strenuous activity.

CHRIS EUBANK JNR MAKES OPENING STATEMENT AS CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Chris Eubank Jnr made quite an impact last weekend on his professional debut in the UK, with his proud father in attendance. Via BritishBoxers – interesting piece.

UCLA basketball: Reeves Nelson reinstated, will play against Chaminade

UCLA Coach Ben Howland reinstated Reeves Nelson on Wednesday, welcoming the volatile junior forward back to the team after a one-game suspension for behavior issues.

Nelson is scheduled to resume practicing with the team Thursday and will travel to Hawaii and play in the Maui Invitational, which starts for the Bruins (0-2) on Monday with a game against Chaminade (3-0).

"Reeves understands that his reinstatement is contingent on his ability to continually meet the high standards we have established for all UCLA men's basketball players," Howland said in a statement. "He expressed to me in our meeting earlier [Wednesday] that he desires to be a better person and better teammate going forward and, given that, I feel as though I should give him that opportunity."

Nelson said in a statement that he acknowledged there were "corrections that need to be made and I'm grateful to Coach Howland and to have this opportunity to improve and work on being a positive force for our team."

Nelson had 13 points and eight rebounds in UCLA's season-opening loss to Loyola Marymount, during which he tuned out coaches during timeout huddles and sulked on the court when things went poorly for the Bruins.

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--Ben Bolch

Photo: UCLA Coach Ben Howland, left, speaks with forward Reeves Nelson during an exhibition game on Nov. 6. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

USC football: Dillon Baxter considering San Diego State and UNLV, report says

Dillon Baxter, who last month was removed from USC’s football program by Coach Lane Kiffin, is considering transferring to San Diego State or Nevada Las Vegas, according to this report.

Baxter told the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Mark Anderson that he was intrigued by the possibility of playing for UNLV and was "looking at it pretty seriously.” Baxter also said he would prefer to play wide receiver.

Baxter starred at San Diego Mission Bay High, but he was suspended twice during his freshman season at USC. He did not travel with the Trojans to their Oct. 22 game at Notre Dame this season. Kiffin announced Baxter would no longer be part of the program the next week.

Baxter played sparingly in four games this season.

More later at latimes.com/sports

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Photo: Former USC running back Dillon Baxter. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Angels promote Hollander to director of baseball operations

The Angels on Wednesday promoted Justin Hollander from player development and scouting assistant to director of baseball operations, a position in which he will report to new General Manager Jerry Dipoto.

Hollander, 33, has been with the club for four seasons, working closely with department heads in several aspects of baseball operations, including arbitration, statistical research and advance scouting. Before joining the Angels in 2008, he worked for one year as an associate attorney in San Diego.

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-- Mike DiGiovanna in Milwaukee

Report: Houston Astros join Angels in AL West if sale approved

Major League Baseball told Jim Crane it would not approve his purchase of the Houston Astros unless he agreed to move the team to the American League in 2013. Approval of the sale could be announced as early as Thursday at a meeting of baseball executives in Milwaukee. And if they do move, the Astros would move to the AL West, joining the Angels, Texas, Oakland and Seattle.

According to the Associated Press, Crane will receive a $70-million discount off the $680-million purchase price in exchange for moving the Astros to the AL in 2013.

The move would create two 15-team leagues, which would create a more proportionate schedule.

Commissioner Bud Selig addressed a possible Astros move during a Twitter chat on Monday.

"For 15/15 realignment, Houston would be the team moving to AL West. Would create more fairness in baseball," Selig said. He also added that "15 teams in each league would necessitate interleague play every day but it will be better schedule overall."

The Astros currently play in the six-team NL Central. The AL West is the only division in the majors with only four teams.

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-- Houston Mitchell

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Joe Paterno gave wife ownership of their home for $1 in July

Less than four months before the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal made headlines nationwide, Joe Paterno transferred full ownership of his house to his wife for $1, according to documents obtained by the New York Times.

The transaction took place in July. Two lawyers who examined the documents for the Times drew different conclusions; one said that "it appeared to be an explicit effort to financially shield Joe Paterno." Another said the transfer appeared "benign."

The documents placed the value of the Paternos' house, which they had previously held title to jointly, at $594,484.40.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

The paper reported that one of Paterno's lawyers, Wick Sollers, said in an email that the transfer had nothing to do with the Sandusky scandal, which led to Paterno being fired as head coach at Penn State last week.

Paterno has received intense criticism for telling only his superiors and failing to go to the police after a graduate assistant told Paterno that he witnessed Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator, sexually assaulting a young boy in a school shower in 2002.

On Nov. 5, Sandusky was charged with 40 criminal counts, including six first-degree felony charges, in connection with alleged deviate sexual intercourse.

Some legal experts have speculated that Paterno could be a target of civil actions.

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Photo: Sue and Joe Paterno stand on the front porch of their house in front of fans and media members. Credit: Joe Hermitt / Associated Press / The Patriot-News

Mike McQueary did not report incident to us, police chief says

Mike McQueary did not report his allegations of child sexual abuse against Jerry Sandusky to the State College police department, Chief Tom King said Wednesday.

McQueary has stated in a grand jury report that he saw a boy, whose age he estimated at 10 years old, "being subjected to anal intercourse" by a naked Sandusky, then the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, in a shower at the Penn State football building in March 2002.

Facing public criticism for a perceived lack of action during the incident, McQueary said in an email obtained by the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call that he "did have discussions with police and with the official at the university in charge of police."

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

McQueary, who was a graduate assistant at the time of the alleged incident, did not specify which police department he spoke to. Penn State has its own police force, and administrators are looking into whether McQueary made contact with that department.

According to the grand jury report, McQueary left "immediately," was "distraught" and called his father. His father told him to leave the building and come to his home. McQueary did report the incident to his  then-coach Joe Paterno the next day and later met with athletic director Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business.

Curley and Schultz have been chargedwith perjury and failure to report. Curley was placed on administrative leave, and Schultz, who oversaw university police, returned to retirement. Paterno was fired last week by the university's Board of Trustees. McQueary, now a wide receivers coach for the Nittany Lions, has been placed on administrative leave.

Sandusky is charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of children and is free on $100,000 bail.

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-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Mike McQueary. Credit: Tim Shaffer/ Reuters