\o7T\f7 he old man is a year closer to Social Security, millionaire captain of his own yacht, and preferring to spend most days with his baby and wife. Gootchy gootchy goo, Oscar.
Now he's going to fight a younger, hungrier and brash Mayweather, and if it were Mayweather Sr., Oscar probably would still be the underdog. But instead he's going to tangle with Junior, 37-0 -- like that's fair.
The oddsmakers in Las Vegas have made Junior an overwhelming favorite for Saturday's sold-out fight at the MGM Grand, and Monday when Oscar spars a little with Mario Lopez in Pasadena, there's some concern Lopez might dance him off his feet. The old man and the sea, all right, and just what's left in that old carcass?
HERE WE go again with the expectation that Oscar is about to get his butt kicked. Last year, he gave Page 2 complete access behind the scenes in the final week leading up to his tussle with Mayorga, and he's doing so again. Obviously, the guy can take a beating.
I can't stand boxing, think Oscar is finished and every time he pulled out his Giorgio Armani compact -- never walking past a mirror without stopping to admire himself -- I laughed. He dieted and I ate. He ran and I sat and watched. He gets manicures and pedicures and I spend time with a woman who gets them. He reads "Veranda," while I sit on one. He said "The Notebook" was one of his favorite movies and groaned when recalling the final scene, while I thought about slapping him with mine.
And yet, we will be flying together to Las Vegas on his private plane, beginning our journey Monday, but first -- just like a year ago -- accepting an invite from the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Don't know why, but the guy just won't leave us alone.
For some reason, though, I didn't make it onstage last year, Dr. Phil dominating the time, and I guess Jay had more problems than any of us knew.
Jay has invited Eric Bana to be his guest this time, and much like Oscar, Bana was the decided underdog when he took on Achilles in "Troy," failing to go the distance and allowing Pretty Boy Brad Pitt to wipe the floor with him.
Now you know at some point Oscar is going to raise his fists for Jay's benefit to show him how tough he is, probably sending Bana, who wasn't smart enough to kick Achilles in the heel, running and screaming offstage.
I imagine that's when I'll be introduced, just hoping that Jay doesn't ask me who I think will win the big fight.
