Floyd Mayweather Jr: A Hometown Hero Who We Want To Lose?

When a lead-up to any Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight occurs, the city of Grand Rapids, Mich., is buzzing with excitement and predictions coming from the local barbershops, sports bars and even churches.

Born and raised here until his career took off in 1996 after Olympic bronze in the Atlanta games, Floyd knows where he came from and has given much back to the city over the last decade.

When he makes the occasional return home, everyone around town seems to know it. Floyd, with his entourage closely watching his every step and his fleet of four or five luxury vehicles can be seen parading around town stopping by the local businesses to patronize in any way he can and leave a hefty tip ($100 bill on most occasions) to just about anyone who opens the door for him or rings up a roast beef sandwich.

Genuinely sincere, it's a breath of fresh air in a struggling economy hit very hard in the area because of the nearby auto-maker job cuts and plant closings.

I have seen all this first hand, and as many of us who know Floyd on any kind of personal level or spent any time with him when the cameras are not rolling, we will tell you he is much more down to earth and respectfully polite and appreciative of what God has so blessed him with. 

This is when we get to see that it's not just about Floyd Mayweather Jr., and his money, and cars, and undefeated record in the sport of boxing, which has now included 40 consecutive victories in a span of over 12 years.

It's about much more than that. I have spent time with Floyd here in Grand Rapids many times and have even been out to Las Vegas and treated to a night on the town by Floyd a few times.

I have fond memories of my time spent with him and have cherished his kindness and friendship.

So for someone who has spent his past Thanksgivings passing out turkeys to local missions, set up a charity foundation right here in his own backyard, and been bringing local concerts and charity events, including him single-handedly saving the local amateur Golden Gloves boxing tournament by donating over $100,000 to save it from folding this past year, one thing really sticks out to me.

Why do we want Floyd Mayweather Jr., prodigal son of Grand Rapids, Mich., to lose so badly?

If someone was to take a trip to General Santos City, Philippines and survey one thousand locals and ask one simple question: Who would you want to win the proposed March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. I would guess 999 of them would answer the obvious.

And the one person who would answer Mayweather is probably just jealous of Pacquaio's success. You always have one like that, right?

Now take the same survey over to Grand Rapids and the results would be oddly different and extremely disappointing to some of us.

I, for one, never wish defeat upon Floyd, but that can't be said for more than half of the locals here.

More than not, when the aforementioned lead up to any Mayweather fight comes around, I hear more of "I wish someone would just beat the crap out of him," or "That boy needs to be shut up," or even the occasional, "I hope he gets knocked the f**k out."

Is it because of his public persona? Is it the way he conducts himself when the cameras are rolling? Or could it have something to do with egotistical flaunting and obsession with money?

"Money" would probably like to know the answer to this himself, if he knew how his hometown REALLY felt about him.

It begs to ask the question that if his own hometown wishes he would taste defeat, does Floyd need a complete makeover of his image to gain support from those who should support him the most?

With his entourage accompanying him in his every move and reminding him of his accomplishments 24 hours a day, maybe he could use a few less people whispering in his ear and a little more self-dignity in solitary acts of kindness.

It's not what you do, it's how you do it. This is true for anyone, celebrity status or not.

So my advice to Floyd would be to think about not just what you are doing for society, but in which way you do it. Sometimes that can make the biggest difference in the world.

Public perception is how this world judges you, right or wrong, it is what it is. On March 13, 2010, I will presumably be watching one of the biggest fights in history take place, nervously cheering on my friend, Floyd Mayweather Jr., with all my heart.

I just hope that his hometown of Grand Rapids will be doing the same. We should embrace a local hero in these tough economical times, be thankful that someone like Floyd is representing our city. And if not, Floyd has no one to blame but himself.