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PUG LIFE…it would be easy to dismiss Manny Pacquiao’s retirement threats as simply more posturing during the prelude to an announcement of a Floyd Mayweather fight. I’m not so sure. The Pacman has a rich and diverse life, one which includes both music and film. If Pacquiao is elected to the Philippine Congress, still a longshot, it may be inevitable that he push his ring career to the side.

There is, of course, another reason. A retirement announcement would place the accomplishments of a brilliant career in the boxing firmament, forever glorious, forever untarnished. Pacquiao could return home as a conquering hero and live out his life engaged in political battles on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. It would be a powerful tale and no one can doubt the sincerity of his aspirations.

And they don’t drug test politicians or cultural icons.

The worst case scenario for Manny, and for boxing, would be the revelation that he has been juicing. Based on his simple and trusting nature, there is the possibility that he could be ingesting illegal substances without his knowledge. The modern fighter takes a cocktail of vitamins and supplements, most administered by a fitness consultant or personal trainer. Could Pacquiao be taking EPO or HGH without personal awareness?

Mike Marley’s site featured a recent interview with one of Roberto Duran’s handlers, and it was chilling. Duran never questioned what he was given. The handler then hinted, rather mischievously, that if EPO and HGH were not illegal at the time (they hadn’t been specifically outlawed) then, of course, he would take whatever edge he could. Draw your own conclusions.

Manny Pacquiao has been a thrilling, unifying force in the sports world. His accomplishments have been groundbreaking and unprecedented. But I’m going to reveal my take on Pacquiao with this assertion; I hope he retires, a Mayweather fight be damned. Let’s not look too closely at boxing’s Peter Pan, leave him unburdened and pure, dancing through the swamps of implausibility and impossibility like our last wild and free Lost Boy…

GRID IRON…the Sporting News and ESPN are reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles are sure to move Donovan McNabb this offseason. McNabb has been stellar in the regular season but is probably one of the worst big game quarterbacks in the League. Detractors point to his 1-4 record in NFC Championship games and his anaemic 80.0 QB post season rating…of course, the one time he did make the Super Bowl he vomited in the huddle before the final drive, undermining his team’s chances for a win…Kevin Kolb played two games for the Eagles last year, throwing for over 300 yards in both contests…

ICE…was that the Western Conference eighth seed  thumping the Pittsburgh Penguins last night? Oh man, how would you like to be the Western Conference first seed and find yourself rewarded with a showdown against a healthy and motivated Detroit Red Wing squad? Marc Andre Fleury made some crazy stops last night to keep the game close. When the Red Wings are playing at their best they appear to require only solid goaltending, the kind Jimmy Howard does seem capable of delivering…the Phoenix Coyotes have climbed to second spot on the S N Power Poll. The mag cheekily suggests instead of awarding Yotes coach Dave Tippet the Jack Adams “coach of the year” award, they should just name the trophy after him…

PONIES…the Dubai World Cup is on this Saturday. It’s the scene of my favourite scores of all time, a bundle to win on Vengeance of Rain in the Sheema Classic. A strange series of events led to an improbable betting coup. I was meeting a friend on the Friday before the races but, when he was delayed, ended up picking up a Racing Form to kill some time. The eventual winner of the turf race leapt out of the pages and bopped me on the nose. He perfectly fit a pattern I look for all the time. I turned his two and a half minutes of glory into a University Degree and a three week vacation in Ireland…