Video of Basketball Player at Wild Card
During Manny Pacquiao’s recent media workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood one member of the media stood head and shoulders above the rest of the large crowd huddled around the ring. Literally standing several inches taller than anyone else in the storied gym was NBA star Jalen Rose.
But the former hoopster fit right in next to the apron as we all anticipated Pacman entering the ring to hit the mitts with trainer Freddie Roach. The Filipino icon will face Juan Manuel Marquez for a third go-round on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
As an analyst for ESPN, Jalen has stayed busy in his time off the court. While the pro basketball season openers were to begin this week, the tense NBA lockout has continued for over four months now. As much as I love the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA, it was all about the sweet science during Pacquiao’s media blitz at the gym. And who needs B-ball when you have boxing?
And since we were in a boxing gym, I wanted to “talk shop” with the ex-guard/forward best known for his days with Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers. A member of the University of Michigan’s famed “Fab Five,” Rose played for six different teams during his career. Away from the hardwood, he also founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit, giving back to the city he’s from.
Around the boxing ring, Jalen will make his presence known as the personable sports analyst will reportedly be providing special coverage for Top Rank. The Pacquiao-Marquez clash will soon be here and I chatted with Rose about this marquee matchup and more.
In our video interview, the baller tells me how his passion for the sport of boxing began, his prediction on Pacquiao vs. Marquez, and how he does when he steps inside the ring!
Besides his passion for boxing, he also has one other thing in common with Manny Pacquiao. Making his shots at the rim as a southpaw, he performs as a “lefty.” Standing 6′ 8″ tall, Rose puts up his dukes as we continue to talk boxing. And with his imposing height, Jalen has an edge if he ever wants to lace up himself.
I joke with him that given his large frame he’d match up well with the Klitschko brothers.
He has sparred many times and has some boxing experience.
So would he want to face those “Towers of Terror” on the canvas, just for fun?
Jalen tells me he thinks he’d “take them to school”–on the basketball court that it is!
While the hoop star will not be facing either Vitali or Wladimir anytime soon, you WILL see him at the fights!
Photo by Michele Chong
Jalen Rose Interview Link: