This will shock some misguided people who consider me a Floyd Mayweather Jr. hater or a Manny Pacquiao syncophant.
But, in my less than humble opinion, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace, the Honorable Melissa Saragosa of Department 4, did the right and proper thing by delaying Mayweather's jail stint from Jan. 6 to June 1.
Some other misguided folks quickly took to the web on Friday, seconds after JP Saragosa's granting of the request from the lawyers for "Money," to brand this as a shame, an abomination and worse. What was said or implied was, as one wag put it, "Money talks and Money walks in Las Vegas..."
In other words, favoritism was shown to the wealthy fighter who normally resides in his "Big Boy Mansion."
I don't see this in any way, shape or form.
What Saragosa did was not so much a victory for Mayweather as it was for working class folks--the taxi drivers, the bartenders in the old Betty Boop Bar at the front of the MGM Grand and the nice people who toil in Mexican restaurant Diego's inside the massive hotel casino.
It's been no secret how badly Vegas was hit by our national economic recession which hit in 2008. Many neighborhoods across the Vegas Valley are riddled with empty homes, houses abandoned or taken away from people who couldn't keep up with their mortgages.
That's why I think this jurist made a wise call in allowing Mayweather to squeeze in his Cinco de Mayo date, which increasinly looks as though it will be with Carrot Top Canelo Alvarez as his Mexican foil on the big Mexican holiday weekend.
Mucho dinero will flow into and across Vegas, not just at the MGM but at nearby hotel-casino properties and various restaurants and bars as well.
By allowing Mayweather to check into the hoosegow in the summer, JP Saragosa has insured that the working stiffs of the city have a shot at big fight event dollars.
It's doubtful that Mayweather will get into any further trouble, especially when he begins seriously training for his May 5 opponent.
Mayweather did the crime and he will still do the brief time, albeit on a slightly delayed basis.
This was a "win-win" decision and a Solomonic one at that by JP Saragosa.
Even "Baby Mama Drama" victim Josie Harris benefits or at least the children she had with the fighter do, at least economically.
Mayweather, as far as I know, has never been accused os skimping on or skirting his child support payments.
JP Saragosa is a public servant. She's supposed to serve all the people of Las Vegas.
In this matter, in this case, she's done the right thing for an economically battered city.
"Money" Mayweather brings money to Las Vegas. Some of that money will stay in the pockets of working folks and some will wind up in the LV tax coffers.
Some of those tax dollars will help fund domestic violence programs.
Way to go, JP Saragosa.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
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