HBO's "On Freddie Roach" has proved one thing, if not more -- ditch the narrator's role in these reality documentaries and the result is more compelling.
The Peter Berg directed series is a quiet, serious look at the the day-to-day existence of a rich and famous man, a soon to be inducted Hall of Fame boxing trainer who is surviving Parkinson's.
Freddie Roach lives in an unpretentious and small home not too far from his main place of business, the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA.
Roach's mother Barbara and brother Pepper have significant roles at the gym and are ever present, even when Freddie is on the road with one of his champion boxers.
There are scads of photos of the Roach boys, Pepper, Freddie and their father Paul in boxing gloves, sparring or posing after bouts.
Roach talks sparingly and without self pity about a violent father who beat his mother and any of the seven kids who broke the smallest rule..
Boxing was in the family blood and Barbara judged matches for years when her sons fought as amateurs and professionals.
Both Pepper and Freddie suffer from serious effects of post-boxing careers --Parkinson's in the case of Freddie and multiple strokes for Pepper.
In a scene from an early epidsode in the series, Pepper experiences another one on camera outside the gym and Roach feels some sense of responsibility
Prior to the onset of the stroke symptoms, Pepper was wearing the mitts for a heavyweight client of the Wild Card and took some serious blows to the body.
Despite the padding, Freddie told colleagues through his tears that he shouldn't have allowed it.
The tone of the episodes is somber, depicting Roach going about his business from sun up to late into the night, in a routine that includes his physician visits for his Parkinson's check ups.
He is religious about his meds, keeping up his routine and vigourous exercise via in-ring mitt sessions with his boxers. He is generous with Parkinson's patients who approach him to discuss their situation.
The choice of director Berg to eliminate narration and background music, except for a few snippets of Roach's own voice and to be unafraid of the lack of constant conversation is a bold one.
It makes the experience more personal and intimate for viewers who learn that Freddie is a man of few words, yet one who accommodates press and fans wherever he happens to be.
Prior to the airing of the first episode, Roach commented to the Washington Examiner that "I think I'm kind of a boring person. Jim (co-exec producer Jim Lampley) and Peter thought otherwise, and they asked me if I'd be open like I am on '24/7.' I thought about it, and I always wanted to be a little bit famous, so I chose to do the show, and they were with me for almost a year."
In the Philippines he is revered as Manny Pacquiao's trainer and paparazzi are seen swarming him as he arrives from the U.S. to begin Pacquaio's training camp for last year's bout with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Roach will answer any question, pose for any photo and sign pretty much anything, including body parts if asked by those that recognize him and want to meet him---all with a smile and not much conversation.
We are introduced to his current romantic partner and two of his former girlfriends, one of whom manages the Wild Card and his schedule. He is comfortable with the women remaining in his life as they seem to be as well.
He freely admits that he has been unsuccessful in maintaining romatic entanglements because of his work. There is no glamorous life in Hollywood for Roach as part of a couple.
Through the fourth episode, the only social situation we are privy to is a family party at Pepper's house when he is released from the hospital.
Business dinners and dinners alone watching fight tapes are the norm with Roach. When he travels he doesn't take his girlfriend and speaks of the loneliness that goes along with that.
Like many successful people, he puts the work above the pleasure.
Freddie Roach works hard at what he loves to do and tries to be a good friend, brother and son who doesn't live the life of a celebrity, while being one.
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