Yahoo! Slams 'Bigoted Boxer' Manny Pacquiao For 'Homophobic' Remarks

Ben Maller skewered Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as a "homophobic boxing superstar" and a "bigoted boxer" in a Wednesday post on ThePostgame.com, an online magazine of Yahoo! Sports. Pacquiao had criticized the redefinition of marriage in a Friday interview: "It [marriage] should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of old."

Maller, who is also a talk radio host for Fox Sports Radio, also trumpeted that the boxer, "long a darling of Madison Avenue, figures to lose a number of endorsements and fans over his intolerant, bullheaded position."

The sports blogger led his post, "Manny Pacquiao Banned From Hollywood Mall, Says He Has Gay Relative," with his left-wing label of the international boxing champion: "Manny Pacquiao won't be shopping with the stars ever again, as the homophobic boxing superstar has been banned from Hollywood's ultimate entertainment destination." Maller then outlined that The Grove, "LA's legendary shopping mall where celebrities and tourists mingle in overpriced shops, restaurants and movie theaters...outlawed....[Pacquiao] for his over the top anti-gay statements this week. While quoting bible verses, the boxing star didn't just say he was against the homosexual lifestyle, Pacquiao stunningly divulged gay men should be 'put to death' for their sexual crimes."

On Wednesday, Pacquiao explained that he "gave out my opinion that same sex marriage is against the law of God," but denied quoting from the Old Testament: "I didn't say that, that's a lie… I didn't know that quote from Leviticus because I haven't read the Book of Leviticus yet." Granville Ampong, who conducted the Friday interview, explained that he inserted the Bible verse into his write-up: "As we see, nowhere in my supposition and integration of my interview with Pacquiao did I mention that Pacquiao recited this Leviticus 20:13 nor did I imply that Pacquiao had quoted such."

Ampong also singled out the "Informer" blog at the "alternative" publication LA Weekly for "grossly misconstruing" his article. It should be pointed out that Maller himself relied on the LA Weekly blog's reporting in his blog post on ThePostGame.com.

The sports blogger continued ripping Pacquiao later in his item, and ended with his "intolerant, bullheaded" smear of the Filipino boxer:

Management at the Grove quickly issued a statement explaining why the bigoted boxer has been officially forbid from entering the star-studded shopping mecca.

"Based on news reports of statements made by Mr. Pacquiao we have made it be known that he is not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future. The Grove is a gathering place for all Angelenos and not a place for intolerance."

The prejudiced pugilist attempted to defend his position with media in the Philippines....Pacquiao, long a darling of Madison Avenue, figures to lose a number of endorsements and fans over his intolerant, bullheaded position.