Manny Pacquiao sinks trick shot backstage
Manny Pacquiao didn't have much time to practice his duet with Jimmy Kimmel before Wednesday's performance in Hollywood. (Bryan Armen Graham/SI)
LOS ANGELES -- Merry is Manny Pacquiao's default mood: the guy has as many smiles as Inuits have words for snow.
So it was unusual to see him looking nervous backstage Wednesday ahead of his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he performed a duet of the Bee Gees' 1977 hit "How Deep Is Your Love" with Kimmel after discussing his upcoming fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.
It wasn't his first performance on the late-night talk show, but the song choice hadn't been finalized until late Tuesday night and Pacquiao didn't have a chance to practice until he showed up Wednesday evening at the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard where the show is taped.
After watching a recording of Kimmel performing the duet with a stand-in, the eight-division champion practiced for 15 minutes before waiting to be summoned by the producers. With nearly 90 minutes to kill, Pacquiao broke the tension with one of his favorite pastimes: billiards.
He didn't disappoint, setting up and draining a trick shot -- on the first try! -- that left his entourage in awe. To be clear, Manny is calling 9 ball side pocket:
What can you say? The guy can work a crowd.
-- Bryan Armen Graham
