As if Manny Pacquiao doesn't have his hands in enough pies right now, TrueHoop is reporting that Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has reached out to Pacquiao to set up "sports and healthy lifestyle clinics" in the Philippines. Pacquiao, who is well-known as a huge basketball fan and plays often (sometimes to the chagrin of trainer Freddie Roach), is eager to help.
"Manny's people actually got back to us the other day and said he was really interested in getting together to do something like this," Spoelstra told ESPN.com after the Heat's practice on Monday in preparation for Tuesday's home game against the Utah Jazz. "It's for a good cause, and we're really excited about the chance to do it."
Spoelstra is a fan of Pacquiao's, and the coach's mother is a native Filipino. He's also promising to change Pacquiao's favorite team, which is currently the Boston Celtics. Spoelstra says he plans to watch Pacquiao-Margarito on Saturday after his team's game with the Toronto Raptors.