The Oscar-winning picture Million Dollar Baby is worthy of its golden statuette. But while many people focus on Maggie and her determination to pursue her dreams, I was more moved by Frankie. Frankie is a tragic character. He is a good manager and trainer, and that he is a good friend to his fighters is proved by him helping Willy to buy his wife a car and advising Maggie to save money and invest in real estate. Frankie also looked after his fighters in the ring by repeating his golden principle 'always protect yourself'. Unlike other greedy managers with their eyes only on the money, Frankie made sure that his fighters were properly trained and ready before allowing them to fight. Frankie's ex-fighter and employee, Eddie, challenged Frankie for being too conservative with his fighters. But Frankie didn't want his boxers to end up like Eddie, who lost sight in one eye in a match he should have pulled out of. Most of the boxers would be left with nothing if they could no longer fight - Maggie is an uneducated waitress from a trailer park who dreams of becoming a great boxer. Frankie's golden rule was proved true when Maggie is caught unawares and paralysed in her championship fight. There are so many regrets in this old man's life. He always worked hard behind the scenes, letting his fighters take all the credit and glory. After eight years of training, Willy leaves him just before a title match. Then, when he finally takes his friend's advice and lets Maggie take the risk and fight for the title, she is paralysed. Just when he discovers his fatherly love for Maggie, she insists on dying with dignity. She may have lived her best moments, and she died with someone who loved her by her side, but what about Frankie? He didn't want to lose his 'daughter', but had to be the one to kill his million dollar baby. He was left alone to bear all the emptiness. He is a tragic hero of our times. Pulcheria is a regular SYP columnist