Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, November 6.1997
Holyfield fight will lack punch of Tyson bouts
By Tim Dahlborg The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS—There's something missing as Evander Hollyfield prepares for his first fight since his two showdown bouts with Mike Tyson. And it's not just part of his ear.
Forget, for a moment, that Saturday night's fight with Michael Moorer will unify two parts of the heavyweight title. Forget that Holyfield is seeking revenge against one of the two fighters ever to beat him.
Holyfield and Moorer simply have a tough act to follow in the wake of two of the biggest heavyweight title fights all time.
"It makes this fight seem dead a little," Holyfield said.
With the volatile and fearsome Tyson replaced with the introspective and cautious Moorer, it has been left mainly up to Holyfield to carry the promotion for the fight that will unify the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles.
Though he's being paid well to do so — $20 million for the scheduled 12-round fight — even Holyfield has seemed to have trouble trying to raise Saturday's fight to the level of his two fights with Tyson.
At yesterday's final prefight press conference, Hollyfield left it up to his attorney, Jim Thomas, to try and add some excitement to the fight.
"This is the kind of fight all of you say we need in boxing," Thomas said. "For once, all the action will be inside the ring."
Showtime executive Jay Larkin, whose company is televising the fight via pay-perview, took to berating the assembled media for not taking the fight as seriously as Holyfield's fights with Tyson.
"What we don't have is a car crash and because we don't have a car crash, reporters come up to me and ask what's wrong with this fight," Larkin said.
The stakes still are big for both Holyfield and Moorer, but the absence of Tyson and his entourage has quieted the buzz that normally is associated with a big heavyweight fight.
At yesterday's press conference, there was no camp member
like Mike Tyson's Crocodile ranting and raving for hours about how his man would win. Both fighters were businesslike, with Moorer expressing hope that no fighter on the card would be hurt.
Holyfield even has a religious rally scheduled for tonight, two nights before the fight, where thousands are expected at a minor league baseball stadium to hear a night of preaching and singing.
"The difference in this fight is there won't be the tension on fight night that there was before," said Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. "It will be a different atmosphere."
About the only tension present at the press conference was when Moorer's manager, John Davimos, changed Holyfield's grin to a scowl when he complained about Holyfield making excuses for his April 22, 1994, loss to Moorer that cost him the WBA and IBF titles.
Holfyield blamed a bad left shoulder for his performance in losing a 12-round majority decision, and two days later was hospitalized for what was then diagnosed as a heart problem.
"Evander's a great fighter, but he's the worst loser I've ever seen in my life," Davimos said. "He's gone from cardiac arrest in the ring and heart problems to shoulder problems to being poisoned in the corner."
Holfyield waited to respond, then defended himself.
"I'm here to say I didn't make up any excuses," Hollyfield said. "I said Michael Moorer beat me, but I did realize I had a hurt shoulder. I did feel sorry for myself because I had an injury, and I didn't put out my best."
Fight promoters say they expect to sell about 12,000 tickets for the fight, to be held at the 19,000-seat UNLV campus arena.
Three other title fights are on the card, with Ante Miller defending the WBA cruiser-weight title against France's Fabrice Tiozzo; Wilfredo Vazquez defending the WBA featherweight title against Genaro Rios, and IBF cruiser-weight champion Uriah Grant defending his title against Imamu Mayfield.
Dispute forces Oriole skipper to fly
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE - Davey Johnson ended his feud with Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos by quitting yesterday, just hours before he was voted American League manager of the year.
Johnson, who led the Orioles to a 98-64 record, the best in the AL, had fought with Angelos since the team was eliminated by Cleveland in the AL Championship Series.
"If you're not wanted, do you want to take the money?" Johnson asked. "Life is too short. I'll survive. I was hoping it wouldn't come to this."
Johnson, who had finished second three times in voting for NL manager of the year but never won, received 10 first-place votes, twice as many as anyone else.
"Nothing can ruin this day. To me it's like winning the Heisman Trophy," Johnson said during a telephone conference call. "It's a great honor for me. I think it's the highest award you can get in baseball."
Two days after the World Series, Johnson's agent sent Angelos a let-
ing a cont r a c t extension or a buyout of the final year. A day later, word leaked that Johnson ordered
Angelos said in a letter yesterday accepting the resignation that Johnson failed to recognize the impropriety posed by his handling of the Alomar fine.
Roberto Alomar to pay $10,500 in fines to a charity that employs Johnson's wife as a fund-raiser.
Johnson, who led the Orioles into the playoffs in both his seasons, sent Angelos a letter yesterday morning asking for a decision by the end of the day.
He had one season remaining on a $2.25 million, three-year contract and offered to forgo his $750,000
salary next year if Angelos permitted him to immediately negotiate with other teams.
"I'm a manager with some experience who would love to manage again. Hopefully, there will be some interest." Johnson said.
Toronto general manager Gord Ash said yesterday he intended to interview Johnson. The expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays also may be interested.
Johnson said he did not believe there was a conflict of interest involving the Alomar fine but admitted to Angeloes that the charity he chose could have created the appearance of impropriety.
Johnson's departure means Angelo's must search for his fourth manager in five years. Orioles pitching coach Ray Miller and batting coach Rick Down are considered strong candidates.
Johnson said he had trouble sleeping and felt sick to his stomach about his resignation. The 54-year-old manager broke into the majors with the Orioles and, upon
taking over the team two years ago, called it his dream job.
Johnson is a proven winner—his teams have finished either first or second in all 10 full seasons he has managed and his .576 winning percentage (799-589) was the best among active managers.
But Johnson also has a reputation for being adamant about getting things done his way.
"You've got to be tough to survive in this business," Johnson said. "You can't pussyfoot around and expect to earn the respect of your players. You've got to be sure of yourself."
Johnson led Baltimore to a 88-74 record in 1996, but the New York Yankees eliminated the Orioles in the ALCS. This year, Baltimore became only the third AL team to lead its division wire-to-wire but stumbled against Cleveland in the second round of the playoffs.
"I can't believe it," Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro told WBAL radio. "I really hate to see him go."
Bail bondsman cooperates with NCAA
The Associated Press
LUBBOCK, Texas — A bail bondsman cited by the NCAA for providing free or reduced-cost services to Texas Athletes said yesterday he cooperated fully with investigators and believed he would be exonerated.
Bob Matney said that he and other Lubbock bondsmen typically offer Tech students free or low-cost bail and that he didn't treat football and men's basketball players differently than he would have regular students.
"I don't mind helping a kid. My God, if nobody helped anybody, where would some of us be?" said Matney, who said he actually collected fees from athletes in situations in which he might otherwise have worked for free. "I have to charge a student-athlete (to abide by NCAA rules)."
In one of the 18 allegations made by the NCAA, Tech coaches are accused of referring players to Matney after minor legal scrapes.
The NCAA alleges Matney wasn't paid by a basketball player and two football players after they bonded out on misdemeanor arrests. In two other cases involving football players, the NCAA said a total of $15 was paid.
Fees usually range from $50-$100 for such bonds, the letter said. Matney said that he can't use bodily force to make a client pay up.
"You take people at their word they'll pay you.
Some did, some didn't," Matney told The Associated Press.
During a news conference Monday, Texas Tech Chancellor John T. Montford said the school would provide more information to the NCAA regarding half of the allegations, without specifying which ones.
"I think I'll be exonerated on this," Matney said, adding that he opened his books to visiting NCAA investigators. "I've done nothing wrong."
Raiders' high hopes crushed by bad defense
Tech has until Feb. 2 to respond to the 57-page letter of inquiry, which also listed charges of academic fraud, undue gifts to athletes and a lack of institutional control.
Matney said he was told the NCAA does not actually have a case against him. "When you spend (20) months on something, you've got to show you're doing something."
The Associated Press
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Raiders began this season touting their talent and predicting an AFC title game appearance. Now, at 3-6 and with the NFL's worst defense, Oakland faces a fourth straight year without a playoff appearance.
when you have to come here every week and you're having a dismal
"It's kind of hard to put in words the feelings that you can sometimes bring to the locker room
Surprise at their early struggles has turned into frustration. Disappointment has given way to dismay.
season, as we're having," said Lincoln Kennedy, offensive tackle, yesterday.
The biggest
culprit has been a defense that features five players who have made appearances in the Pro Bowl but is last in the league against the run and last against the pass.
The Oakland defense has had a series of tormentors this season:
- Tennessee's Eddie George ran for 216 yards in Oakland's season-opening 24-21 overtime loss to the Oilers.
San Diego's Gary Brown, out of the NFL last season, ran for 181 yards in the Chargers' 25-10 win against the Raiders.
Warren Moon passed for 409 yards and five touchdowns in Seattle's 45-34 win against Oakland two weeks ago.
Backup tailback Fred Lane had 147 yards and three scores in Carolina's 38-14 defeat of the Raiders this past Sunday.
"Every time we fix one thing.
something else breaks," said cornerback Albert Lewis.
The Raiders, who have gone 10-21 since mid-1995, did not expect it to be this way.
During training camp, wide receiver Tim Brown said, "There is no team that is more talented than we are, defensively or offensively," and quarterback Jeff George went further.
"If we don't play for the AFC championship, it's going to be a disappointment," George said before the season. "I've said from day one we're the team to beat in the AFC."
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