2008 Woodie Awards
The summer's best
Justin Wolter
Issue date: 9/26/02 Section: Sports
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During summer, folks like to camp, vacation, attend festivals or county fairs and get real blitzed, maybe even mix in a trip to the neighbor's garage sale—all while putting sports on the back burner. Sports on the back burner? That means this summer you missed some major events and outrageous stories that remind us the sports world does go on.
Early in the summer, Mike Tyson took on Lennox Lewis in one of the biggest boxing matches in years. A lot of smack was run before the fight, but Lewis came out the victor as he knocked Tyson out in the 8th round. HBO collected $103 million from the fight, with 1.8 million viewers tuning in.
WNBA players threatened to strike if their salaries weren't increased. The rookie minimum salary is $30,000 for the three-month season and the veteran minimum is $40,000. It's a good thing they found a solution for that. I bet that during negotiations the players pushed for a season extension; after that they probably could've had anything they wanted. I'm also glad to see they play their games on the Lifetime Channel, where sports fans are always watching.
In a one-week span, Glenn Robinson of the Atlanta Hawks; Scott Erickson, an Orioles pitcher; Allen Iverson, guard for the Philly 76ers were charged respectively with accounts of assault on women. Robinson allegedly pushed his ex-wife and threatened her with a plastic plant. Iverson allegedly forced his wife to go outside naked three times. Erickson allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and threw her to the ground. The streak was unreal. If you get that mad at your mate, just leave; it'll be cheaper and less embarrassing.
ESPN celebrated its 25,000th show of "Sportscenter." For at least two weeks before the show, ESPN talked it up as if whether you watched it or not was a life or death situation. Though double the viewers tuned in, the show was a total disappointment. There was nothing special about it except that it was a dismal failure. They imitated Fox's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," inviting guests who didn't have a clue what they were talking about. They recognized all the people on air but didn't give any attention to the people behind the scenes who work their tails off every day to produce the show.
Finally hometown rookie FB Najeh Davenport, Green Bay's fourth-round draft pick, was arrested last week in South Florida for defecating in a Barry University coed's laundry basket on April Fool's Day. I hope next year he keeps his eyes off of Krueger Hall.
Early in the summer, Mike Tyson took on Lennox Lewis in one of the biggest boxing matches in years. A lot of smack was run before the fight, but Lewis came out the victor as he knocked Tyson out in the 8th round. HBO collected $103 million from the fight, with 1.8 million viewers tuning in.
WNBA players threatened to strike if their salaries weren't increased. The rookie minimum salary is $30,000 for the three-month season and the veteran minimum is $40,000. It's a good thing they found a solution for that. I bet that during negotiations the players pushed for a season extension; after that they probably could've had anything they wanted. I'm also glad to see they play their games on the Lifetime Channel, where sports fans are always watching.
In a one-week span, Glenn Robinson of the Atlanta Hawks; Scott Erickson, an Orioles pitcher; Allen Iverson, guard for the Philly 76ers were charged respectively with accounts of assault on women. Robinson allegedly pushed his ex-wife and threatened her with a plastic plant. Iverson allegedly forced his wife to go outside naked three times. Erickson allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and threw her to the ground. The streak was unreal. If you get that mad at your mate, just leave; it'll be cheaper and less embarrassing.
ESPN celebrated its 25,000th show of "Sportscenter." For at least two weeks before the show, ESPN talked it up as if whether you watched it or not was a life or death situation. Though double the viewers tuned in, the show was a total disappointment. There was nothing special about it except that it was a dismal failure. They imitated Fox's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," inviting guests who didn't have a clue what they were talking about. They recognized all the people on air but didn't give any attention to the people behind the scenes who work their tails off every day to produce the show.
Finally hometown rookie FB Najeh Davenport, Green Bay's fourth-round draft pick, was arrested last week in South Florida for defecating in a Barry University coed's laundry basket on April Fool's Day. I hope next year he keeps his eyes off of Krueger Hall.