Boxers who are losers; promoters who love them:
Tomato cans, palookas, bums, stiffs: boxing has myriad words to describe these boxers' singular purpose: to provide more promising fighters a chance to pad their records and enhance their careers. (NY Times reg. required)

posted by split atom to boxing at 09:19 PM - 2 comments

Aussie swimmer Craig Stevens gives up Olympic spot to Ian Thorpe: After multiple world record holder swimmer Ian Thorpe was disqualified from the Australian 400m trials for a false start, the spot was won by Craig Stevens. Stevens, however, offered to vacate the spot in order to allow Thorpe to take his place. Thorpe has finally decided to take Stevens up on his kind offer, and will swim the 400m in Athens. Stevens has come under some criticism for the decision though, as accusations that he wilted under the pressure of public opinion and took money from a TV station to make the decision have been lodged against him.

posted by split atom to other at 11:21 PM - 9 comments

Betrayed by the Game: Interesting NY Times article which explores the myth that basketball is a way out for inner-city youth. The writer, Darcy Frey, reports on the fate of the 1991 Lincoln High team, which was full of talented young players. Stephon Marbury made it, while the rest had weren't so lucky.

posted by split atom to basketball at 10:01 AM - 4 comments