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| This issue, TSAReport.com caught up the with Monte Barrett as he prepares for his November 15 fight against David Haye at the O2 Arena in London. Andre Iguodala gives a little forecast into the 2008-2009 season as a Philadelphia 76er. Linebacker/Defensive End, Terrell Suggs recently celebrated his 26th birthday. However, rather than receiving gifts, Suggs and friends made a donation to the William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund, Inc. Suggs talks about what inspired him to learn more about the disease. Check it out! |
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WHERE I LAY MY HAT IS MY HOME
Words by H.L.
"I'm wiser, I'm sharper, more patient and more experienced." Monte Barrett, American Boxer
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"If I can't beat Monte Barrett, I will retire from boxing," said David Haye. Well if you ask many boxing fans, this is going to be the end of Haye's career. Monte aka Two Gunz, has been ready for this fight a long time ago and there is no better place to take on London's own David "The Hayemaker" Haye than on his turf at the O2 Arena on November 15. We spoke with Barrett the day before he left to London. The amped, yet calm and confident 37-year-old gave us a little insight on his fight preparations, talked about him being apart of American history and compares boxing to America's new phenomenon, Mixed Martial Arts. Heavyweight's 12 year veteran, touched on a couple of topics and this is what he had to say:
TSAReport.com- How long has this fight been in the works?
Monte Barrett- I found out about the David Hayes fight eight weeks ago. Basically, called him out, I put a lot of pressure on him. We went back and fourth, but I knew in my mind that the fight was going to happen. So finally he stepped up to the plate.
TSAReport.com- How have you been preparing for the November 15 fight in London's O2 Arena? -Do you have any pre-fight rituals?
MB- One of my pre-rituals that I do before the fight is I watch Rocky I, II, III, and IV and I just train hard.
TSAReport.com- How would you describe the overseas boxing atmosphere and crowd in comparison to the United States?
MB- Well, it's just like any other atmosphere. It's hostile! It's not like he's in another state, he's in another country. London is a very very big boxing country, but I've been there and done that already, so I'm not really fazed too much about the crowd or what's going on. I will be very comfortable. Wherever I lay my hat is my home, so on November 15, I will be laying my hat in the O2 Arena. That will be my home for the night.
TSAReport.com- You have been inspired by some of boxing's greats, which have made you one of the top heavyweight contenders in the WBA. With that said, how would you compare boxing now from when you were a boxing student entering the sport?
MB- When I was learning boxing I was wet behind the ears. I was anxious, I was eager. I had the mentality that 'if ain't broke, don't fix it.' I believed all that hype that was written about me not realizing that just only one man reporting what his thoughts of me were. Now, I took it down a notch, I'm wiser, I'm sharper, more patient and more experienced. So it's a big difference from when I first started in boxing.
TSAReport.com- What do you think about boxing as a whole? Would you say that it has changed? Would you say that the energy is the same from when you started?
MB- I think boxing has changed. Sports go up and down, it's just like everything else your job, politics. For the most part, boxing has changed for the better. You got promoters like Oscar De La Hoya who understands boxing to the fullest and who is a boxer himself. These guys are really going to change the game. Guys like Kane, Lou Dibella, Main Event and Bob Arum really have their old ways set in. I think that boxing change for the better because one thing about a sport and money, it brings opportunity and opportunity brings change. You have younger guys coming up with better ideas and different methods of doing business, so I think it changed for the better. De la Hoya is putting a good stand on boxing as far as being fair and giving fighters the opportunity to make money off of their own fights; and that is what we need for the community.
TSAReport.com- Would you say new boxers or young boxer are just as hungry as you were when you were starting out?
MB- You know, I don't know. It seems that boxer nowadays are spoiled, they just want the money and they don't want to put the work in. For me it's not like that. When I was coming up, we did it for the love and it was fun. It wasn't a job, it was a sport. As long as you keep that zest and you keep boxing a sport, it keeps things fun. I like to compete and a lot of other guys from my era like to compete and guys before me like to compete, but sometimes you get caught up in the money situation, which takes away from the sport. It's just like war. You go to war for a purpose. But when you get over there and somebody shoots the first bullet you forget the whole purpose. Once you forget the purpose you are in survival mode. Same thing with boxing, you get a salary to fight, but you get in the ring and the guy hit you with the first shot, you forget all about how much you was getting. You can be getting a dollar or a million dollars, but you trying to kill that man and he's trying to kill you. As long as fighters keep the momentum where they keep boxing as a sport first, I think we'll be ok.
TSAReport.com- With that being said, what do you think about the growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in place of boxing?
MB- As far as entertainment, I love it. I would never do it! I don't think it has a long lasting place in sports. But it's very entertaining and I like to watch it, I'm a fan of it. I don't think a sport or anything with no rules can last long. I think that the rules are made as you go, but I think it's very entertaining and fun for the reality TV.
TSAReport.com- You say, "It's very entertaining," more than once, do you believe it's real?
MB- I KNOW it's real! I'm one person that can tell you it's real, but I think it's a form of entertainment because it has the least amount of rules than many contact sports, so there's a lot that goes on. Boxing, you can't hit below the belt, you can't kick, you cant do certain things, so it's organized. To me, I wouldn't call it organized fighting. It's a little more dangerous, but it's very entertaining. I cant down it too much, because I am a next door neighbor of violence.
TSAReport.com- Changing the subject a little: I understood you came all the way home recently. Were you apart of history? Did you vote?
MB- I voted while I was a training camp. After I came from working out in the morning I went and I voted. I was apart of history and it felt great. This is history in the making and I felt overwhelmed. I am a tough guy around this time, but my whole disposition changed and I was fighting tears. I wanted cry bad, but you know, I'm tough right now. I wasn't going to let those tears out. It's a moment that I'm glad I could take apart of. If when can have a black, first African-American President anything in life is possible and change is going to come in all of us.
TSAReport.com- It's a little obvious who you vote for?
MB- Come on! I voted for the best candidate. It's not about skin color, it's about the best man. The best man so happened to be a black man. We made history and it was a beautiful thing.
TSAReport.com- Tell me a little inside joke, or funny story, that no one knows about you?
MB- My close friends and people who have been around know, that my kids and I like to have fart contests to see who can have the longest fart. Nobody really knows that about me, but that's what I like to do, I like to fart.
It's so romantic and so sexy right?
TSAReport.com- [Laughing] Yes, it is!
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PHILLY DREAMING…
Words by Dave K. Far-El
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Recently, TSAReport.com had the opportunity to speak with Philadelphia 76ers star guard/forward Andre Iguodala about the team’s prospects, and playing with newest free agent signee, Elton Brand. Many NBA pundits have forecast the Sixers as being one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. When speaking with Andre Iguodala, the Sixers highflying swingman stated his desire to get the preseason over with and get to the regular games because, “These games don’t count.” Well now they do, and unfortunately Philadelphia is sitting at 2-2, which I’m sure was not the record this revamped team and Iguodala expected to have to start the season.
Andre is eagerly anticipating the moment he and Elton Brand get that chemistry going. Head coach Maurice Cheeks is noted as saying he ripped up last year’s playbook which consisted mostly of fast-paced, fast breaks that net Iguodala the majority of his points in transition and instituted new plays. Iguodala doesn’t think new plays would slow the cohesion process of the team. “I think, with our team, we have a lot of guys who can get up and down the floor. We get the rebound and we get it going, if we don’t have anything, we get it down low to Elton. It’s a pretty good assessment to say we’ll run everything through Elton in the half court set.”
Andre Iguodala has seen his fair share of turmoil in his brief career with Philadelphia. He watched his mentor and friend, Allen Iverson get traded to Denver for Andre Miller, whom he now considers “the best point guard in the league.” He had to deal with the adjustment of becoming the new face of the franchise as well as signing for franchise money. Iguodala knows that expectations are high for the Sixers this season to turn things around: “It’s all for us to just come together as a team. With Elton this year, I think it’s gonna be really important to mesh together to get a good feeling for ourselves when the season starts.” It would be a good thing if the Sixers did have a good feeling for themselves. The Eastern Conference is home to the NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, the revamped Toronto Raptors who added a healthy Jermaine O’Neal, and the Orlando Magic; as well as the upstart Atlanta Hawks. By the looks of things, it won’t be getting any easier to get to the NBA Championship from the Eastern Conference. But if Andre’s comments to the Philadelphia Sixers crowd after acknowledging a few of the World Series Champion Phillies players sitting courtside is any indication, Iguodala is expecting to have a parade down Broadway with his own championship. We all can have a dream can’t we?
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"I was so touched that I felt compelled to take action. That's why I chose to work with an organization that benefits sickle cell patients for this event." - Terrell Suggs
One of the NFL’s top linebacker/defensive ends, Terrell Suggs of the Ravens is a year older and wiser. The Pro Bowler is venturing into new projects and becoming more involved and knowledgeable of a particular life threatening disease that affects many people. The Minnesota native talks a little about his life’s journey thus far, his encounter with a teenager who changed his life, his new business venture and gives his opinion on some of the NFL’s controversies. Read what the personable Terrell Suggs had to say!
TSAReport.com- Happy Belated Birthday Terrell! Ten years ago, did you foresee your many accomplishments at the tender age of 26?
Terrell Suggs- No, I didn't foresee this at my age because where I come from many dreams don't come true. However my parents saw something in me and made me stay with it. It was hard work, but it's been worth it and I feel very fortunate everyday for all my accomplishments.
TSAReport.com- If you could tell 16-year-old Terrell Suggs anything, preparing him for his amazing life to come, what would it be? Would you change anything?
TS- Nothing. I believe that you can't change the past without changing the future, but I would like to go back and meet him though!
TSAReport.com- I see that partial ticket sale proceeds of your Annual Team Sizzle Worldwide Celebrity Weekend went to the William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund, Inc., tell us a little bit about your encounter with the teen who inspired you to donate to this organization.
TS- I was at the gym in Arizona playing basketball one day, and I saw a kid shooting the ball at one of the side hoops but not doing much else. He was alone, so I asked him if he wanted to play, but he said no because he has sickle cell. At that time I didn't know much about the disease, but he told me that he couldn't do certain activities because of his condition. I was so touched that I felt compelled to take action. That's why I chose to work with an organization that benefits sickle cell patients for this event.
TSAReport.com- Tell us about your newly formed entertainment company "Team Sizzle Worldwide" and what inspired you to start it?
TS- I started it because I wanted to get involved with everything that I love to do. I love movies, and when you love something it's hard not to be successful at it. I can work on a film 24 hours a day 7 days a week if I had to, and it still wouldn't feel like work. As a result, getting into the business felt necessary. I also love the nightlife, so I wanted to throw events, concerts, and eventually open up a nightclub. P.diddy and Jay-Z inspired me. They are so business oriented.
TSAReport.com- Terrell, on a more serious matter, there have been multiple tragedies since Darrent Williams of the Denver Broncos death in January of 2007. With all of the dangers many athletes have to face off the field, what do you think about Kellen Winslow of the Cleveland Browns recent contraction of Staph and the lack of compassion he received from the Cleveland Browns Organization as he dealt with this serious condition?
TS- I don't know all the details of the situation so I haven't been able to form an informed opinion, but I will say that neither side should air their dirty laundry. There are certain ways that you should handle certain things. So let "in house" business stay in house.
TSAReport.com- Have you seen the movie "Any Given Sunday?" If so, would you say there is some truth to the treatment many players receive when injured?
TS- I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but there is a possibility that things like that happen. The doctors are hired by the organization, so they have to protect their employer. As for my organization, I will say that we get treated very well here, and our trainers and team doctors are really professional with how they handle us!
TSAReport.com- Would you say there is a lot of pressure to play while injured?
TS- Definitely. I don't think any "Real" football player has a problem playing while hurt. You also have to draw the line somewhere, though. If you're just banged up or bruised, and its minor you'd have to question one's heart, but if your physical health is involved or your career is on the line, then you have to make the best decision for you and your family!
TSAReport.com- Do you believe that an athlete should be suspended or fined for voicing their opinions and feelings about their personal concerns?
TS- Not at all! Freedom of speech is our given right when we we're born. I don't think it should change just because we play in the national football league. However, I also think that players should use their best judgment when speaking publicly or doing interviews because I've learned sometimes the media can take things out of context or use fragments that don't reflect our total opinion.
TSAReport.com- So when do you feel it is appropriate to voice your opinions or concerns? TS- A player should speak up when something isn't right or something needs to be addressed, but only if he's earned the right to address the situation. If you're a respected figure among your colleagues then say something. It shouldn't be a problem that only pertains to you, though. It should be a team issue!
TSAReport.com- Lastly, to end on a lighter note, for a man who possibly has everything, what was your birthday wish and did you receive it?
TS- I wanted to meet LONDON CHARLES. a.k.a DEELISHES, and she jumped out of my birthday cake.
For more information on the William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund, Inc. visit www.wepsicklecell.org
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TSA BLURBS
I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT
Willie D. Clark faces 39 counts, including murder, for the death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams on New Year’s Day 2007. An indictment says Williams and Clark were at the club with separate groups who exchanged taunts inside. The argument continued outside, and Williams and his friends left in a rented limousine. A witness told investigators that Clark was driving an SUV when he caught up with Williams’ limo and fired into it. • Barry Bonds could seek $100 million in lost earnings or more if an arbitrator finds baseball owners colluded to end his career, according to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, which allows for triple damages from lost earnings. Bonds, would likely argue baseball not only blackballed him in 2008, but also effectively shortened his career by two or even three seasons. His agent, Jeff Borris has revealed he eventually shopped Bonds at the major-league minimum salary – $390,000 – and still drew no interest. • Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick won’t be allowed to plead guilty to dog-fighting charges by videoconference. Vick’s lawyers requested that he be allowed to enter the plea from federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., where he is serving a two-year term since admitting he bankrolled a dog-fighting operation. However, citing high public interest in the case, Surry County Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell said it would be better for Vick to appear in person. • Sources have told Yahoo! Sports that Reggie Bush, of the New Orleans Saints, has dismissed sports attorney David Cornwell as his lead lawyer and is now turning his defense over to Howard Weitzman. Weitzman, a USC graduate, past clients include O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando. Bush is being sued by New Era Sports & Entertainment financier Lloyd Lake, who alleges he and former partner Michael Michaels gave Bush and his family more than $291,000 in cash and benefits during Bush’s sophomore and junior years at USC. Michaels has already reached a $300,000 settlement with Bush. The NCAA is continuing its investigation into Bush, which began in April 2006. • Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was back in court again facing the possibility of jail time in a child-support case. However, a settlement was reached after he agreed to a $100,000 college fund for his 10-year-old son. Holyfield also consented to pay private school tuition before college, reinstated health insurance for his son and settled $4,500 in attorney fees, according to Randy Kessler, a lawyer for the child’s mother, Toi Irvin. • An Arizona man accused of planning to kill people at this year’s Super Bowl in Glendale was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. Kurt William Havelock, 36, was accused of bringing a semiautomatic rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition to a parking lot near University of Phoenix Stadium where pregame activities were happening. He also sent letters to major media outlets promising to be “swift and bloody.” • Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was charged with simple assault for allegedly spitting his drink in a woman’s face earlier this month. The two-time Pro Bowler is scheduled to appear in court on December 4. Johnson faces a maximum jail term of six months and a $500 fine.
DID YOU KNOW
The uncle of Colombian golfer Camilo Villegas was shot and killed in a robbery. Ernesto Villegas Zuluaga, who was 53, was attacked at his shop in the early hours. The perpetrators apparently were targeting Villegas’ money that he planned to use to buy coffee beans. • Former baseball slugger Jose Canseco expressed regret over his involvement in the sport’s ongoing steroids controversy during a recent interview with the A&E Network. In a one-hour documentary titled, “Jose Canseco: The Last Shot,” the former American League MVP admitted he regretted “mentioning players (as steroids users)” in his book “Juiced,” which was published in 2005 and ultimately resulted in a congressional hearing on doping in the sport. “I never realized this was going to blow up and hurt so many people,” Canseco said in the interview. Canseco, 44, revealed that he wrote the book because he wanted to get even with Major League Baseball, which he believed had him “forced out of the game.” In his book, Canseco named Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro as steroids users. • Crystal Mangum who prosecutors determined falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape maintains in a new memoir, “The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story,” that she was attacked. Mangum, who appeared publicly for the first time since making the allegations more than two years ago, says in her book that she is not looking forward to opening old wounds, but that she had to defend herself. • The NBA’s Board of Governors met with commissioner David Stern and one of the most pressing items on the agenda from several owners was the future of NBA participation in FIBA basketball. There’s been a growing concern with owners and league executives that too many unnecessary risks have been taken with NBA players when they’re playing for national teams. FIBA has shown little willingness to make uniform medical standards for NBA players representing countries in international tournaments. There are a many league officials who want the league to redo an open-ended agreement with FIBA and demand stricter guidelines and protections for its players. • 19-year-old first-round draft pick for the New York Rangers, Alexei Cherepanov collapsed and died during a game. Cherepanov, who died playing for Avangard Omsk in a Continental Hockey League game outside of Moscow, apparently had chronic ischemia - a medical condition that occurs when the heart or other organs do not get enough blood. Cherepanov’s agent, however, said NHL tests showed him to be healthy. • Former Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson is the first African American elected to be mayor of Sacramento, CA. • The NBA Players Association is investigating a charge that a former certified agent stole thousands of dollars from Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton, according to a published report. Citing multiple anonymous sources, Yahoo! Sports reported that Hamilton has accused Josh Nochimson of stealing approximately $500,000 from him while working as his business manager - but not his agent - for several years. The web site reported that the money was taken through credit cards that Nochimson used behind Hamilton’s back.
SPORTS BIZ
Billionaire businessman Philip Anschutz's AEG entertainment firm and the National Basketball Association announced they will develop and operate NBA-style arenas across China. The deal between Anschutz, and NBA China, the league's subsidiary for Chinese business matters, launched a joint venture that will work with the Chinese government to oversee the design of world-class arenas. The arenas follows an NBA-AEG deal to manage and operate the 18,000-seat Wukesong Indoor Stadium where US NBA stars won Beijing Olympic gold in August. "We are excited to partner with AEG in China where the popularity of basketball creates enormous opportunity," said NBA commissioner David Stern. • Carl Lewis, winner of nine Olympic gold medals, has been selected as a member of USA Track and Field’s seven-person audit panel, CEO Doug Logan announced on his blog. The committee will analyze the selection process for the team, coaching and preparation for international competitions. Members will also study the performance of the Beijing team, in particular national relay team preparation and training. • The New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League plans to cease operations despite being near the top of the league in attendance during the past two seasons. Saints owner Tom Benson, who also owns the VooDoo, said the decision to fold the 5-year-old AFL franchise was “not an indictment of (the New Orleans) marketplace.” Benson told the AFL of his decision, saying it was based on “circumstances currently affecting the league and the team.” Since last November, the AFL’s board of directors has been looking into various ways to improve the league’s financial footing. One proposal involves individual franchise owners ceding control of the league to new investors. • Arthur Blank, who already owns two pro sports franchises in Atlanta, is aiming for a third. Blank’s management and investment company, the AMB Group, announced it has submitted a bid for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise. He already owns the Falcons and the Arena Football League’s Georgia Force. The expansion fee is expected to be around $40 million, and any successful bid would likely have to include plans for a soccer-specific stadium with seating for around 20,000. • Bruce Ratner’s $4 billion dream for a new Brooklyn team will have to wait, at least until next year. The New Jersey Nets owner and developer has been plagued by a string of problems that have delayed his plans for a new NBA arena, office towers and thousands of apartments in Brooklyn. Ratner said a recent court ruling would delay the project by up to six months, meaning the Nets won’t move in until at least 2011. Groundbreaking has been pushed back until at least next year for the arena, which will cost more than three times what Ratner paid for the entire franchise. And the financial crisis has made it tougher to raise money, potentially jeopardizing a lucrative naming rights deal with Barclays Capital. Ratner, who has fended off years of community resistance to his plans, remains optimistic. “Let me be clear,” he said last month, “that the project will go forward.” • An expanded regular season would improve the overall quality of the NFL and increase interest among fans, says commissioner Roger Goodell. The NFL discussed adding one or two more games to the regular-season schedule at its owners meetings this month, but no decision was made and no change is expected for 2009. In the long term, however, Goodell said it made sense to shorten the preseason schedule in favor of more games that count in the standings. • The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved the expanded use of instant replay for this season. Referees will be allowed to review video to determine if a field goal was a 2- or 3-point attempt, or to decide if a shooting foul was committed behind the arc and warrants three shots instead of two.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Although it has been 28 years, the Philadelphia Phillies are officially the 2008 World Series Champions.
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