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| This issue, TSAReport.com caught up with top pound-for-pound fighters, “Super” Zab Judah and “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Read what Zab challenges Shane to do before their May 31 bout in Las Vegas, Nevada. AAU award winner Tim Tebow speaks about his road to becoming one of the top quarterbacks in NCAA Football and his pro-life take. Patrick White another top NCAA Football quarterback explains why he has no regrets on not taking the MLB contracts offered to him. Ryan “Special FX” Williams is the winner of Shaq’s Dunkman Contest held at Rucker Park in Harlem, NY and will go on to represent New York in the final, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona this May. Columnist Dave K. Far-El gives his in-take on the unemployed Barry Bonds. Check it out! |
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HIGH STAKES
Photos by Frankie Guzman
“I’m the best welterweight out and Zab is going to have to fall victim to that.” –“Sugar” Shane Mosley
“Even with the drugs he [Mosely] beat me.” – “Super” Zab Judah Words by T. Ruiz |
Brooklyn’s “Super” Zab Judah (36 Wins, 25 KOs, 5 Losses) admits that he hasn’t been 100 percent focused in the past, claiming that he’s now matured. With his track record for losses in practically every major boxing match he’s fought in the past two years, most have lost hope in the capabilities of the 30-year-old southpaw underdog. As Judah prepares to face 35-year-old “Sugar” Shane Mosley in a HBO Pay-Per-View match billed “High Stakes” on May 31st at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, once again Judah’s confident swagger and victory promises remain the same. “I’m going to make him go straight to the hospital,” Judah said, talking over Mosley during a recent press conference. Meanwhile, Mosley assured the crowd that Judah was no match for him as Judah continued to interrupt his talks of victory. “He’s very emotional…and does immature things sometimes,” said Mosley whose record consists of 44 Fights with 37 KOs and 5 Losses. “But I believe he’s growing up now. That’s what’s going to make this a good fight.”
Mosley also commented on his 12 round bout with Miguel Cotto versus Judah’s 11th round KO loss against the Puerto Rican superstar. “You see what Cotto did to Zab,” Mosley explained. “I’m the best welterweight out there and Zab is going to fall victim to that. There’s a reason Cotto didn’t want a rematch against me.” Judah recommended that Mosley, who said he’s going to have buy Judah a wheel chair after the fight, take a drug test to make certain that he isn’t using performance enhancing drugs. “He tested positive for PHP before and he said he didn’t know that he took them,” said Judah. “I’m willing to take a blood test; I think he should do the same. But even with the drugs he can’t beat me.” And although Mosley has never been knocked out his entire career, Zab says come showtime, he will do just that.
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THE ONE CHOSEN FOR LIFE
Photos by TikiVision Multimedia Inc
Words by Tito Ruiz
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In 2007, when Tim Tebow, 20, added the Heisman trophy to his list of awards and accolades received throughout his career, the acclaimed University of Florida Quarterback made a mark, becoming the first homeschooled athlete to have received the award. Tebow, who stands at 6-foot-3, weighing 233 pounds, also was the first underclassman to receive the Heisman. His remarkable athleticism came as a surprise to many stereotypical individuals who assumed that a homeschooler couldn’t excel in scholastic sports. At the prestigious Amateur Athletic Union Awards, which took place on April 1, 2008 at the New York Athletic Center in New York City, Tebow was given the Nation’s Top Amateur Athlete Award. Tebow, a Family, Youth and Community Sciences major, acknowledged his Christian upbringing and faith in God as reasons for his spectacular achievements, and noted the lack of importance that material items hold. Shortly after, The TSA Report spoke to the star quarterback. When questioned about his status as “The Chosen One” as he was titled on a recent segment for an ESPN “Faces in the Sport” documentary, Tebow modestly downplayed the moniker. “Every one is chosen for something or another in this life,” he smiled demonstrating a “knock it off”-type of demeanor. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity that I’ve been blessed with.” While pregnant with Tim, his mother, Pam Tebow, was advised by her physician to abort due to being infected with a pathogenic amoeba. “My mother’s decision definitely makes my decision on pro-life very certain,” he said. “It’s very important to me to encourage pro-life” Tebow stated that he will be finishing up his senior year at the University of Florida, however should he change his mind and enroll in the forthcoming draft, one thing is for sure, he will be a chosen as a first round pick.
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WITHSTANDING THE PAIN
Despite numerous career injuries, which include damage to his neck, ankle and hand, those obstacles have not gotten in the way of Pat White, starting quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers. White, 22, has broken numerous WVU, NCAA and Big East records and was named Gator Bowl MVP in 2007 and Fiesta Bowl MVP in 2008. White admits that during the Gator Bowl he was in “a lot of pain.” However, “I wasn’t down and out and I had to stay strong for my team.” The 6-foot-2, 185 pound Daphne, Alabama native was offered a six-figure MLB contract by the Anaheim Angels in 2004, while leaving high school, and again and 2007 – he turned down both offers.
When he’s on the field full of pain, does White ever regret his decisions not to be a MLB player? “Ha!” He laughed when asked. “Maybe for point two seconds, not that long.” For his accomplishments on the field he was recently granted a key to his hometown. “That felt really good,” he said. “To know that I’m so many miles away from Daphne and they’re still keeping up with what I’m doing is incredible feeling.” White says that he has every intention of returning to WVU next season. “The thought of leaving never crossed my mind,” he stated. “I want to finish my college education; and the money is a factor as well.”
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SHAQUILLE O’NEAL TO CROWN AMERICA’S HIGHEST FLYER
Photo by Rodney Williams
During All-Star Weekend, Shaquille O’Neal and his “Dunkman” brand, in partnership with Slam Magazine, began a quest to find the “2008 Dunkman Of The Year.” The contest, which began in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend, has also taken place in Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. The competition represents an innovative twist on dunk competitions by combining the score of a freestyle dunk event with each athlete’s vertical leap as tested on the DUNKTRUCK’s goal, capable of adjusting in one-inch increments to 13 feet. “You know anything I do has to be unique,” said O’Neal. “So this dunk competition is going to be the first of its kind by showcasing each athlete’s creativity and pure leaping ability for a combined score to produce the ‘Dunkman of the Year.’” The five winners of those competitions will travel to Phoenix to compete for title of 2008 Dunkman of The Year, a $10,000 cash prize, and the chance to be featured in an advertisement for the Dunkman brand in Slam Magazine. Dunkman Shoes have already sold over $70 million and are available at Payless Shoe Source for under $40.00.
The following are the contestants who made it to the final competition
Clifford Nash (New Orleans)
Ryan Williams (New York)
Kenny Dobbs (LA)
Emmerich Grim (Houston)
Troy McCray (ATL)
For more Information on the event and video footage, visit www.slamonline.com/dunkman
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UNGRACEFULLY BOWING OUT
Column by Dave K. Far-El
Major League Baseball is upon us with great expectations. Yet, here sits Barry Bonds still unemployed. Major League Baseball, the media and every grand jury you can think of have been pursuing steroid allegations against Mr. Bonds for the past six years. Somehow, they continuously come up empty with distant allegations at best. Even the substances they did find Barry Bonds used were not illegal in MLB at his alleged time of use. Not to mention that flaxseed oil and “the clear" translate to nothing more than muscle relaxants at best. Hell, even "The Godfather of Steroid usage in MLB", Jose Conseco fails to acknowledge whether he knows Barry Bonds as a user. Conseco does not even mention Barry Bonds in either of his books. Barry's training instructor and supposed steroids partner did a stint in jail and never rolled over on Barry Bonds. Barry Bond's name has yet to appear on any BALCO paperwork worth mentioning. Yet, somehow, Barry Bonds has become the "face" of steroids. Yes, I know all about Roger Clemons and Andy Pettite of the Yankees, but neither has had the treatment in the media that Barry has. The San Francisco Giants have gone about removing any thing to suggest that Barry was ever even a San Francisco Giant. What if they are wrong? How do you go back and attempt to correct something like that? Some would say this treatment is because Barry isn't really a nice guy, some would say it's because of his race, and some don’t think Barry has been treated unfairly at all. The only people that know the answer to that are the writers, and MLB officials, and the grand jury but it sure does seem as if there was possibly a mistake and rush to judgment against Mr. Bonds. I wonder, if it is found out that Barry Bonds is actually innocent of all the charges being hurled at him, are all parties involved going to apologize as vociferously. Chances are we may never know the answer to that because Major League Baseball may never acknowledge if Barry Bonds is innocent. So here we sit, with the baseball season upon us with great expectations. Yet Barry Bonds is still unemployed, and still stuck at a MLB record 766 homeruns. A legend without a team, maybe, just maybe it's time for Mr. Bonds to "un"gracefully bow out and call it a day.
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TSA BLURBS
I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT
Famous boxing promoter Don King claims ESPN defamed him in a 2004 documentary that portrayed him as a con artist and bully. ESPN attorneys attempted to throw out King's $2.5 billion defamation suit by asking Judge Robert Rosenberg Jr. to issue a summary judgment in the case, but after hearing several hours of legal arguments, the judge decided to take time to deliberate on the motion. · Police recovered 2 guns and charged Michael Brown with possession of a firearm and Quinton Wesley with aggravated assault, both felonies. The two Mississippi State players have been kicked off the team and dismissed from the university after their arrests. · Centenary College will pay $200,000 to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by the women’s basketball coach it fired in 2006, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced. An EEOC news release said Elizabeth Wamsley was fired after she became an unwed mother. She gave birth in September 2005, returned to coaching full-time 10 days later, and was fired after the basketball season ended in March 2006. The school didn’t admit wrongdoing but agreed to pay damages to Wamsley. · Former Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford has been named in a lawsuit over Todd Bertuzzi’s infamous attack on Steve Moore. Crawford, who now coaches the Los Angeles Kings, could be liable for millions if a judge decides Moore deserves compensation for his injury. Bertuzzi sought to have Crawford included, saying his NHL contract compelled him take orders from his coach. · The man convicted in the alcohol-related crash that killed Timberwolves guard Malik Sealy was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Souksangouane Phengsene, 51, of Shakopee was booked into the Hennepin County Jail and will likely face a felony DWI charge. · Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur is suing Montreal police and Quebec’s solicitor general for $3.5 million because of the warrant issued for his arrest earlier this year. Lafleur’s lawyer Jean-Pierre Rancourt said Lafleur’s reputation has been tarnished by the decision made by authorities to proceed with the arrest warrant instead of a summons. Lafleur testified at his son’s bail hearing last October that Mark Lafleur was respecting a court-ordered curfew while in his parents’ custody. However, the six-time 50-goal scorer later admitted he drove his son to hotels to spend the night with his 16-year-old girlfriend. His admission later prompted authorities to issue the arrest warrant on Jan. 25. · A man accused of planning to shoot people at the Super Bowl XLII will face two additional counts under a new federal indictment. The new indictment accuses 36-year-old Tempe resident Kurt William Havelock of eight counts, including mailing threatening communications and receipt of a firearm and ammunition with the intent to commit a felony, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Havelock turned himself in to authorities Feb. 3 during the Super Bowl with a rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition. He said he changed his mind. · “Sugar” Shane Mosley is accusing convicted steroids dealer Victor Conte of slander for telling newspapers he saw the boxer knowingly inject steroids. Mosley, a former three-division world champion, has said he unwittingly used steroids produced by BALCO. · Cleveland Browns defensive back Kenny Wright was released from jail after posting $5,000 bail following a foot chase and arrest for a disturbance outside a police station. Wright was charged with unlawful restraint, evading arrest and possessing marijuana. Police said they were investigating an argument in the station parking lot Thursday when the 30-year-old football player took off and led officers on a quarter-mile foot chase. He was caught in a nearby subdivision of the Houston suburb. The unlawful restraint charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail, while the other counts carry terms up to six months.
LETS TALK SPORTS
Mario Chalmers’ 3-pointer sends Kansas to OT and a 75-68 championship victory over Memphis. · The 85-year-old, legendary Yankee Stadium appears set for a rare outdoor National Hockey League game. The New York Rangers will play a home game as the stadium’s farewell event in late 2008 or early 2009. · Antwain Ellis, the brother of Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis was shot in the back twice according to Jackson Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jeffery Scott. The circumstances around the shooting are still unclear. · A Web site selling "Obama" T-shirts using the typefaces of Major League Baseball teams closed after drawing attention from the sport's lawyers. "We sent a cease-and-desist letter for violating our trademark," said baseball spokesman Rich Levin. Morris Levin operated www.obamaofdreams.com and said he shut down the site March 4th and stopped sales on that date. · The Pittsburgh Steelers terminated the contract of Cedrick Wilson less than 24 hours after the veteran wide receiver was arrested on assault charges after allegedly hitting his former girlfriend. The estranged former girlfriend, Lindsey Paulat denies that he punched her. Paulat insist that he only shoved on the side of her head. Paulat is the mother of Wilson’s 1-year-old daughter. Paulat was involved in a 12-hour armed standoff with police on January 19 and currently is awaiting a hearing on charges of discharging a firearm in an occupied structure. After getting in an argument with Wilson, Paulat allegedly fired two shots from a handgun in Wilson’s house. Wilson filed for a protection-from-abuse order two days later, claiming he feared Paulat would shoot him. · Jerry West reportedly is interested in cleaning up Isiah Thomas’ mess. West would be interested in replacing Thomas as the front-office leader of the New York Knicks, according to a report published by Newsday. · The San Francisco 49ers were hit with 2008 NFL Draft punishments for violating the league’s anti-tampering policy in pursuing Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs last season. San Francisco will forfeit its fifth-round selection in next the draft, and Chicago and San Francisco will switch third-round choices. · LeBron James took his game to a new court. Instead of dunking for screaming fans, he performed for a judge and jury. To launch an endorsement partnership with the sports drink VitaminWater, Cleveland’s superstar filmed a TV commercial in which he stars as a nattily attired defensive attorney trying to win a case. The 30-second spot will debut during the NBA playoffs. · Shaquille O’Neal giving the Tempe Police Department a big assist. Acquired by the Phoenix Suns, Shaq visited the police station in March and applied to be a volunteer, said department spokeswoman Sgt. Cindy Davies. · Heath Benedict, a two-time Little All-American offensive lineman from Newberry College in South Carolina, was found dead on a couch in his home. Jacksonville police said no foul play is suspected in the death of the 24-year-old Benedict, a 6-foot-6, 326-pounder who left school to train for next month’s NFL draft. He was nine hours short of a business degree. · Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou was awarded the silver medal from the 100 meters at the 2001 world championships following Marion Jones' doping admission. Jones finished second in Edmonton but all her results since September 2000 have been expunged due to doping. Thanou was third in the race, which was won by Zhanna Block of Ukraine. · Mike Nolan thinks there are reasons beyond safety for the proposal that could lead to an NFL ban on hair hanging from the back of helmets. "The nameplate is on his back; the number is on his back," the San Francisco 49ers coach said, the day before the NFL's meetings officially begin. "That's what we want the fans to see. Not his hair." This might be a year when fans actually take interest in what owners do at these gatherings. · Pacman, a Humanitarian? NFL outcast Adam “Pacman” Jones stood outside the church doors, passing out almost 500 boxes of food and toiletries to people. The troubled cornerback is cleaning up his image in hopes that his good deed will be another step toward showing he’s worthy of reinstatement to the league. · Big Upset. Big Super Bowl ring. The New York Giants unveiled the design of their Super Bowl championship ring, a white gold sparkler that will feature about 1.5 carats in diamonds. A group of players and team executives helped designed the ring with officials from Tiffany and Co. · The Spygate scandal that included taping opposing coaches' defensive signals made the communication device a hot topic. One defensive player will wear a helmet similar to what the quarterback is allowed on offence. Should that player leave the game, another player can be designated to also have the device. But only one defender with the device can be on the field at a time. · The Cincinnati Bengals apparently are tired of Chris Henry’s off-field antics. The Bengals released Henry one day after the talented yet troubled wide receiver was arrested for the fifth time since 2005. Henry, 24, allegedly punched an 18-year-old man in the head and threw a beer bottle at his car.
SPORTS BIZ
New York Giants’ season ticket holders are going to pay about $7 more per ticket to watch the Super Bowl champions next season. Last season, the average price of a ticket was $83.29. · More fans, more NBA-style arenas and, of course, more money. Those are the keys to putting an expansion team in Europe, possibly within the next 10 years, according to NBA commissioner David Stern. The NBA is returning to Europe for the third straight year, with the Miami Heat, New Jersey Net, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards playing two games each to prepare for the 2008-09 season. · The average price of a New York Yankees’ ticket this season was revised to $41.40 by the Team Marketing Report, an increase from $36.58 in the initial figures. While the TMR said that the Yankees’ average went up a big league high 26.1 percent, it revised the increase to 18.1 percent. TMR also raised the team’s 2007 average to $35.05 from $29.09.
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Some of the information provided is courtesy of AP, Reuters, and, Ticker. |
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