Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Close call challenged

I MUST GET MY TELEVISION FIXED because it didn't show me the same fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley that the judges and prominent boxing writers saw. It must be my television because those people were sitting right by one side of the ring.

Just about the time I have been convinced it must be a reception problem another commentator, George Foreman, says he saw the same fight that people in our living room observed. Unlike other official observers, Foreman not only has seen hundreds of fights, the former world heavyweight champ has also participated in a large number. He told his fellow commentator, Larry Merchant, that he sees a fight but doesn't know boxing. How true. Merchant does a lot of philosophizing but doesn't really get down to the gut issues.

One of the most competent trainers of boxers and commentators, Emanuel Steward, made clear that he saw many reasons for a De La Hoya victory that night. So maybe my television at home doesn't need fixing.

From my living room it was a bad call, but it doesn't smell of a conspiracy to punish boxing promoter Bob Arum or De La Hoya. I don't know the other two judges but Las Vegan Duane Ford isn't for sale. This isn't the first time I have disagreed with his or other judges' scoring but never will I believe he would purposely do anything to harm the sport of boxing.

Arum calling Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, a liar also doesn't compute with me. I have asked him some tough questions over the years and never received anything but the truth. Also, like Ford, there's no way he would do anything to harm boxing or the reputation of his hometown, Las Vegas.

It's easy enough to see why both Arum and De La Hoya are upset because I felt the same way last Friday night in front of my television set. Then I went to bed and slept it off. They should have done the same thing.

K.O. Knudson is listed as an at risk school, but don't tell that to the students or their varsity orchestra. They have been invited to perform at one of our nation's most prestigious music events. The 2003 Midwest Clinic will be held in Chicago Dec. 16-20.

Kerry Bosnos, the orchestra director, and principal Sylvia Tegano are going to need some outside help to provide transportation for their talented musicians. Right now there isn't enough money to provide for the travel of 61 students. Does anybody want to help?

Tegano writes, "I am confident this trip will be a learning experience for our students far above anything they have ever participated in before in their young lives. The acceptance of this group to perform at the Midwest Clinic highlights their promise to teamwork and individual commitment toward a goal. I am certain they will value this experience for a lifetime."

The death of Johnny Cash is a real loss for the people who enjoyed his music. I was one of them. I found his music meaningful because it expressed his feelings and told of the everyday lives of real people. His music made life a bit easier for people facing problems.

During an interview in 1988 he was asked how he had turned his own life around after so much drinking and drugs. He said that every man has two dogs inside of him, a good dog and a bad dog, and the first half of his life the bad dog was winning and then the good dog began whipping the bad dog.

Many years ago he came to Las Vegas with the Rev. Billy Graham. Prior to welcoming Graham to Las Vegas, I watched the body language and listened to the conversation between the two men behind the stage. Both of the men had a message and it was worth hearing.

"Eye on Washington" with Marilee Joyce should be interesting this weekend. She has both AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and Sen. Harry Reid answering questions about matters affecting working Nevadans. Joyce, raised and educated in Las Vegas, has one of the best programs coming out of Washington, D.C. Both of her late parents, Jim and Nedra, were respected news reporters and writers.

The program will appear on channels 1 and 39 at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday and on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

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