Page 22 - atoday

A22
SPORTSFriday 26 February 2016
Column: Pro boxing in Rio? A bad idea in so many ways
TIM DAHLBERG
AP Sports Columnist
Not that long ago box-
ing was on the verge of be-
ing kicked out of the Olym-
pics because corruption,
ineptitude and head-shak-
ing decisions had made a
mockery of the sport.
Maybe it’s time to bring up
the idea again.
Boxing in Rio this summer
was going to be different,
no matter what. The most
notable change is that
headgear will come off, at
least for the men, an idea
that has stirred more than
just a little controversy by
itself.
But now the head of the or-
ganization that runs Olym-
pic boxing has gone a bit
too far. Taiwan’s Ching-
Kuo Wu, president of the
International Boxing Asso-
ciation (AIBA), suggested
this week that the best pro
fighters in the world should
be eligible to compete for
their countries in the up-
coming games.
It’s a proposal born out of
desperation for a sport that
is its own worst enemy. It’s
also a recipe for disaster
should it be allowed to
happen.
You want knockouts to
boost the ratings? Not a
problem.
A little blood to spice things
up? No worries, because
without the headgear it’s
British lawmakers write to NFL about
Redskins nickname
LONDON (AP) — Two British
lawmakers have written to
NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell to complain about
the nickname of the Wash-
ington Redskins ahead of
the team’s visit to London
next season.
Ruth Smeeth and Ian Aus-
tin, who are members of
the Labour Party, wrote in
a letter dated Feb. 2 that
the NFL “should consider
changing the name of the
Washington franchise or,
at a minimum, send a dif-
ferent team to our country
In this Monday, Sept. 9, 2013 file photo, Ching-Kuo Wu of Taiwan,
executive board member of the International Olympic Commit-
tee (IOC) and IOC presidential candidate, attends a report ses-
sion during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
almost a given.
Permanent brain damage
isn’t on the list, but that’s for other gold medal to add
the fighters themselves to
deal with down the road.
A death in the ring isn’t out
of the question, either, with
the incompetents who run
what used to be called
amateur boxing in charge
of the matchups.
Imagine, if you will, some of
the possibilities.
Gennady Golovkin already
knocks out everyone they
put in front of him, and
bringing a gold home to
Kazakhstan might entice
him. It might, however, not
be the kind of match the
parents of a teenage Gold-
en Gloves winner want their
son to have in his Olympic
debut.
to represent the sport, one
that does not promote a
racial slur.”
The NFL said it received
a letter co-authored by
Smeeth and Austin.
“A team’s name is a club
decision,” NFL spokesman
Brian McCarthy said. “We
recognize there are strong
views on both sides of this.”
The NFL has been playing
regular-season games in
London since 2007. Wash-
ington is scheduled to play
the Cincinnati Bengals on
Those who have been fighters ever, from Muham-
around Mayweather find mad Ali to Sugar Ray Leon-
that just a bit laughable. ard to Lennox Lewis.
His motivation to fight Take away that path and
hasn’t been a trinket to you take away much of
Associated Press hang around his neck, but the amateur system. With
big checks to cash. And no incentive to remain
Who knows, Wladimir the $25,000 that goes to a amateurs, fighters will turn
Klitschko might want an- gold medal American ath- pro before they are ready
lete wouldn’t pay for an oil and most will end up on the
to the one he won in 1996. change on one of his Bu- scrap heap or toiling away
The former heavyweight gattis. for $1,500 a fight on an un-
champion shouldn’t have Ridiculous? Yes, though dercard somewhere.
much trouble knocking out don’t sell these dreamers Yes, the Olympics have
the kids they put in front of short. If not this year, then long been in need of seri-
him, and hopefully they’ll 2020 looms for pros of all ous change when it comes
be able to complete a sen- sorts to descend on Tokyo. to the sport of boxing. The
tence afterward. “Do I think it’s going to incompetency of Olym-
There are already sugges- happen this year? No,” pic boxing officials cannot
tions that Floyd Mayweath- said Mike Martino, execu- be overstated, from the
er Jr. may want to come tive director of USA Boxing. robbery of Roy Jones Jr.
out of retirement to win the “But it’s something that’s in Seoul to the decision to
gold medal that eluded been on our radar screen, disqualify Evander Holyfield
him in 1996. Mayweather something we’ve talked after he knocked his oppo-
got the bronze in Atlanta about for the last four nent silly in 1984 in Los An-
after incompetent judges years, knowing that AIBA geles.
using a scoring system in- pro boxers were going to But the idea of tossing pros
vented in some third-world be in the Olympics. We’ve into the games in Rio is both
country went against him talked to the USOC about shortsighted and hare-
in a semifinal bout with Bul- how it impacts the sport, brained. It accomplishes
garia’s Serafim Todorov. and it’s huge. The Dream nothing, and almost surely
Team changed basketball wouldn’t draw the biggest
in the Olympics forever. This stars anyway.
will obviously change box- Let the Dream Team keep
ing forever.” its historic place in open-
It will do that, no doubt. Un- ing the Olympics to pros.
fortunately, it will be for the Remember, though, that
worse. there’s a difference be-
The Olympics have always tween dunking basketballs
been a goal for young and getting punched in
fighters coming up in the the face.
amateur system. Gold Let amateur boxers con-
medals launched the ca- tinue chasing an Olympic
reers of some of the best dream of their own.q
Oct. 30 at Wembley Sta- Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden speaks during
dium. a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in
The letter from the lawmak- Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016.
ers said that there is “delib-
erate insensitivity and ap- Associated Press
parent hostility to a promi-
nent minority group” by team has maintained that owner Dan Snyder has said
using the Redskins name. It it is meant to honor Native he will never change the
said the “exportation of this Americans, and Redskins nickname.q
racial slur ... directly contra-
venes the values that many
in Britain have worked so
hard to instill.”
Many Native Americans
and other groups have
called for the team to do
away with its name. The