Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 23, 1997, edition 1 / Page 20
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4B SPORTS/The Charlotte Post Thursday, October 23, 1997 Auction puts boxing on block Rivera an Angel in secondary Continued from 1B Parkinson’s disease, was disap pointed about the auction. Ali did not participate and will not profit from it. Ali had earlier said some of the items were stolen from him, but Christie’s officials said Paloger owned everything free and clear. Paloger said he kept nothing for himself and hasn’t decided what he will do with his profits. “I haven’t done anything other than put together a great collec tion,” said Paloger, who amassed about 3,000 items over a seven- year period. “You feel like you’re a temporary caretaker. Now I’m passing it on to many other peo ple.” Asked if he was bothered hy the criticism, Paloger smiled and said, “Muhaimnad Ah’s my hero. He’s still the greatest.” Chaney outlasted a phone bid der for the white satin trunks, which came with a Nov. 11, 1974, copy of Sports Illustrated showing Ah wearing them. “It’s a passion for Ah was the greatest fighter ever and a pas sion for this particular fight being the toughest,” said Chaney, recaUing that Foreman was heav ily favored in Zaire. Another robe worn by Cassius Clay, Ah’s name before he con verted to the Mushm rehgion, sold for $20,000. The rohe, from a I Feb. 25, 1964 fight with Sonny Liston, features the words “The Lip” stitched on the back in red letters. Its pre-auction estimate of $40,000-$60,000 was revised down to $25,00-$35,000 after Ah’s official photographer Howard Bingham pointed out to Christie’s officials that the robe didn’t match the one shown in fight film. A six-page letter sent by Ah to the Selective Service on Aug. 23, 1966, asking for a draft exemp tion as a minister of rehgion sold for $55,000 over the phone to Mike Cavendar of Tyler, Tfexas. Bidding began at $40,000. TTie board dechned Ah’s request for reclassification and he was eventually found guilty of draft evasion, stripped of his title and forced into exile for 3 1/2 years. Cavendar also purchased Ah’s 1960 Golden Gloves trophy for $25,000, less than the pre-auction estimate of $30,000-$40,000. Of the 387 lots offered, 39 were pulled for lack of sufficient mini mum bids. The biggest of those were the judges’ scorecards from the Feb. 25, 1964, heavyweight title fight Continued from IB physical gifts, Rivera is comfort able wherever he’s needed. “Angel is a very versatile ath lete,” Davis said. “He can play offense, he can play defense, he’s on special teams. He’s the kind of guy I hope we can huild our pro gram around. He’s a complete football player, a complete person and a good student,” Making the jump from high school tailback to coUege safety has been relatively smooth for Rivera. 'The game is faster and athletes better, but he’s been able to keep up through determination and talent. “I felt I had a good chance to start when I got here,” he said. “It’s a big step. Everything moves faster, so you've got to move faster with it.” Rivera’s size and speed forces opponents to accoimt for him on every play. Depending on the down and distance, he plays some strong-side linebacker, where he supports against the run as well as blitz on passing downs. “If the offense is looking for me, they don’t know where I’m going to play,” he said. I can play differ ent positions, so that’s an advan tage for me.” Rivera has a nose for the ball, too. He has done everything from sack quarterbacks to recover firm- bles. TTiat kind of play-making ability is what makes him one of the CIAA’s best young defenders. “Big-time players make big- time plays,” Davis said. ‘T’m usu ally very reserved when I make comments about freshmen, but he’s one of the few that has a good career ahead of him and will do good things for us.” Although the Bulls aren’t win ning, Smith has made strides toward future improvement. Rivera is hoping that this year’s learning experience will turn into successful campaigns over the next three seasons. “When you’re out there, you’ve got to have the right attitude,” he said. “Winning is having the right attitude.” Jordan feels agony of da feet THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO/ASSOCIATED PRESS Ronnie Paloger of Marina Del Ray, Calif., poses with three robes which were used by boxing legend Muhammad Ali iast week at Christie’s in London. Paloger’s coilection was sold at auction at Christie’s Los Angeles Sunday. between Clay and Liston in Miami Beach, Fla. Clay won his first championship when Liston failed to answer the bell for the seventh round. The scorecards were estimated between $60,000 and $80,000, but the bidding never went high er than $40,000. The boxing applications filed by Clay and Liston went for $18,000. “When it comes to the big-ticket items, people who bid on them don’t seem to be here today,” said Simeon Lipman, a Christie’s spe cialist in sports memorabilia. “Pieces from big fights are doing well and posters are doing well.” Daniel Kobylinski, a security consultant on vacation from New York City, was among the more modest bidders. He and a friend spent $1,900 for a ’Winston ciga rette signed by Clay, who pulled the unlit cigarette from the mouth of hoxing historian Hank Kaplan in 1961. “I was sweating a little bit,” Kobylinski said with a grin after holding off persistent competi tion. “He’s always been a sports DEERFIELD, Ill. - Michael Jordan will miss the Chicago Bulls’ final three exhibition games after having ingrown toenails removed. But he should be ready for the regular-season opener Oct. 31, the team said Monday. “It was decided that it was better for me to have the toe nails removed now and thus be ready for the opening of the season,” Jordan said in a state ment released hy the club. “I’m looking forward to being back on the court next week and starting defense of our champi onship.” Jordan, the NBA’s nine-time scoring leader, missed a presea son game Wednesday against Philadelphia, and won’t be available Friday against Philadelphia at Chapel Hill and Saturday against Sacramento. Jordan, who starred at North Carolina, said he was disap pointed to miss thegame there. “I love the school and the peo ple of North Carolina,” he said. “I won’t be accompanying the team because I will be in Chicago receiving daily treat ment.” The Bulls already are without All-Star Scottie Pippen, expect ed to be out until at least January after undergoing foot surgery. In addition, six-time league rebounding leader Dennis Rodman has yet to sign the contract he agreed to earli er in the month. In addition, Toni Kukoc is still bothered hy a sore foot that did n’t heal over the summer after hampering him last season. It will not require surgery, but Kukoc says he is more con cerned about his lack of condi tioning while the foot healed. Indians have new Mr. October in Marquis Grissom Continued from 1B Kenny Lofton and Alan Emhree to Atlanta for Grissom and David Justice - past Hargrove. It got instant approval from the manag er. When the deal was announced, it jolted the Indians’ clubhouse. Pitcher Charles Nagy remem bered the players being shocked. “There were really no rumors about it,” he said. “You just didn't know it was going to happen, so I was a little shocked.” So was Grissom’s mother when he broke the news to her. “My mom was hysterical for a while,” he said. “She couldn’t beheve it, but she got over it. I told her I was just going to go over and play ball. I came with the attitude that I would be myself I couldn’t be Kenny Lofton. I come with my own work ethic. I could n’t fill anybody else’s shoes.” Cleveland’s plan was to plug Grissom in center field and bat him in Lofton’s leadoff spot. That didn’t work out, so Hargrove put him at the bottom of the hatting order instead of the top. “I was pressing too hard,” Grissom said. “I was tiying too hard, not letting the game come to me.” He never complained at being dropped in the batting order. “Numerous times, he could have griped and moaned about what was going on and about him being moved finm the No. 1 spot, and I never heard him complain one time or offer an excuse,” Hargrove said. “It was always, ‘TU get it together, Fm going to keep working at it.’ And I never saw him hang his head. Marquis Grissom exhibited every trait you’d ever want to see out of a winner. You wish everybody that you ever come in contact with could be like Marquis Grissom.” Florida manager Jim Leyland took it a step farther. “I know what an exciting player he is and what a great player he is,” Leyland said. “He’s always been one of my favorite players because I think he’s such a class act. He goes about his business like a professional, the way you’d like your son to go about his busi ness. He’s a true professional, an outstanding player.” The postseason has brought out the best in Grissom again. He batted .360 and .444 in his two World Series with Atlanta. The switch to Cleveland has not diminished his production. He was was named MVP of the American League championship series against Baltimore, Irugely because of the three-run homer that won Game 2. “Some guys play their whole career and never get a chance at the postseason or World Series,” he said. “I’m just taking total advantage.” And about that Mr. October business, Grissom just grinned. “I’ll leave that for Reggie Jackson,” he said. ^gvieedthatJacii someone. ^•^.overthei^ P opnp ouio's /nd siq moi5 ^ Pot Hooks Yod Up With A Whole New Circle Of Friends. Partnership for a Drug-Free North Girolina Partnership for a Drug-Free America Toll Free 1-888-732-3362
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