LAMPLEY THROWING PUNCHES AGAIN
Al Haymon
San Francisco, CA– HBO’s Jim Lampley took a shot at somebody a fortnight ago and NO this time it wasn’t his ex-wife or girlfriend. In jest, the North Carolina Tar Heel alumni facetiously named Al Haymon, “Boxing’s 2014 Man of The Year.”
NFL GAME BLURB SAYS BOXING BACK ON NBC
Less than two weeks later, NBC announces boxing is coming back to the Peacock Network during an NFL game they were presenting. Oh, and if you haven’t figured it out yet, Al Haymon is the man NBC has joined arms with in an attempt to bring prize fighting back to what they hope are the masses.
NETWORK TV AIRED BOXING ‘TILL CIRCA 1990
Most of you reading this don’t realize that boxing was featured on all three of the then major Networks in NBC, CBS and ABC’s Wide Word of Sports with the vast majority being Saturday and Sunday afternoon fights or championship fight replays from Closed Circuit and then Pay Per View shows.
SANS “BOOM BOOM” MANCINI NBC WENT WITH PAEZ
Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini
This year’s Hall of Fame inductee, Youngstown, OH’s Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini was the last American TV Idol from the world of boxing. After Mancini was done, NBC made a habit of televising Jorge Paez Sr. fights as the “Clown Prince of Boxing” from Mexicali, MX was a ratings draw. After Paez, boxing on Network TV was no more.
DUVA GOT BACK IN WITH NBC
Since that time, the end of the 1980s to early 90s, boxing has been about as welcome in the offices at Rockefeller Center as a flea between the bed sheets. There were attempts by various entities to get on NBC as Kathy Duva of Main Events even purchased airtime from The Peacock.
KATHY FAILED TO DELIVER FOR NBC
Duva had been the only promoter to show consistently on the NBC Sports Network. But her promotional shortcomings were predictable fights for the most part and foreign headliners. The often less than stellar fight cards helped to allow Haymon to push her out the door.
“BIG AL” WAS PROBABLY FELLING THE HEAT
With a stable of fighters that is so large that had “Big Al” not made a significant TV deal, the guy that got rich with musical groups like New Edition, would likely have been in big trouble.
HAYMON ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD!
When I broke the story last year that Al was in the process of talking to NBC, it was thought that had he not been able to broker a deal he might be forced to purchase airtime. There were even talks of him starting his own Network. But with that inside the football game announcement, all that was put to bed.
FEW FIGHTERS DISLIKE “BIG AL”
There are people that don’t like Haymon, but for the most part boxers aren’t on that list for he pays them well. On many occasions Haymon has overpaid guys to insure they remain happy, some even after a loss or two.
WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME SECRECY
So while he may not have his number in the phonebook, and his life is mysterious to some, Al Haymon will soon have to emerge somewhat from this near cloak of secrecy that he surrounds himself in.
LAMPLEY & COMPANY NEED TAKE NOTE
In closing, look for the Haymon naysayers, people like Jim Lampley to either stick their head in the ground and ignore the fact that Haymon is what he is. But if they’re smart, they’ll instead figure out a way to kiss “Big Al’s” ring finger.
Pedro Fernandez