LIKE A ROCK: BOWE PROMOTER, HBO FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT

     Officials representing Time Warner's HBO and boxer Riddick
Bowe said they have "failed to settle their differences" on
whether their contract is still valid.  A March 11 date has been
set in U.S. District Court.  Bowe's manager, Rock Newman, has
stated that Bowe is a "free agent" and not tied to Time Warner.
Time Warner Sports President Seth Abraham claims the contract "is
solid" and is ready to fight Newman's claim (William Gildea,
WASHINGTON POST, 2/6).
     FOX-KING DEAL QUESTIONED:  The partnership between Fox
Sports and Don King to air Saturday fights is profiled by Bob
Raissman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.  Fox has telecast two nights of
fights, most recently on Super Bowl Saturday.  Raissman writes of
the caliber of the bouts, "When the masses are presented with the
kind of garbage, it not only sets the sports back in the public's
eye, but makes any already skeptical network or advertiser run
for cover."  Raissman notes Fox reportedly gave some current
advertisers "free spots on the card as a bonus" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
2/4).