As the investigations of Saturday's Evander Holyfield-
Mike Tyson rematch continue, Ken Rodriguez of the MIAMI
HERALD reports that Tyson "could stand to lose millions more
than any fine the Nevada Athletic Commission gives him."
Tyson has completed five of six fights of a $100M contract
with the MGM Grand -- "a contract that may be voided if he
is banned from fighting in Nevada." Tyson is also 1 1/2
years into a three-year, $60M contract with Showtime "that
could also be in jeopardy" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/30). In N.Y.,
Bob Raissman: "Don King, Showtime (the network that pays
Tyson millions) and the MGM Grand Hotel have taken a major
hit." Showtime analyst, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, on whether
Tyson will fight for Showtime or the MGM Grand again: "I've
come to learn if there's big money (to be made), there's big
forgiveness and big amnesia" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/30).
Showtime Exec Producer Jay Larkin: "We don't know what's in
store for Mike Tyson. We're waiting for a lot of answers"
(ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/30).
IT'S SHOWTIME: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir called
Showtime Entertainment Television's (SET) telecast "an epic
spectacle" and "a telecast worth paying for." He also
called interviewer Jim Gray the "undisputed star." Sandomir:
"You witnessed history. ... [SET] produced telling super-
slow motion images of Tyson's climactic bites" (N.Y. TIMES,
6/30). Mike Lurie of CBS SportsLine: "The expense of
watching this fight was worth every penny of the reported
$49.95 if the viewer values the surreal and the historic"
(CBS SportsLine, 6/29). In AZ, Dave Walker: "I can't think
of a more unlikely setting for journalistic courage than a
Don King PPV production, but Gray ... proved himself a titan
of his trade Saturday night" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/30). Rudy
Martzke of USA TODAY gave SET a "B-minus" for the entire
show, writing that "play-by-play announcer Steve Albert ...
stated the obvious and often was behind the action."
Showtime will replay the fight on Monday, July 7 at 9pm ET
and Martzke reports that CBS will be "obtaining the network
replay Aug. 9 or 10" (USA TODAY, 6/30).
