BOXING: In N.Y., David Bianculli writes that Fox airs
the two-hour docudrama, "ALI: AN AMERICAN HERO," tonight at
8:00pm ET. The show is "framed" by the MUHAMMAD ALI-GEORGE
FOREMAN '74 bout in Zaire. Bianculli gives the show two-
and-a-half stars and writes, "This is one of those cases
where real events and personalities were so fully documented
that no TV movie could hope to compare to the documentaries
already in existence" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/31)....In Detroit,
Steve Crowe reports that a MIKE TYSON-ANDREW GOLOTA bout
will take place at The Palace of Auburn Hills on October 20
and air on SET, Showtime's PPV arm. Showtime Senior VP JAY
LARKIN: "It's a monster fight. Everyone wants to see if
anything crazy happens." The bout will also be the "first
promotional effort of" boxer THOMAS HEARNS and his mother
LOIS and their HEARNS ENT. (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/31).
NAMES: ABC Sports' JIM MCKAY, jockey PAT DAY and L.A.
Times sportswriter BILL CHRISTINE "have been honored" by the
National Turf Writers Association for meritorious service to
racing, "typifying the spirit of the sport and turf writing,
respectively" (DAILY RACING FORM, 8/31).