Status: HBO Commentator. Former New York Post and Philadelphia Daily News columnist.
DOB: February 11, 1931 In: New York, NY
Childhood Heroes: “Joe DiMaggio. Sugar Ray Robinson. Joe Louis. An athlete who marked his time as both an underdog and a favorite. He gave hope to black people that they could achieve. A prizefighter who stayed on top for a long time.”
Hobbies/Interests: “Reading, skiing, tennis, travel.”
Favorite Movies: “Gunga Din, La Strada, Godfather I & II.”
Musical Tastes: “Broadway show tunes, jazz, The Beatles, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Louis Armstrong.”
Greatest Career Moment: “I would say the moment before the Ali-Frazier fight was about to start. Both fighters were undefeated. The showdown. It was building for three years. The first time two such outstanding athletes came about at the same time. The crowd gave a roar after the fighters touched gloves and went back to their corners. My God, it’s finally going to happen. Another was the 20 or 30 seconds in the ring after the Tyson-Douglas fight. When Douglas started to choke up, thinking about his mother who had died a few weeks before. And how that tragedy helped to galvanize his spirit for that fight. Just standing there and waiting for him to pull himself together, because he wanted to be interviewed. I said to myself, Television is show and tell. People just watched a guy pull of an historic upset. He’s emotionally overcome. Let them watch that. When he’s ready, then I’ll talk with him. I would say that was an important moment.”
Most Painful Moment: “I’m not sure. Maybe, having been a guy in my career as a print and television journalist who always championed the underdogs in society. Being accused of bigotry for basically personal gain in the incident involving De La Hoya and the mariachis and all that. I didn’t lose sleep over it. But it was getting caught in the crossfire that wasn’t merited. But I was very fortunate to work for people who ignored the crossfire.”
Funny Career Memory: “Along the way, let’s see…there have been some odd things that happened in the ring after a fight. Up in Boston where a drunk fan of the Irish boxer Wayne McCullough came storming to the ring while I was doing an interview and I had to give him a forearm shiver. I didn’t think anything at the moment but a lot of people had never seen me be physical and didn’t know I was the last-string halfback at Oklahoma. And it seemed out of character to a lot of people.”
Embarrassing Career Memory: “I’m hard to embarrass [smiles]. There probably have been some. But I’m a little bit bulletproof on that end. Because my feeling is, I’m doing my job, I’m trying to get the story and if something happens that interferes with it, that’s the nature of the job.”
Favorite Meal: “Chilean sea bass with a tomato and avocado sauce.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Excited. Expectant. When you have a big fight, you know the fighters, you feel you know their personalities and character – you want to see how they interact. In a close fight it’s normally the athlete with the greater will that prevails. It becomes an event on different levels for me. My curiosity piques before a fight. I’d have to say a great fight is my favorite. There are other events I love as well – Wimbledon. A long event is fun to watch.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “We’re all dealt a hand and people are judged by how they play the hand. In boxing, I don’t think anyone has played his hand better than Evander Holyfield. The ability to train hard is as natural as the ability to punch. I don’t look at it as over-achieving. Some people have it and some don’t. Marvin Hagler is someone who had it. If he had an ordinary fight, he was 159 1/2. If he had a tough fight and respected the opponent, he was 158 1/2. People don’t know he fought real hurt and sick. Larry Holmes fought sick and hurt. He never had a fight postponed as champion. I admire the whole spectrum – Roy Jones, De La Hoya. The ones with average talent who make the most of it. They’re all putting themselves on the line. Handle it in different ways. I admire that. And I admire genius as well. Genius is thrilling. Buster Douglas galvanized all his forces for one fight. What is normal behavior is Buster Douglas. That’s a normal reaction. The long time champion is abnormal, almost like a freak.”
Childhood Dreams: “Centerfielder for the New York Yankees. Sportswriter.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “People who are themselves. Know who they are. People who keep walking through the fire and sunshine of life. And you just keep going. Maintain your enthusiasm for life and sense of humor about yourself. And do your job as well as you can. And take care of the people around you.”
Future Ambition: “Keep doing what I’m doing. And raft on the Colorado River. I’ve rafted in New Mexico. But not Colorado. I just think it’s a great rush. I’ve heard people talk about it and I’d like to try it.”
Topics: Art Tatum, Broadway Show Tunes, Career Moment, Childhood Heroes, Hobbies Interests, Joe Dimaggio, Joe Louis, Larry Merchant, Louis Armstrong, Mariachis, Merchant Status, Musical Tastes, New York Post, Oscar Peterson, Painful Moment, Philadelphia Daily News, Prizefighter, Sugar Ray Robinson, Television Journalist, Tennis Travel
Biofile with Larry Merchant | 