Roy Jones May Get Fired From HBO!

"Roy's HBO hopes on the ropes Bob Raissman, Ny Daily Since being defeated in consecutive fights, Roy Jones Jr. faces an uncertain future, but he may be in for a fight outside the squared circle. In a recent letter sent to HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg, Wayne Pacelle, president/CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization (over eight million members), asked the network to fire Jones if he does not give up his heavy - and lengthy - involvement in cockfighting. "It hurts everyone's efforts to have a celebrated sports figure promoting this horrendous activity," Pacelle said in the letter. "We are confident that HBO will hold its newly hired representative (Jones) up to a higher standard and that you will ask him to cease his cockfighting activity or face sanction from HBO up to, and including, possible dismissal." This year, Jones replaced George Foreman as HBO Sports' No. 1 boxing analyst, working with Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley. Jones also holds the distinction of fighting more times (29) on HBO's "World Championship Boxing" than any fighter in the history of the series. "We appreciate their (The Humane Society's) concern," said Ray Stallone, an HBO Sports spokesman. "When our sports executives return from the holidays we will certainly review the issue." In his letter, Pacelle says the issue of Jones' particpation in cockfighting should be of "critical importance" to HBO because "cockfighting is a barbaric and gruesome practice, causing untold suffering to tens of thousands of birds a year." Cockfighting is illegal in 48 states. It is legal in parts of New Mexico and Louisiana. According to Pacelle, Jones recently purchased a cockfighting pit - "Pearl of the Bayou" - near Franklinton, La. Jones also raises fighting cocks on his farm in Pensacola, Fla., where he resides. "By employing Mr. Jones, HBO is aligning itself with an individual who openly promotes and profits from cockfighting. We urge HBO to take a firm and public position against this blood sport," Pacelle said. "Specifically, we request that HBO disassociate itself from Jones unless he agrees to shut down his cockfighting pit and no longer participates in any form of animal fighting." In 1999, HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" did a story on cockfighting. Jones appeared in the piece and spoke about his participation in cockfighting. And in a February 2003 interview conducted on Jones' 88-acre farm, Daily News boxing writer Tim Smith described "the small, white plastic and silver-corrugated tepees" that house the cocks. At the time, Jones was training for his WBA heavyweight title fight with John Ruiz. "They (the cocks) stay ready to kill or be killed," Jones said. Pacelle said Jones has "actively lobbied" against a Florida law making it a felony "not only to fight animals, but to possess animals for the purpose of fighting." Ironically, HBO's "Real Sports" has shown a sensitivity toward animal issues. Not only did "Real Sports" air the cockfighting piece, but it recently presented an examination on the overbreeding of greyhound dogs, who are trained to race. The feature detailed the consequences when a greyhound's racing career is over and it is discarded. Hot air In his stint on ESPN-1050 last week, Stephen A. Smith proved to be a fearless philosopher. He also gave the local sports talk scene a truly unique sound. Not since Chris (Mad Dog) Russo broke in on WMCA in the late 1980s has such an original been dropped in our laps. Smith had it all going. Engaging. Funny. Infuriating and, in his own way, quite rational. This obviously has dawned on the suits at ESPN-1050. Well-embedded moles say ESPN-1050 execs have offered Smith a permanent gig at the station, most likely in the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. slot. Alas, their offer may have come too late. Stoolies say Smith's representatives are already in serious negotiations with ESPN TV brass (the network is run separately from the radio station) that could lead to the ubiquitous Stephen A., already a mainstay in ESPN's NBA studio, getting his own half-hour interview show. If the professors at Bristol Clown Community College have their propeller beanies on straight they better get this new show with Smith up and running - pronto. A lot of Kay to go around As reported here before, it's only a matter of time until ESPN-1050 moves "The Michael Kay Show" to afternoon drive (4p.m.-7p.m.). When this happens, Kay, the play-by-play voice of the Yankees on YES, won't be able to do any of his ESPN-1050 shows from inside Yankee Stadium. Spies say suits at Infinity Broadcasting (the company that owns WFAN and WCBS-AM, the Yankees radio home) intend to enforce a clause in WCBS's Yankees contract stating the station has exclusivity when it comes to broadcasting inside the Stadium and Legends Field in Tampa. So, maybe Kay is forced to do his show from outside the Stadium. Maybe in the parking lot. Guess he'll just have to bring the Port-O-Potty. Bobby V's new frequency Listening to Bobby Valentine on WFAN last week, and hearing all the nice things he had to say about the station, it sure sounded like an exercise in revisionist history. Valentine's fiery interviews with Mike Francesa and Russo ain't what I'm talking about. Flash back to 1998. Valentine, then manager of the Mets, bolted his weekly segment with FranDog and signed a deal with the old "One on One Sports (AM 620)" to do a weekly half-hour show produced by the Madison Square Garden Radio Network. Valentine split FAN because he believed Joe Torre, who was also doing a weekly spot with FranDog, was being paid more. Valentine made his feelings known to then-FAN GM Joel Hollander in a contentious nose-to-nose conversation. This led to one of Hollander's (now Infinity Broadcasting boss) more memorable lines: "If in fact it's true (that Valentine is going to "One On One"), it's unfortunate for Bobby because I know he likes to talk, but nobody will hear him." Plenty to celebrate After reading how I felt about the rather shilly celebration of Isiah Thomas' first year as Knicks president, reader Doug Giardini e-mailed a list of some future Knicks "celebrations." "Isiah's 1,000th trade." "Lenny Wilkens 100th assistant (Does Mark Aguirre have a cousin?)." And ... "The 50th Chicago Bull to be traded to the Knicks." Dude of the Week: Cris Collinsworth For saying the $75,000 fine levied by the NFL on Jags safety Donovin Darius - for his vicious clothesline hit on Packers wideout Robert Ferguson - amounted to no justice. On HBO's "Inside the NFL" Collinsworth said the league is dealing in a double standard. "Let's flip the scenario around," Collinsworth said. "If that same hit was put on Brett Favre running down the field they (NFL suits) line him (Darius) up against a brick wall, offer him a cigarette and a blindfold and shoot him." Collinsworth said if the league doesn't start assessing stiffer penalties to DBs who flip receivers, "we will soon have another Darryl Stingley on our hands." Dweeb of the Week: Chad Pennington After he served up his moronic Monday press conference comments, reporters from sea to shining sea began scrambling to see if the Chadster was really ever a Rhodes Scholar candidate. Seriously, Pennington proved he's a pro at sticking his foot in his mouth. He also provided evidence he has a bad case of Thin Skinitis. Interesting how so many Jets fans came to his defense. How fast do you think they'll turn on Pennington if he goes in the tank today against New England? Come to think of it, the media might not be kind either. Win or lose, Pennington should feel privileged to appear in this space. Double Talk What Stephon Marbury said (after Knicks were blown out by Dallas): "You just keep getting whupped and whupped and whupped and eventually it's over with." What Stephon Marbury meant to say: "We quit. Now get that (expletive deleted) microphone out of my face." Originally published on December 26, 2004 WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE :D