Sun, May 13, 2007
Pay-per-views not always that lucrative
UPDATED: 2007-05-13 01:37:29 MST
By BILLY POWERS
It was to be the match that saved the dying sport of boxing and while the Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya bout did not accomplish that goal, it still was a pretty good 12-round scrap.
In fact, I'd say De La Hoya was jobbed by the officials.
What's interesting is this was the first pay-per-view match since Evander Holyfield was to fight Mike Tyson for the heavyweight title more than a decade back that was purchased world-wide.
The 154-lb. bout made Frank Sisson a few bucks this time around with a couple of hundred peole in his secondary showroom. But for that first pay-per-view, he took a hard shot to the chin and had to hand back $360,000 in refunds to absorb advertising costs when Tyson got hurt prior to the battle.
That, though, brings back memories of the late Nick 'The Ankle Express' Zubray, the first man to attempt pay-per-view boxing.
Everything Nick touched turned to dirt, it seemed, and after a Muhammed Ali match could not be seen because of technical problems in bringing it into the Stampede Corral, he gave all of the people in the joint an opportunity
Pay-per-views not always that lucrative
UPDATED: 2007-05-13 01:37:29 MST
By BILLY POWERS
It was to be the match that saved the dying sport of boxing and while the Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya bout did not accomplish that goal, it still was a pretty good 12-round scrap.
In fact, I'd say De La Hoya was jobbed by the officials.
What's interesting is this was the first pay-per-view match since Evander Holyfield was to fight Mike Tyson for the heavyweight title more than a decade back that was purchased world-wide.
The 154-lb. bout made Frank Sisson a few bucks this time around with a couple of hundred peole in his secondary showroom. But for that first pay-per-view, he took a hard shot to the chin and had to hand back $360,000 in refunds to absorb advertising costs when Tyson got hurt prior to the battle.
That, though, brings back memories of the late Nick 'The Ankle Express' Zubray, the first man to attempt pay-per-view boxing.
Everything Nick touched turned to dirt, it seemed, and after a Muhammed Ali match could not be seen because of technical problems in bringing it into the Stampede Corral, he gave all of the people in the joint an opportunity
to get their $10 ticket cost back.
He refunded more than 3,000 sawbucks but had a paid attendance of only 2,700. Even the people he padded the gate with freebies with went
He refunded more than 3,000 sawbucks but had a paid attendance of only 2,700. Even the people he padded the gate with freebies with went
for the refund. That was Nick's life in a nutshell.
BIG WINNER
When the National Hockey League settled its lockout or strike or whatever it was a couple of years back, I, personally, was hoping that would be the end of poker on television sports channels.
As you probably know, that's not the case
BIG WINNER
When the National Hockey League settled its lockout or strike or whatever it was a couple of years back, I, personally, was hoping that would be the end of poker on television sports channels.
As you probably know, that's not the case
and it's going the other way.
But I'd like to pass on an interesting story from poker which involves a young ball player who will go nameless.
He got hooked on televised poker, gets into the odd game in town but also plays online. He managed to win an online tournament with a prize of an expense-paid holiday to a South Pacific Island where he was entered into a three-day tournament.
Well, all he did there was finish in a tie with two others, bringing home US$83,000. I hate poker but I love poker stories like that.
ON THE LINKS
Here we are in mid-May and I can now finally
But I'd like to pass on an interesting story from poker which involves a young ball player who will go nameless.
He got hooked on televised poker, gets into the odd game in town but also plays online. He managed to win an online tournament with a prize of an expense-paid holiday to a South Pacific Island where he was entered into a three-day tournament.
Well, all he did there was finish in a tie with two others, bringing home US$83,000. I hate poker but I love poker stories like that.
ON THE LINKS
Here we are in mid-May and I can now finally
say I played some golf in town.
After getting three games in south of the border, I got to play Heritage Pointe Tuesday and can report for the 15th straight year this public track opened in mid-season shape.
And Thursday, the stop was The Canal at Delacour and while tricky as all get out, the greens at this layout are simply magnificent. Owner Doug McIntosh has about 50 members at an $18,000 price tag and reports that when he gets to 110 that buy-in will jump considerably. It is, though,
After getting three games in south of the border, I got to play Heritage Pointe Tuesday and can report for the 15th straight year this public track opened in mid-season shape.
And Thursday, the stop was The Canal at Delacour and while tricky as all get out, the greens at this layout are simply magnificent. Owner Doug McIntosh has about 50 members at an $18,000 price tag and reports that when he gets to 110 that buy-in will jump considerably. It is, though,
a track the roving golfer should see.
STAYIN' BUSY
Over the years of covering golf in this city, I've been lucky enough to meet almost all of the greats in golf.
Arnold Palmer, Jack Niklaus, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez and we could go on and on.
But it was a pleasure to chat, albeit for only maybe five minutes, with England's Nick Faldo a week or so ago. He was in town promoting a golf-course he's designed near Eureka in Montana which is being backed by Calgary money but he told us by agreeing to do CBS color on the PGA tour this year, he has cut his own game back drastically.
He told us he will play in only the British Open, British Senior and the Dunhill Cup this year.
Mind you, this golf course designing business is going quite well and he has some 25 projects on the go in places like Iceland and South Africa.
STAYIN' BUSY
Over the years of covering golf in this city, I've been lucky enough to meet almost all of the greats in golf.
Arnold Palmer, Jack Niklaus, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez and we could go on and on.
But it was a pleasure to chat, albeit for only maybe five minutes, with England's Nick Faldo a week or so ago. He was in town promoting a golf-course he's designed near Eureka in Montana which is being backed by Calgary money but he told us by agreeing to do CBS color on the PGA tour this year, he has cut his own game back drastically.
He told us he will play in only the British Open, British Senior and the Dunhill Cup this year.
Mind you, this golf course designing business is going quite well and he has some 25 projects on the go in places like Iceland and South Africa.
