LARRY MERCHANT

I hardly ever agree with Larry on air. Sometimes, I think we are at two different fights. Believe me, when I watch the playbacks I don't always agree with me either. But the thing I am sure about is, there's a thin line between boxing and wrestling and no one holds that line better than Larry Merchant; it doesn't matter about glitter, pomp, or buy rate.

Nothing affects his opinion; if he believes it's a mismatch he will say it, sometimes (in my opinion) more than he ought to. I've seen fighters cuss, swear, and threaten him, but he is always poised, and remains heard. People say all kinds of things about this man, and I've cast a few adjectives as well (smile). But those who say this man has respect of person I say, not true. Like me, he has a few missing pieces, but when it comes to integrity Larry has a full house. So to fans around the world, sit back and enjoy HBO with Larry Merchant and you'll get the best.


JIM LAMPLEY

What do I say to Jim, but "that's right man"? Over the years so many of us have forgotten that radio is the backbone of broadcasting. We had movies for years without sound, and some liked them. But when sound was added we all loved it. Until sound was added to pictures, radio was king. Some of the historical events, though they appear on television, would have little value without the voices that guide us and explain the true magnitude of it.

In the world of sports pictures are great, but what made our sport of boxing has always been the blow by blow man. The good ones make us hold on to our seats as they did years ago with Joe Louis. I watched the George Foreman and Joe Frazier fight; but without Cossell saying, "Down goes Frazier," nothing really happened. A bigger guy knocked the smaller guy down; it's the voice that savored the moment.

Says Jim Lampley over 20 years later, "It happened", once again the bigger guy beats smaller. Yes, without the voices we see nothing at all. As long as we have Jim Lampley around waiting, without a script, history will be recorded; and the moments captured so that the future can truly see it was more than the eye could see.