Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
While it may not match last week (Patriots Draft & Sox-Yankees) in terms of local interest, this coming Saturday shapes up as the biggest sports day of the year.
“Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya steps into the ring against “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather in the most anticipated boxing match since…well, probably since Ward-Gatti III. The undefeated Mayweather (37-0) is currently a better than 2-to-1 favorite despite moving up a weight class to face the WBC champ. For what it’s worth, Micky Ward thinks De La Hoya (38-4) will be too quick and powerful for Mayweather.
The other marquis event takes place in the early evening as the country’s top 3-year old thoroughbreds Run for the Roses. As a special feature, LowellSun.com has a video segment featuring Sports Editor Dennis Whitton and Sun Racing Writer Paul Daley previewing the Kentucky Derby. The duo discusses the race and gives you their picks for the money spots. You’d be wise to pay attention!
Who do you like in the Derby? How about the fight?
Comments (7)
De La Hoya ever live in MA?
Posted by T2 | May 1, 2007 3:32 PM
Posted on May 1, 2007 15:32
Come on now...you know anyone nicknamed "Golden Boy" wouldn't be tough enough to live in these parts. Lowellians would eat him for lunch!
Posted by Teddy Panos | May 1, 2007 4:16 PM
Posted on May 1, 2007 16:16
Some guy at work mentioned he used to live in the area. I had my doubts of course.
Posted by T2 | May 1, 2007 10:19 PM
Posted on May 1, 2007 22:19
Teddy,
Why are horses going around in circles a sport and racecars going around in circles not a sport?? :-)
Posted by dboisver | May 3, 2007 12:57 PM
Posted on May 3, 2007 12:57
Because the horse is an "athlete"...uses strength, speed and stamina, plus the great ones exhibit the heart of a champion just like humans do. Coincidentally, when they did an autopsy on Secretariat, they found his heart was almost twice the size of the normal thoroughbred.
Had they opened a car hood and found an engine twice the size of a normal engine, they would have disqualified the racing team for cheating. And therein lies the difference. A race car is not an athlete. And while it takes a certain amount of skill to drive one, the real star of the show is the car, not the driver.
Posted by Teddy P. | May 3, 2007 1:45 PM
Posted on May 3, 2007 13:45
I'll buy your athlete argument for horses but I'll offer that a driver uses far more strength and stamina than a horse does over 2 minutes in the course of a 3-4 hour race.
When did you last drive a car without power steering? Would you not agree that it requires a certain amount of strength and stamina? Ever done it over as many as 500 miles? Ever sat in a car that gets up to about 120 degrees wearing a full fireproof suit, helmet, etc and driven those same 500 miles?
I'll grant you that a horse is certainly an athlete but I would not dismiss a driver as a non-athlete by any means as it takes a lot more than simply skill to be a good driver. A race car is a tool that the driver uses- I don't think it's the true star of the show although it is cetainly one of the main attractions - much like the jockeys are at the Derby- IMO.
Posted by dboisver | May 3, 2007 3:51 PM
Posted on May 3, 2007 15:51
Admire Mickey and how hard he fought. Miss seeing him in the ring. Too bad he's not as good at analysis. Pretty boy Floyd buries De Lahoya. Won't even be competitive.
Posted by MadDog Mike | May 4, 2007 1:20 AM
Posted on May 4, 2007 01:20