Hearns Now In The Battle Of His Life ... Outside The Ring

Growing up in Detroit, Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns was a boxing hero to a lot of us born and raised in the Motor City.

Hearns, 51, had classic fights against Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and so many others. As is the nature of sports, Hearns had his highs and had his lows during a brilliant boxing career that saw him climb from the famous Kronk Gym in Detroit to the heights of boxing as one of the most devastating punchers of his era (mostly as a welterweight and as a middleweight). During the 1980s (one of the golden ages of boxing for middleweights and welterweights) and 1990s Hearns held numerous titles in different weight classes.

So many of remembered those famed gold Kronk Gym trunks her wore and loved his nickname: Hit Man.

That is part of the reason it was so sad to find out that he has been saddled with tax troubles so great it is virtually impossible not to think about the great but tax-troubled heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis.

Hearns, earlier this month, watched as an auction (of some of his prized possessions) was held to help him pay a $448,000 tax debt. Apparently, according to an Associated Press story, the auction went well (although there was no dollar figure as to how much was raised to help Hearns pay off his sizable government tax debt. The auction had Hearns items such as a 1957 Chevy, three boats, all kinds of boxing memorabilia and more. The event was dubbed, the "Battle of His Life."

It's a sad and all-too-familiar tale for so many rich athletes who in one way or another fall from the pinnacle of fame and fortune.

Hopefully, others will learn from the painful lesson of Tommy Hearns. And, let us hope, Hearns will recover from this situation and get himself back on track (without trying to step back in the ring again).

Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100404/SPORTS18/4040447/1066/Sports18/Thomas-Hearns-takes-his-lumps-at-auction

Detroit News:
http://detnews.com/article/20100304/ENT09/3040506/Boxing-legend-Thomas-Hearns-risks-losing-home

TV One:
http://tvoneblogs.com/thespin/tv/thomas-hearns-sucker-punched-by-the-irs-2931.htm

Yahoo Sports/AP:
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ap-thomashearns-taxes

The Oakland Press:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/04/01/sports/doc4bb4ad2d3c108736201480.txt

Pittsburgh Steelers Player James Harrison Gives Us A WTF Moment

James Harrison, a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, had this to say about his turning down a visit to the White House to be honored for winning the Super Bowl. This is a long-standing tradition for teams to be honored by the president of the United States at the White House. Why should tradition or this team function mean anything to James Harrison when he can put the spotlight on himself (and place his interests above that of the team) by refusing to participate in this team function.

Said Harrison to WTAE, a local Pittsburgh television network:

This is how I feel – if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don’t win the Super Bowl. As far as I’m concerned, [Obama] would’ve invited Arizona if they had won.

If that is true then maybe these are true too:

1. James Harrison would never participate in the Pro Bowl because the Pro Bowl only invites you when you have a great season. The Pro Bowl obviously should invite players when they have bad seasons, too.
2. James Harrison would never accept a long-term contract since long-term contracts generally are only given out to very good players. Teams should also give long-term contracts to players who are not very good, too.
3. James Harrison would not accept a large signing bonus since you would not give out large signing bonuses to players unless they were very, very good. Obviously, teams should give large signing bonuses to players who are not good, too.
4. James Harrison would have refused to be drafted since teams only draft players who they feel can help their franchise. Why draft the good players when you can draft the bad players?
5. James Harrison would not have accepted a college athletic scholarship since they only award those to people who have a demonstrated history of success and the potential for more success down the line. They don’t give scholarships to players who are no good … so, what’s fair is fair.
6. James Harrison will not hold the Super Bowl trophy since that is only awarded to the winning team.
7. James Harrison will not participate in the victory parade and rally since only the winning team holds a victory parade.
8. James Harrison will not accept a Super Bowl ring since only the winning team gets Super Bowl rings and the losing team doesn’t.

It was dumb when he declined to meet with George W. Bush and it is dumb today. Sadly, this guy has learned nothing since the first time he made this same idiotic decision.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/18/james-harrison-snubs-obam_n_204865.html