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SPORTS BITS: Ali still punching; fight disrupts Mayweather/Judah bout; Denver Nuggets rookie shot.
*Muhammad Ali is featured in an in-depth article for the March-April issue of Neurology Now, an American Academy of Neurology magazine for patients, their families and caregivers. Although the former boxing champ suffers from Parkinson’s disease, he still exercises regularly at the gym in his Berrien Springs, Mich home, punches a heavy bag and sometimes spars playfully in a boxing ring. His daughter Rasheda said that he loves magic tricks and that he amuses his grandchildren by drawing pictures for them. His wife, Lonnie, recently took him to see the latest "King Kong" film, noting, he "just loved it. ... He ate all my popcorn and we just had a wonderful time." She adds that he hasn't driven a car in 15 years and "he's no longer the type to pick up the phone and call friends the way he used to, but we converse. Don't get me wrong, it's not like he's sitting there espousing rhetoric, but his words still carry impact, they're still very important. You absolutely can understand what he wants, what he says, what he's thinking."
*The fight in the ring between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Zab Judah on Saturday turned out to be the undercard for more dramatic fist-a-cuffs that jumped off between the camps of the two boxers during the bout. It all started in the 10th round, when Judah hit Mayweather with two illegal shots. Mayweather’s uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, jumped into the ring to protest and rushed Judah, as well as his corner men. Soon, both corners were fighting each other for about five minutes before the melee was broken up by police officers and security guards. The fight resumed as Roger Mayweather was tossed out of the Thomas and Mack Center. His nephew, meanwhile, beat Judah and took his IBF welterweight title in a unanimous 12-round decision. Judah’s promoter, Don King, is now calling for a disqualification of Mayweather, stating: “The fighter had a third man in the ring. No matter how you look at it, the fighter is disqualified." After the fight, the purses were suspended by Skip Avensino, the chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, until videotape of the skirmish could be reviewed.
*22-year-old Denver Nuggets rookie Julius Hodge was released from a hospital Sunday, a day after his legs were wounded by shots fired into his car on a highway. Hodge released a statement through the team expressing thanks, especially to a woman who stopped on the highway and drove Hodge and his passenger to the hospital. "I want to say a special thank you to the Good Samaritan who showed the true character of Colorado people," Hodge said. "I would love the opportunity to meet with her and express my gratitude personally." The Nuggets said earlier Hodge was expected to recover and could play in two to three weeks. At EUR press time police had no suspects nor a motive.
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