Published: Saturday, November 10, 2007
local
LOCAL
Ray Mancini story
to air on ESPN
On the 25th anniversary of the tragic Ray Mancini–Deuk-Koo Kim fight, ESPN Classic presents Triumph and Tragedy: The Ray Mancini Story, a documentary on the life of Ray Mancini, including Kim's death four days after collapsing in the ring, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
In the WBA lightweight title fight Nov. 13, 1982, Mancini delivered a knockout blow in the 14th round that ended the fight and sent Kim to the hospital. Kim was brain dead and four days later he was removed from life support. In Korea, Kim became a larger-than-life figure in death. Overcome by grief, his mother committed suicide 11 weeks after her son's death. Mancini was devastated and, until now, has not given an extended interview on the fight and Kim's subsequent death.
The documentary also includes highlights of the 13th and 14th rounds, the first time footage from those fateful rounds will be replayed anywhere. In the 13th round, Mancini landed 39 unanswered punches but Kim kept moving forward the entire time and finished the round with some flurries of his own. Mancini knocked out Kim in the14th round, but Kim got up and went to his corner before collapsing on the stool. Mancini cooperated fully with the production of Triumph and Tragedy: The Ray Mancini Story. The program, narrated by actor Stacy Keach, includes interviews and footage shot in Las Vegas, the site of the fight, as well as South Korea.
The documentary will include interviews with many witnesses to the event, including the ring physician, who first attended to Kim, as well as the neurosurgeon who operated on him. The program will also include candid testimony from boxing historians.
Mancini was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, a thriving steel town in his youth. By the 70's, when Ray began his quest for a title, Youngstown's economy had collapsed. The inhabitants looked beyond their city's vacant factories and mills for a sign of hope. They found it in a favorite son.
Mancini was the son of former lightweight contender, the original "Boom Boom," Lenny Mancini, who was poised for a title shot as the United States entered World War II. Lenny was drafted and later injured in battle, his title dreams left unfulfilled. Obsessed with the tales of his father's career, and with his heart set on vindication, Ray dedicated himself to winning a championship for Lenny.
Correction
Youngstown SteelHounds' home opener is Nov. 23 at the Chevrolet Centre. A story in Friday's edition contained the wrong date.
Taylor selected
HIRAM — Megan Taylor, a senior setter and outside hitter for the Hiram College volleyball team from Lakeview High in Cortland, has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team for her play and academic performances this season.
Taylor, an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, led the Terriers to a No. 19 national ranking while achieving a 3.85 grade-point average as a biology major.
Entering Thursday's NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional first-round playoff against Westminster, Taylor led the team in hitting percentage (.296) and set assists (692), while ranking third in kills with 306 (2.83 kills per game) and service aces at 27.
In addition, she had 197 digs (1.82 digs per game) and 23 total blocks (five solo and 18 assists) defensively.
Hiram (28-5) defeated Westminster in the first round of the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional 30-28, 27-30, 31-29, 30-24.
Five gain honors
WEXFORD, Pa. — Five Youngstown area volleyball players have won Presidents' Athletic Conference honors.
Jess Cooper (Laurel) and Traci Hassell (Hubbard), both of Westminster College were named to the All-PAC First Team, while Cooper was named PAC Player of the Year.
Their coach, Tammy Swearingen (Columbiana), formerly a coach at Youngstown State and Canfield High, was selected PAC Coach of the Year.
Swearingen, Cooper and Hassell led the Titans (23-11) into the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Jaime Kelly (Howland) of Saint Vincent and Brandi Snavely (Columbiana) of Geneva won each PAC Coaches Honors, which is an All-PAC equivalent award for members of PAC provisional members.
Johnson signed
BOARDMAN — Mahoning Valley Thunder receiver Chris Johnson has signed with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena League. Johnson joins former Thunder teammates DeMarcus Mathes and Brandon Eaton in Grand Rapids. He appeared in six games (all starts) for the Thunder finishing with 50 catches for 680 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
Saturday, November 10, 2007
LOCAL
Ray Mancini story
to air on ESPN
On the 25th anniversary of the tragic Ray Mancini–Deuk-Koo Kim fight, ESPN Classic presents Triumph and Tragedy: The Ray Mancini Story, a documentary on the life of Ray Mancini, including Kim's death four days after collapsing in the ring, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
In the WBA lightweight title fight Nov. 13, 1982, Mancini delivered a knockout blow in the 14th round that ended the fight and sent Kim to the hospital. Kim was brain dead and four days later he was removed from life support. In Korea, Kim became a larger-than-life figure in death. Overcome by grief, his mother committed suicide 11 weeks after her son's death. Mancini was devastated and, until now, has not given an extended interview on the fight and Kim's subsequent death.
The documentary also includes highlights of the 13th and 14th rounds, the first time footage from those fateful rounds will be replayed anywhere. In the 13th round, Mancini landed 39 unanswered punches but Kim kept moving forward the entire time and finished the round with some flurries of his own. Mancini knocked out Kim in the14th round, but Kim got up and went to his corner before collapsing on the stool. Mancini cooperated fully with the production of Triumph and Tragedy: The Ray Mancini Story. The program, narrated by actor Stacy Keach, includes interviews and footage shot in Las Vegas, the site of the fight, as well as South Korea.
The documentary will include interviews with many witnesses to the event, including the ring physician, who first attended to Kim, as well as the neurosurgeon who operated on him. The program will also include candid testimony from boxing historians.
Mancini was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, a thriving steel town in his youth. By the 70's, when Ray began his quest for a title, Youngstown's economy had collapsed. The inhabitants looked beyond their city's vacant factories and mills for a sign of hope. They found it in a favorite son.
Mancini was the son of former lightweight contender, the original "Boom Boom," Lenny Mancini, who was poised for a title shot as the United States entered World War II. Lenny was drafted and later injured in battle, his title dreams left unfulfilled. Obsessed with the tales of his father's career, and with his heart set on vindication, Ray dedicated himself to winning a championship for Lenny.
Correction
Youngstown SteelHounds' home opener is Nov. 23 at the Chevrolet Centre. A story in Friday's edition contained the wrong date.
Taylor selected
HIRAM — Megan Taylor, a senior setter and outside hitter for the Hiram College volleyball team from Lakeview High in Cortland, has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team for her play and academic performances this season.
Taylor, an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, led the Terriers to a No. 19 national ranking while achieving a 3.85 grade-point average as a biology major.
Entering Thursday's NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional first-round playoff against Westminster, Taylor led the team in hitting percentage (.296) and set assists (692), while ranking third in kills with 306 (2.83 kills per game) and service aces at 27.
In addition, she had 197 digs (1.82 digs per game) and 23 total blocks (five solo and 18 assists) defensively.
Hiram (28-5) defeated Westminster in the first round of the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional 30-28, 27-30, 31-29, 30-24.
Five gain honors
WEXFORD, Pa. — Five Youngstown area volleyball players have won Presidents' Athletic Conference honors.
Jess Cooper (Laurel) and Traci Hassell (Hubbard), both of Westminster College were named to the All-PAC First Team, while Cooper was named PAC Player of the Year.
Their coach, Tammy Swearingen (Columbiana), formerly a coach at Youngstown State and Canfield High, was selected PAC Coach of the Year.
Swearingen, Cooper and Hassell led the Titans (23-11) into the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Jaime Kelly (Howland) of Saint Vincent and Brandi Snavely (Columbiana) of Geneva won each PAC Coaches Honors, which is an All-PAC equivalent award for members of PAC provisional members.
Johnson signed
BOARDMAN — Mahoning Valley Thunder receiver Chris Johnson has signed with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena League. Johnson joins former Thunder teammates DeMarcus Mathes and Brandon Eaton in Grand Rapids. He appeared in six games (all starts) for the Thunder finishing with 50 catches for 680 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Megan Taylor, a senior setter and outside hitter for the Hiram College volleyball team from Lakeview High in Cortland,...
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