I admit to being a relative newbie when it comes to boxing and mixed martial arts (one of the beats I inherited when I slid into this seat a year or so ago), but can see how these sports can suck in its fans.

Like any sports fan born in 60s and 70s, boxing could be summed up in one name, Ali, just like Michael Jackson symbolized pop music in the 80s and 90s.

Pay-per-view was a primitive pipe dream in those days, and those who could afford it went to the local auditorium or theater to watch it the big fights on closed circuit.

We couldn't, but there was always radio, where the announcer would read the blow-by-blow accounts off the wire services as they came across.

And, if the fight was big enough, a week or so later we could see it on "Wide World of Sports," with Howard Cosell's nasaly spin on things.

But now instead of relying on their eyes, I have my own, and what excitement they bring, even in a card like last Thursday's at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, which was short on drama, but long on early knockouts.

There's few sports left where the contestants walk through the audience to get to the area of competition, each to his or her own musical beat, even when they draw inspiration from the same source, such as Chad Mendes and Steven Siler both picking tunes from the "Rocky" movies. Nor are there many when one can get so close to the action, yet feel so safe.

And there's always Southern California boxing fixture Repo Ric, cornerman to the stars, as quick with a boast as he is a change of tam and t-shirt.

It's highly doubtful we'll see someone as colorful as Ali in boxing - or any sport, come to think of it - again. But there's no lacking of color, that's for sure.

And now, a few thoughts hopefully worth that second cup of coffee on a Sunday morning, as this corner contemplates what needs to be done before vacation.

* Memo to the Los Angeles Galaxy and Major League Soccer: It's time to admit they made a huge mistake in signing Mr. Posh Spice, cut their losses and return the league to its original role as a developer of U.S. talent and not a haven for declining European stars, no matter how hot his wife looks. Sound familiar? It's same route that contributed to the decline and fall of the North American Soccer League a decade or two ago.

* We must be getting closer to football season if Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has unveiled his latest attempt to be more outrageous than Terrell Owens. Apparently, he wants to use the Twitter messaging service during games, defying NFL orders. Wouldn't the former Chad Johnson be better served by doing something to turn the woeful Bengals into a winning team?

* Would have loved to have been the bug on the wall in Air Force One last Tuesday when President Obama flew to the All-Star game in St. Louis, escorted by Willie Mays, just to hear what they talked about.

* And finally, this reality check for Giants fans who think the return of Barry Bonds may be in the offing for the offensively-challenged club. Forget the 8,000 pound elephant of the Federal perjury charges. Bonds' offensive skills at the end were in decline as he marched toward the home run record, and his defensive liabilities make the Bad News Bears look like Gold Glovers. And it's been what, almost three years since he faced major league pitching?

Richard de Give is The Sentinel's sports editor. He can be reached at 583-2430 or rdegive@HanfordSentinel.com.

(July 19, 2009)