MEDIA: We’re No. 1
The first “Subway Series” since the ’50s, a Giants trip to the Super Bowl and a second straight Stanley Cup Finals for the Devils were three of the feats that earned New York the distinction of “Best Sports City in North America.”
John Rawlings, editor of The Sporting News, announced our return to the top of the rankings yesterday at a press conference on Staten Island with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. It is the second time in the last three years we’ve gained the top spot.
The rankings appear in the Aug. 13 issue of the publication, which is on sale this week.
In addition to the Yankees-Mets World Series, Rawlings also noted continued sellouts by the Knicks and Rangers at Madison Square Garden and the rebirth of minor league baseball in the region: New teams now play in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Newark and on Long Island.
The Sporting News considered the fortunes of sports teams, fan loyalty, local media coverage and the “general environment in which sports becomes part of a city’s culture,” Rawlings said.
Following us in the voting, in order, were: Oakland-San Francisco-San Jose; Los Angeles-Anaheim; Philadelphia; Dallas-Fort Worth; Denver; Baltimore-Washington; Miami-Fort Lauderdale; Detroit; Phoenix, and last year’s winner, St. Louis.
BOXING: Tyson to fight Nielsen
Preparations are under way for Mike Tyson to fight Brian Nielsen of Denmark as California authorities decide whether to charge the former heavyweight champion with rape.
“We are going for a passport for him right now and we’re intending to fight Sept. 8 in Copenhagen,” Shelly Finkel, Tyson’s adviser, said. “He has not been charged, and we’re hoping it will go away. He’s training in Phoenix and he’s in good spirits.”
A 50-year-old woman contends she was sexually assaulted by Tyson on July 16 at a home he rented while training at Big Bear City in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles.
BASEBALL: Congress lobbies for ump
Twenty-five members of Congress are urging baseball commissioner Bud Selig to reinstate an umpire who was fired after a failed massive resignation.
Eric Gregg has been unemployed since September 1999, when Selig fired him and 21 other umpires after they resigned.
Baseball owners claim the umpires were let go because their resignations were accepted. The umpires said they withdrew those resignations and should have been allowed to stay on.
On Monday, the House members sent Selig a letter that described Gregg’s family as “destitute and near bankruptcy” and said Gregg may soon be evicted from his home.
BASKETBALL: Mavs sign Eschmeyer
The Mavericks have come to terms with former Net Evan Eschmeyer, on what is believed to be a six year, $19.5 million deal.
The Mavs have also given minimum guarantees to point guards Khalid El-Amin and Darrick Martin. The rotund El-Amin did not live up to expectations in Chicago, where he was cut just before the end of the season. In 50 games with the Bulls the former UConn Husky averaged just 6.3 points while playing 18.7 minutes per game.
Mavs forward Danny Manning will get $1.5 million per for two years. Manning, a two-time All-Star, has played with five different teams in his 13-year career. He spent last season with the Jazz, where he averaged 7.4 points in 15.9 minutes.
The Mavs are still without a starting center as Shawn Bradley is looking for a deal in the $10 million a year range.