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Show THE DAILY HERALD, (www HartTheHeraki.com), Page A2 Provo, Utah, Sunday, April 16, 2000 Fight Club in Provo should be knocked out I'll never forget one of the most frightening moments of my professional career. It was at the Las Vegas Hilton back in the 1980s and a young Mike Tyson had landed several big punches to the head of Trevor Berbick. As Tyson watched from a neutral corner and the crowd roared, Berbick staggered across the ring not once but twice. He acted as if he had been shot by a tranquilizer gun. I was at ringside and could see the glazed look in his eyes. Berbick was unconscious while still on his feet, his equilibrium so shocked that his body would not fall to the canvas for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he fell with a sickening thud, his head banging against the ring floor. I thought he was dead. Berbick eventually sat up ' and soon struggled to his feet as Tvson celebrated becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history. At another fight that I covered in Las Vegas, an Irish champion by the name of Barry McGuigan was suddenly overcome by the heat in the late rounds of a brutal fight in the outdoor arena behind Caesars Palace. He went into convulsions and also appeared to be dying as I again watched from ringside. I'll never forget the terrified look on the face of his mother who was nearby. Fortunately, McGuigan also survived. Despite some of the described savagery and danger, I am a big boxing fan. After covering such classics as the three-rounwar between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns the most exciting moments I have ever seen in sports it would be hard to dislike the sport. Plus, there is nothing more electrifying than a legitimate heavyweight championship fight, especially among the gathered celebrities and high rollers in a lavish Las Vegas setting. - Boxing also has a lot of genuinely nice people, despite its rotten image. Hearns is one of them. d ) often-deserve- d shorts. Not surprisingly, a lot of women show up to watch 40 percent of the crowd is about Continued from Al female. It', was great fun. until the ..'' The Fight Club has no relation to the recent movie "Fight cops showed up, participants said. After a neighbor called Club" other than people who show up to watch the boxing and said 100 people were fight11 in may have seen the film and are about back a yard, ing boxpolice cars arrived and told therefore jazzed about the said. founders the matches, ing everyone to disperse. ; "It's rated R so we haven't At Week 6 there were over seen it," The Black Avenger 300 people at Kiwanis Park. The founders say the fights grinned innocently. Both BYU and Utah Valley will go on, even though some of the organizers are leaving for State College students take the summer break this week. . part in the boxing group; neither school endorses it nor Why do they do it? encourages it. It's gotta be a "guy thing." And what do these young "There's a part of every man that wants to fight and prove men's mothers think of their ; " himself," said "The Black sons' antics? mom's BYU "My who very upset with student Avenger," a said also a BYU me," "Calvin," club. create the helped "The Fight Cldb is a quick student. The Badger said his parents release outlet for the beast within us all," he said. "Then had a long talk with him and the fighters can walk' away pleaded with him to cease tame and ready to face society fighting and leave the club. ' "I did quit fighting," The again." And they claim there's not Badger said. But he had a bromuch else to do on a Monday ken leg from doing a handstand on a skateboard. night in Provo. "There's an intensity you Amy K. Stewart can be can't find anywhere else in reached at or town," The Badger said. astewartheraldextra.com The Black Avenger agrees. "Provo nightlife needs a serious boost," he said. The club has a Web site, HERALD THE CLUB ' . 344-255- 2 tried to heed my "Don't lead with dad's advice: EXTRA POINT i your face." And in my younger and more foolish days,-- a street fight ended in a badly broken right hand that still hurts on occasion. But let's roll the tale of the tape to today in Provo. As unlikely as the site seems, a Fight Club has sprung up here faster than an Oscar de La Hoya jab. Just a few young guys and their fans having some fun, right? Like so many Mike Fitzgerald other young people, they feel that if it's cool in a movie it Trainers Emanuel Steward must be true in real life as and Angelo Dundee are two well. others. Promoter Bob Arum is Not so fast. Professional and one of the most intelligent men especially amateur boxing has I have ever met and Don King, rules and, most important, even with his shady dealings,, ringside doctors. The amateurs is one of the most colorful have headgear and the pros characters in sports history'. might some day as well. There Boxing in the Olympics is are medical facilities on hand and ambulances ready to usually one of the most excitwhisk anyone seriously injured ing venues and, at an amateur level the sport gets a lot of to a riearby hospital.. kids off the streetTand into The Fight Club in Provo is a some semblance of structure disaster waiting to happen. Most people don't realize this, and sanity. As you can tell by my nose, I , but boxing gloves are designed boxed all the way through high to protect your hands, not the school and . apartment, 1622 N. 550 West, Provo, and found the door locked and the man's car parked outside. He called Collett's mother, who instructed him to get a locksmith. Harmon and the locksmith found Collett and immediately called police, who arrived around 6 p.m. Provo Police Detective George Besendorfer said the body was en route to the medical examiner's office in Salt Lake City a few hours later. Nothing out of the ordinary was, found in the apartment, he said. As. for the official cause of death, Besendorfer said, "It's going to take some time." Collett was employed by The Daily Herald for about 19 years, starting in 1978. He covered By AMY K. STEWART The Daily Herald - PROVO A former Daily Herald sports writer living in Provo was found dead in his apartment Saturday evening. Rod Collett,' 49, was discovered lying face.-uon the floor, according to witnesses who found him. A friend of Collett's, Dick Harmon, 47, executive sports editor at The Daily Herald, discovered the body after Collett's mother called from San Diego saying she was worried about p her son. She said she hadn't heard from Collett since last Tuesday and he wasn't answering his phone. Harmon went to Collett's n e that has gotten hits 750 so far. KO. student. They don't charge admission and there is no betting, smoking, drinking or drugs. The boxers are paired to size, height, according weight and experience. They rounds. fight three Three volunteer judges decide the winner by punches landed. No one has ever been knocked out. "There are just black eyes, bloody noses and bruised egos," The Black Avenger said. Officer Bob is the referee, having previously been a baseball umpire. This week there will be volunteer EMTs attending. The fighters take off their shirts and wear only jeans or ;" - ' 174 West Center Street Own, Wah84057 334-- 1 147 "Encourage your children to read a newspaper every day . peaceful $.50 .$1.50 '. RATES .......... ;. ............. . , . . . . $9.00 .$8.00 $7.00 .$99.00 $130.00 $143.00 $182.00 $227.50 on weekends. Delivery X Easter, Memorial, Independence, Pioneer, Labor. Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years. For aew subscriptions, restarts, home delivery information, or billing information, call 3 weekdays from 6:00 am. to 5:30 forest where fairies live and flowers come alive! Add to that, a variety of costumes for your child to wear from ladybugs and sunflowers to fairies and knights in shining armor and you'll go home with a digital "Anne Gedde- s- like" portrait that's so adorable you'll be the talk of the town. The Springtime Photo Set is managed and operated by Kiddie Kandids, prices vary. Gift with Purchase April 10th Spend $50 or more at any University Mall stores - 22nd and receive a FREE Chocolate Truffle Egg at Kara Chocolates. p.m. Member Audit Bureau of Circulation ADVERTISING To place a classified ad, call 3734451 between 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays from 9:00 am. to 12 noon. For display advertising, or call materials is jiiiv::..i. . .. i: We welcome news dps. To report a tip or if you a comment or question regarding a news call article, CHOCOLATES have Kirk Parkinson Albert J. OqCParofiOqff Publisher Manzi Mike Fitzgerald Tim Coles Mike Patrick General Manager Managing Editor .Circulation Director Prepress Manager Operations Manager Director, Heraldextra.com OFFICE HOl'RS ofyour the Easter Bunny in his colorful is 'Holiday delivery includes delivery the week of Brian Tregaskis Larry Hatch world. - 7 p.m. other props that will transport your child into the "T DEPARTMENT HEADS For the best view a.m. complete with toadstools, a castle backdrop and Daily Weekdays and Saturday NEWS It all starts 11 Visit the Fantasy Fairyland... NEWSSTAND PRICE world." with newspapers. - 22nd Spring Garden and receive a FREE GIFT. Periodicals postage paid at Provo. Utah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Daily Herald. P.O. Box 717. Provo. Utah 84603-071Established August 1, 1873. The fax number for advertising Jimmy Carter, former President or astewartheraldextra.com 'Visit liah 84604. They may grow up to make this a more Sports online ,oaijlli)taD4oijii be Photos with the Easter Bunny USPS (ISSN: Published mornings, Sunday through Saturday, by Pulitzer Community Newspapers. Inc., I5.S5 North Freedom Boulevard. Provo, am can 2 0 Jdeu( benldcitrLtom 10 344-255- The latest in BYU ., . . ..... FAX weekdays and guaranteed. Collett had actually been living in Eureka, Calif., where he had been working as the sports editor of a newspaper until a month ago. He recently returned to Utah County in the hopes of relocating here. Village Court Guaranteed delivery: Your newspaper should arrive by 6:30 a m. If you do not receive your 3 by 9:00 a m. paper, please call ' Tour. April 10th 5 period Daily and Sunday Weekends & Holidays' Sunday only & Holidays One Year iiiudnm Daily and Sunday Mail, in U.S.A. m (twice) Sunday onlylUT. ID, WY) . Sunday onl( All other states) Seven days (UT. ID, WY) Seven days (All other states) Utah County, Wasateh County and the police beat, wrote sports and was the news editor. Tm very saddened because he was a close friend of mine," said Harmon, who has worked at the Herald since 1978 as well. "He was my golfing and fishing buddy," Harmon said, adding Collett was a former BYU golfer and had played on the PGA '. 0 SUBSCRIPTION mfitzgeraldheraldextra.com. " Clisufitd Advtrtniot Rtuil Advertising Sunday"... 344-291- 3 FATAL ACCIDENT One woman was killed, and a man and woman were injured at 8 a.m. Saturday when their 1997 Dodge Caravan drove off the road on Interstate 80 near Wasatch Hill, about six miles west of the UtahWyoming borderand rolled down a hill, according to police. The driver, William Porter, 64, and Esther Broughtoh, 90, both of Mountain View, Wyo., were ejected from the vehicle. Porter was flown to the University of Utah hospital and was in critical condition. Broughton was pronounced dead at the scene and was taken to a mortuary in Evanston, Wyo., said Highway Patrol officers. Passenger Doral Porter, 60, of Mountain View, Wyo., received minor injuries and was treated at Evanston Hospital. The road was slushy with snuWi inune ui me unce wcic wearing seatbelts and speed they were going about 80 miles per. hour according to witnesses was a definite factor in the accident, said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Paul Brown. Springtime Photos ' www.heraldextra.com Subscription ind delivery service Newsroom For Departments Ml listed tbove Mike Fitzgerald is managing editor of The Daily Herald. He or can be reached at Amy K. Stewart reached at Monday Ibrxrgb Friday 8JO a. a. li SJt pm Clued Saturday aad Suuday ZCMI, Mervyn's, Costco and Nordstrom (coming). Plus 165 fine (801) 224-06- 94 Just off on University Mall Hours: Monday - Saturday Pkwy.' & State 10 shops and eateries. St in Orem. am - 9 p.m. www.shopuniversitymall.com ; ' re uuerimina wrina Freedom Boulevard Prow, Utah M6M-071- ? Orta Bw?ii , And they have a short video made by BYU cinematography major Travis Cline. "We never intended for it; (Fight Club) to get as big as it has," said "Officer Bob," a BYU Bc7t opponent's head. They certainly do not ensure safety. One blow to the temple, throat, chest or any other critical area can send someone into immediate critical condition. There is a reason that professional and organized amateur fighters are medically and everyone involved in the fight game is registered and approved in some fashion by a board of usually upstanding citizens. The Fight Club is also giving the image of our beautiful town a black eye. We have :' rules and regulations for just about every potential danger, yet there is nothing to stop this nonsense? The Provo police and city officials should figure out a . way to bust up the Fight Club. Novy. Otherwise, someone is going to get seriously hurt or even die. And we will all be partially responsible for allowing it to continue. 5 MIY 1555 Nortk , ROLLERBLADER HURT woman fell A while rollerblading on a bikingwalking trail near 800 North and 200 East, Provo, and hurt her leg at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Provo's Station Three responded and emergency personnel transported the woman to Utah Valley Medical Center in Provo, according to emergency officials. sports writer found dead Ex-Hera- ld 11 POLICE BEAT |