The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 33

Thf aiRFVFPORT Timfs Feb. 24. 1978 5-C CBS was big winner when Spinks beat Ali HURRY ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OUTSTANDING FEBRUARY RED TAG BARGAINS. By Gary Deeb 7' A BARNEV MOORE Charge it! (names by us and maybe ask for our opinion. But it'll be their decision.

I don't want to get too close to that. We shouldn't mess around with those decisions because, quite frankly, we don't need to mess around. We have the TV rights and that's just fine." Wussler's disclaimer notwithstanding, it can't be disputed that CBS has an enormous stake in Spinks' destiny. If the kid stays on top, the network keeps going to the bank; if he tumbles, CBS goes into the dumper with him. One crucial factor: Through payment of its multimillion-dollar rights fees, CBS at this moment is the major financial backer of Spinks.

With that sort of cash investment, it's unlikely that the network wouldn't exercise a lot of influence in charting Spinks' immediate future. Indeed, Spinks' first title defense has all the earmarks of a deal that couldn't be more attractive to CBS if the network had personally arranged it. As things now stand, Spinks will defend his crown in May, which just happens to coincide with the next important TV audience-rating measurement. He'll fight a lesser-ranked opponent, which means he'll probably retain his championship, an absolute must if CBS is to realize the long-term fruits of its relationship with the fighter. After that bout, tentative plans call for Spinks to face a real contender perhaps Ken Norton or even the charismatic Ali in a rematch.

That fight will take place in early fall, just as the TV networks are beginning their annual new-season Nielsen shootout. The CBS-Spinks connection has been a tight one from the start. Until Ali, the kid's bouts had been mainly against "tomato cans" an assortment of stiffs, has-beens, and never-wases. It was clear that he was being carefully nurtured in order to build up an impressive-looking record against inferior competition. Even at that, Spinks didn't always do very well.

He fought a draw last October with Scott LeDoux, a poor opponent, then followed with an uninspired win over Italian Alfio Righetti in November. In the face of such languid performances, CBS remained steadfast, almost childish, in its faith in Spinks. Wussler himself was leading the cheers. Chicago Tribune Leon Spinks may have heisted the heavyweight boxing championship from Muhammad Ali, but it was CBS that scored the knockout last week. Any way you look at it, the amazing victory by Spinks suddenly makes the bosses of CBS Sports look like geniuses.

They've televised all but one of Spinks' fights since he turned pro in 1976 and they have contracts to carry his next six bouts. And if Spinks can keep a grip on that championship, CBS will dominate boxing as no television network ever has. The network also will get rich in the Nielsen ratings, because boxing slowly has become one of the most potent prime-time audience attractions in all of sports. The Ali-Spinks festivities, for instance, drew more than 70 million viewers. With the recent resurgence of interest in boxing, a heavyweight title fight now looms as a sure way to demolish Commentary the prime-time competition.

This is especially true for a network such as CBS, which is struggling mightily to stay in the race against nighttime audience leader ABC. "CBS got lucky and struck gold with Spinks," a jealous executive of a rival network lamented. "And you can bet they'll be stuffing the kid down America's throats every chance they get. Leon Spinks is their biggest weapon since Archie Bunker and Mary Tyler Moore." In fact, indications already are strong that CBS could play a big role in picking Spinks' opponents, deciding when the fights will take place, and even selecting the locations. CBS officials, naturally, are quick to deny that they have such hefty clout with Spinks.

The network contends that young Leon's future is in the hands of his family, trainer Sam Solomon, and Top Rank the New York sports promotion outfit. To hear CBS tell it, the network simply has the right to televise Spinks' next half-dozen bouts. "It's pretty much up to Spinks' people and Top Rank's people," said Bob Wussler, president of CBS Sports. "Sure, they're gonna run some COMPACT CAR VIIDPR SPECIALS MINI 3 run I rcn.19 520-13 550-i WWW RSQ-14 645-1 tour Choice VIMJfl W'Ej'rTUS Your Choice PLUS FET 1 38 to 1.73 3 HtlS SET BLACKWALLS 2.00 LESS II M.02T0J to 3.00 Mil STEEL BELTED RADIAL SS CLOSE-OUT SALE DISCONTINUED FILESTORE CHAMPION SIZE PRICE F.E.T. CM8-14 GRT8-14 ER78-14 HR78-14 1.50 1.64 1.61 16.95 17.95 21.95 600-13 650-13 560-15 Hurry! Your Mercury Outboard ADD $3.00 FOR WHITE WALL PLUS F.E.T.

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