Boxing News: The Sweet Science Picks Up Four “Barney” Awards

Internet writers made a breakthrough in the 2004 awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America, and four of the five “Barneys” given for internet stories went to The Sweet Science.

TIM GRAHAM, who also writes for the Buffalo News, captured first place in the “Event Coverage” category for “Roach Hints It May Be The End For Mike Tyson,” written in the wake of Tyson's TKO defeat to British journeyman Danny Williams. “This is the biggest award I've ever won,” said Graham. “I've always hoped I could win a BWAA award, given all the great writers who have covered this sport over the years.”

“Postcards from Uncle Al: The Boxing Cutman,” a two-part story from ROBERT CASSIDY JR., won second prize in “Features.” Cassidy, who doubles as a writer for New York's Newsday, saluted the late, great cutman Al Gavin, from the perspective of his own experiences.

MARC LICHTENFELD penned the third-place “Column” winner for “Evander Holyfield's Last Fight,” which examined the issue of freedom of choice and Holyfield's decision to continue his career after a disappointing loss to Larry Donald, which led to an indefinite medical suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission..

Also, CHARLES JAY, Editor-in-Chief of The Sweet Science, took a third place in the “Investigative” category with “Utah…..And All That Jazz,” which detailed the culture of negligence within the Utah Athletic Commission that may have contributed to the 2003 death of heavyweight Bradley Rone.

Judges for the “Barneys,” named after former BWAA president Barney Nagler, were Edwin Pope of the Miami Herald, Tom Cushman of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and Sandy Padwe, former senior editor of Sports Illustrated and acting dean of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

“It's a nice thing for our site, especially since we were online for less than half the year (2004),” said Jay. “I feel very good for our guys who got recognized.”

“I think it's really cool that The Sweet Science won so many other awards,” said Graham. “It just shows we have a great team. And I'm honored to be a part of it.”

The awards will be given at the annual BWAA dinner, to be held on May 6th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.