European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 23, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary boxing has heavy Case of the blues in a subjective split decision that also split the subjective ringside opinion in the most subjective sport Michael Spinks maintained his reign As the International boxing federation heavyweight Champion sat urday night Over 15 Busy rounds. And with a second loss to Spinks after a 48-0 record Larry Holmes walked off into the Sunset in his White Satin Robe growling and grumbling. I had the Man Hurt the Man was running Holmes said in his dressing room. "1 know the Man did t win the  but two judges thought Spinks won. Jerry Roth of Nevada had the Champion ahead 144-142, and Frank Brunette of new Jersey had him ahead 144-141. Joe Cortez of new York had Holmes ahead 144-141. On my scorecard Spinks was ahead 144-142 in rounds he was ahead 8-6, with one even. But other ringside spectators believed that Holmes had done enough to Recap lure the title he held for seven years until being de throned by Spinks last september in a 15-round unanimous decision. That difference of opinion about a close fight is the essence of boxing the most subjective sport of All. It s also the Beauty of boxing. But in the ring record Book Spinks has the a 15" next to his name. And that s All that matters. On my scorecard Spinks deserved the decision earn ing eight of the last 10 rounds. Holmes opened with a Rush using his 223 pounds to fling the 205-Pound for Mer Light heavyweight Champion onto the Canvas in the first minute. And for five rounds he battered Spinks who appeared tense and tentative. But then the Cham Pion took control swatting Holmes with punches As the weary sex Champion plodded along. In the final minute of the fifth round a chant of Larry Larry Larry resounded among the 8,500 spectators at the Las vegas Hilton Center but soon that chant dissolved into another chant of Michael Michael  As if on Cue the 1976 olympic Gold medallist went on from there to retain the title to justify his stature As the first Light heavyweight Cham Pion to win the heavyweight title. I won fair and Square Spinks said later. I was waiting in the wings and he knew it. My Corner wanted me to go after him earlier but he was too energetic  in the 14th round Holmes had a final burst of in Dave Anderson Ergy Landing a big right hand to the left Side of Spinks s head that sagged the Champion momentarily. But in the next few moments Holmes let Spinks escape across the ring. Let him escape with the title As it turned out. All i knew was i was stationary Spinks said of that punch. I was sort of in limbo. He stunned me. I told myself you be been Here too Long let me get out of Here and that s what i  in reality of course Holmes was the Boxer who had been there too Long there Means his Long career that he tarnished when he insulted Rocky Marciano s memory upon losing the title to Spinks last september and with it the Opportunity to equal the Rock s 49-0 record. And after Holmes lost again saturday night he again reacted a graciously. The world knows i won the judges know it Holmes said. Fighters have to Knock fighters out today to get the  Holmes also talked about How fighters have to play the game alluding apparently to being aligned with certain promoters. But while aligned with promoter Don King for the seven years of his reign As Muhammad Ali s accepted successor Holmes occasionally benefited from close decisions notably against Tim Witherspoon in retaining the world boxing Council heavyweight title three years ago. Witherspoon now holds a title himself and that Points up the big problem of the heavyweight division. Quick now name the three heavyweight champions. And for extra credit match each of the three champions with his particular alphabetical organization. All right you probably know that Spinks and Holmes were fighting for the International boxing federation title. But How Many know that Trevor Berbick who lost a 15-round decision to Holmes five years ago is now the world boxing Council Champion or that Witherspoon who lost a 15-round decision to Holmes nearly three years ago is the world boxing association Champion More important How Many care never known for his modesty Ali once proclaimed when i leave boxing the game will go to the  not quite. Marvelous Marvin Hagler the undisputed middleweight Champion holds boxing s Torch now. And holds it High. But the Blaze of that Torch has t lifted the gloom of the heavyweight Divi Sion. Even while retaining the title saturday night Michael Spinks did not Light a Torch among the heavy weights. It s like Back in the 30s when Max Schmeling was the heavyweight Champion says Ray Arcol boxing s octogenarian Oracle. You had Good fighters then but they did t stir  but there Are other explanations notably three alphabetical organizations each with its own Champion the if the Aba and the wac. If there were one Champion says Jim Jacobs the fight film impresario people would be talking about the one Champion. But with three champions the champions and the challengers seem to be inter changeable. With three champions mediocrity Lias been  Jacobs of course is the co manager of the potential solution to the problem of heavyweight mediocrity. The potential solution is 19-year-old Mike Tyson who has recorded 19 knockouts in 19 bouts. For All his knockouts Tyson in t a proven contender yet. He might be vulnerable to a Clever Boxer. His Chin might be vulnerable to a big puncher. But he has what the heavyweight division needs. Tyson says Arcel has a ring personality. When he walks in the ring he stirs  and now Gerry Cooney is about to to be recycled against Eddie Gregg ranked 12th by the if. In his comeback Cooney is proof of the heavyweight mediocrity. If he gets by Gregg he might be accepted by the if As a september challenger to its Champion As part of the Home Box office series to determine an undisputed heavyweight Champion sometime next year. If a Boxer deserves a heavyweight title shot based on one Victory after a virtual four year absence it s not much of a heavyweight title. But then it s not much of a heavyweight division. The new York times pirates sue Parker Over cocaine habit up photo Dave Parker. May lose deferred pay Pittsburgh a the Pittsburgh pirates announced monday they Are suing Cincinnati reds slugger Dave Parker for breach of contract for using cocaine after signing a multimillion five year Contact with the pirates in 1979. The suit seeks Relief from deferred compensation payments owed Parker totalling $5.3 million. The pirates apparently will not attempt to recover Money already paid Parker the 1978 National league most valuable player. The pirates charge that Parker fraudulently concealed his use of cocaine and that because the pirates were unaware of his drug use they were fraudulently induced into entering into the contract. I Don t know anything about it Parker said this morning at his Cincinnati Home. None of those people have called me so i can t really comment until 1 know about  Parker s agent attorney Tom Reich could not be reached for comment at his Tampa fla., Law office. The pirates suit filed in Allegheny county common pleas court alleges that the deterioration of Parker s skills As a player and his failure to stay in Good physical condition during the term of the con tract were directly related to and caused by his improper illegal and heavy use of co Caine the pirates said. Parker testified during a Federal court trial last summer that he began using co Caine in 1976 and became a regular user in 1979. He said he did t Stop using the drug until 1982, when he became aware it was adversely affecting his performance on the Field. Parker became a free agent after the 1983 season and signed with the reds. He batted .312 with 34 Home runs and 125 runs batted in last season and was second in balloting for the map award. Parker played for the pirates from 1973 through 1983. His Best season was 1978, when he hit a National league High .334 with 30 homers and 117 rib. By 1982, when he was hampered with thumb and leg injuries he had slumped to .270 with six homers and 29 rib. In 1981, a strike Sior tend season in which he testified he was using cocaine on a regular basis Parker hit .258 with nine homers and 48 rib. The deferred payments owed Parker in what was once the largest contract Ever Given a baseball player Are to begin in 1988 and continue through 2007. The pact Calls for a substantial front end payment in 1988 and regular monthly payments for the next 20 years according to the pirates. The pirates will seek a jury trial Prine said. Prine would not say whether the team would file similar suits against former pirates Dale Berra and Rod Scurry now both with the new York Yankees. Berni and Scurry also have admitted using cocaine while with the pirates. I Don t want to speculate about other situations. 1 have no comment about other players Prine said. The pirates said baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth has been informed of the team s action. Asked if the suit would Surprise Parker Prine said "1 can t speak for Dave Parker. I Don t know what would Surprise  cubs Pitcher Smith placed on disabled list sex nil i ran ii Chicago up the Chicago cubs whose pitching staff was riddled with injuries during the 1985 season monday placed Ace reliever Lee Smith on the 15-Day disabled list. Trainer Tony Garafalo said Smith who was second in the National league with 33 saves last year suffered a pulled Groin mus Cle in the uth inning of sunday s 8-8 sus Pended game with the Pittsburgh pirates. Smith was also slowed by Back and knee problems in the past two seasons. Chicago recalled left hander Ray Fonte not from its Iowa farm team to take Smith s spot on the roster. All 1 want to do is get Home without getting hit by a truck said manager Jim Frey referring to Smith and outfielder Jerry Mumphrey who injured his right knee and hand in the fourth inning on a hit which Steve Kemp turned into an inside the Park Homer. Mumphrey was hospitalized but a team spokesman said he was not seriously injured and would probably be ready to play tues Day. Smith had struggled in the cubs 2-7 Start and was 1-2 with one save and an Era of 7.10. However Frey maintains Smith was throwing As Well As Ever. Johnny Gates catching coach said he has seen him throw in the bullpen and Lee has never thrown better Frey said. Captures top fuel title Commerce a. A former National football league quarterback Dan Pastorini captured the top fuel title Mon Day in the rain delayed completion of the Southern Nati onal drag races. Warren Johnson of Duluth ga., took the pro Stock race and won $17,500. Pastorini 37, running in Only his seventh National hot Rod association event earned approximately $20,000