Sport? Not A Sport?

SPORT
"They're hitting each other. They climb into a ring and mix it up."
—Justin Hamilton , Florida basketball guard

NOT A SPORT
"It's people emberrassing themselves for money."
—John Robinson, UNLV football coach

NOT A SPORT
"It makes a mockery of boxing."
—Jim Jackson, Heat forward

NOT A SPORT
"Boxing is a sport in which people try to inflict damage on each other. These people aren't prepared for that. I'm very concerned."
—Marc Ratner, executive director, Nevada Athletic Commission

SPORT
"The people who are competing in it want to win. They want to perform well and not embarrass themselves on TV."
—Linda Fr�hlich, UNLV basketball forward

NOT A SPORT
"That's strictly entertainment. It sounds like my family on vacation."
—Tommy Bowden, Clemson football coach

SPORT
"I'm going with Tonya Harding [in her fight against Paula Jones scheduled to air on March 13]. She's more physically fit and more street. She puts hits out on people."
—Eddie Robinson, Bulls swingman

NOT A SPORT
"But I'd like to have the advertising rights to the bottoms of Jones 's shoes. She might be the only boxer ever to get knocked out while shadowboxing."
—Pat Williams, Magic senior vice president

NOT A SPORT
"But it's going to get great ratings."
—Mark Madsen, Lakers forward