After The Sugar Ray Leonard Interview: Brett Haber's Thoughts

 
WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- What a thrill to have Sugar Ray Leonard at WUSA today. Not because he's one of the greatest fighters ever to walk the earth, or because he might be the most accomplished sports figure to come out of DC in the last half-century, but because he used to work here.
Back in the late 70's during his hay-day, Leonard struck up a friendship with the late, great Channel 9 Sportscaster Glenn Brenner. In 1979, just before Leonard's 2 memorable title fights against Roberto Duran (the 2nd one was the famous "No Mas" fight), Leonard decided he wanted to get some experience in TV and Brenner decided Leonard's good looks, sterling reputation and cogent fight analysis would be a perfect fit for his show. So, for a year, Leonard was a sports reporter at WUSA. Grant you, he didn't come into the office every day, but he produced 10 packages (stories) in that year, including one he remembered on the Bullis H.S. wrestling team. He also covered all the big fights for WUSA, including the Ali/Holmes fight in Las Vegas.
A number of people who worked with Ray back then are still at WUSA today, including Al Calogero, who is our chief of editing now, but who was a sports producer back in the '70's and '80's. He and Ray shared some great memories today from the old days. It was fun to be a fly on the wall in that conversation.
As for Ray's book, as you probably know, it contains a number of candid revelations concerning his behavior over the years, including references to drugs, alcohol, infidelity and depression. He also reveals that he was sexually abused by an adult during his Olympic training process. All of these are brave admissions by Leonard, and as he spoke about them you could almost witness the catharsis he was undergoing. Her spent years suppressing the guilt and shame over these events, and to talk about them know was a rather obvious unburdening. Talking to him, I could tell he has wanted to speak about these things for a long time.
It takes great courage to reveal one's frailties. Especially in the case of a man like Leonard, who runs the risk of tarnishing an image that was so likable and endearing. Thing is - I find him even more likable and endearing now.