Rumor: ESPN Reporter Dan Rafael in Talks with HBO Sports
by Scott Christ on Apr 27, 2011 10:11 PM EDT
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Rumors are swirling around that ESPN boxing reporter Dan Rafael has been in talks with HBO Sports to come on board in a matchmaker role, possibly replacing Kery Davis. FightHype's Ben Thompson talked about this yesterday:
"He's going to be the new matchmaker for HBO. He's already had a meeting with somebody and it's in the works. By the end of this year, Dan Rafael will be deciding which fights will be on HBO," one source revealed. ... "They're going to fire Kery Davis. They're going to let him go. He's been catering to Al Haymon too much and that's why they're in the position that they're in now. That's why they're talking to Dan," another source revealed.
Let me put this in bold, italicized letters so this is clear: This is only a rumor.
In fact, let me do this, too, because sometimes people have a hard time figuring out when things are rumors: RUMOR RUMOR RUMOR RUMOR THIS IS A RUMOR
And it's a pretty interesting rumor. Davis has been rumored to be on the hotseat for a while now, and with Showtime taking major measures this year to close the perceived gap between their boxing product and HBO's, it could just be a matter of someone needing to be blamed. But Davis' work as senior vice president of sports programming at HBO has been criticized fairly often in recent times, particularly in the last 18 months or so, by several in the boxing media.
As for Dan Rafael, if you're a boxing fan who reads about boxing online, you know Dan Rafael. He's arguably the most visible boxing writer in the world, as he's the lead man at ESPN, responsible for breaking a ton of news, and he has people who enjoy his work and people who don't. He is, I think it's fair to say, a pretty polarizing figure among hardcore boxing fans, but facts are facts, and he has put in the work as one of the most reliable reporters out there, no matter what you think of his opinions or alleged biases or whatever.
One of the criticisms about Davis has been that he's not "a boxing guy," and even though Rafael has been a boxing scribe for years, I'm sure he'd meet the same criticisms initially. Writers are writers; writers are not classified as "boxing guys" in most instances. That said, Ken Hershman and the Showtime team have done a pretty phenomenal job recently. Are they "boxing guys" by definition?
Even if this rumor does hold water, it could be months before we find out anything official. But for now, a simple question: Yea or Nay on this idea?
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A guarded “yea” given that what was currently happening at HBO was not working, but I would be more confident if I could pinpoint what exactly would be different about Rafael’s philosophy and/or the resources available to him and any dictates from above. I assume he wouldn’t jump from the cushy ESPN post without major assurances especially given how much of his reputation would be on the line, but assurances now and realities later always differ.
by Brendan Welsh-Balliett on Apr 27, 2011 10:45 PM EDT reply actions
Well, I can tell ya I'm not too happy about it...
because I would LOVE to have that job. LOL Who wouldn’t?
I guess I’d vote nay because it just seems like if you’re going to choose someone to make fights you’d pick someone who has proven that they know the ins and outs of boxing INSIDE the ring? People read his work because it’s easy (ESPN.com) and he has GREAT contacts. They just want the latest rumors. They don’t read him for a breakdown of a fight or a fighter. He doesn’t write pure boxing stuff that would lead you to believe he would be a great fit for the role. He writes the latest gossip and offers either something bland or bizarre to go with it.
I wonder if his prediction rate is even .500 It’s not everything, but surely a man with that position should be doing better than the average fan.
I would also feel a bit better about it if the candidate looked like he had hit a heavy bag once in his life.
Dan does his thing, and that’s cool, but he’s never demonstrated any of the skills necessary to be any better than the last guy.
GIL CLANCY… is the type of man you get to run the show, not a gossip writer who no one really comes to for insight.
Get a boxing guy! Why is it that there are so few of those in the business of boxing??? I don’t get it.
by Lee Payton on Apr 27, 2011 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
They don’t read him for a breakdown of a fight or a fighter.
Yea, very true. He knows people who really know boxing, but I don’t really believe in him.
But, on the other hand – maybe they’re hiring him for his contacts – his ability to be the “go-between” for what are more obviously big fights. I dunno.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
People read his work because it’s easy (ESPN.com) and he has GREAT contacts. They just want the latest rumors. They don’t read him for a breakdown of a fight or a fighter.
Totally agree…I voted yea but as you say he isn’t really a “boxing guy” who know the intricacies and in and outs of the actual science/art of fighting…Therefore would he really have the foresight to know what would make for good matches?…
I’m sure sometimes he would but i can also see him coming up with a few head scratchers.
He’s more of a reporter than anything and whether he could make the switch is debatable but he seems to have the sports best interests at heart.
The thing in favor of Rafael, is that I think he’s a big fan and he wants to see good fights. Not sure that makes him anymore qualified than the average poster on this site, but that makes him a better fit than what we’ve been getting from HBO lately.
TheBoxingBulletin.com
Just to clarify...
there’s nothing wrong with what he does. People love it. It’s just, I’m not sure that should make him a top candidate for a job that involves figuring out why two guys will make a great fight for fans. Sometimes just matching the top guys isn’t enough. And if you’re trying to make stars, avoiding mad style match-ups and ouncing on the good ones is important.
Seems an odd pick to me.
Sure. Whatever
Just as long as he’s not scoring the fights.
by JasonTO on Apr 28, 2011 12:10 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
The status quo isn’t working at HBO… and Rafael at least knows that given what he has written about HBO.
The thing is that we do need a “boxing guy” in there with HBO higher management.
Here is my perspective… would I want to just have a round table chat with Ken Hershman or Ross Greenburg? I think most people if not all would pick Hershman because he is a guy who is much more of a boxing guy and receptive to the boxing world than Greenburg who seems to be on certain fighters nuts.
I don’t want anyone with a say to be a fanboy of certain fighters or promoters.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
I don’t want anyone with a say to be a fanboy of certain fighters or promoters.
This is the problem exactly. But I imagine it’s harder to avoid when (unlike myself) you see these people on a regular basis and form personal bonds. Cronyism is the occupational hazard of … well, just about any popular endeavor.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
I like Rafael fine
Read him often—his reporting is good, his information is amazing, and his dedication seems absolute. I certainly don’t hate him—likely he deserves good things, and good boxing things, to come his way. But maybe not this one, unless he were to have a hidden genius/advisor he’d listen to, because I think he lacks imagination. All his opinions seem consensus based to me except when he scores fights, which he does badley It seems to me imagination would be key in setting up matches—“imagine So-and-So v. Anybody” and really be able to fill in the blanks, with frills on, which isn’t easy to do—I don’t think he can do that. He’s probably a good facilitator, but were his to be the only imagination being relied on, I don’t think so.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
Exactly how long has he been a boxing writer? Doesn’t this qualify Scott Christ to be a matchmaker as well at some point? SMH.
Exactly how long has he been a boxing writer?
About 12 years i think….Was he not at USAtoday before ESPN?
by Matt Mosley on Apr 28, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he was at USA Today for five years and I think ESPN.com since 2005 or so.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Apr 28, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn’t this qualify Scott Christ to be a matchmaker as well at some point? SMH.
I probably wouldn’t hire me. It’d be nothing but Amir Khan v. slow guys who can’t box and Juan Manuel Lopez v. guys with no power.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Apr 28, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn’t this qualify Scott Christ to be a matchmaker as well at some point?
There’s a few people on this site who would be great at that job, politics aside. SC, Jrok, Brick, Ted, – few others probably.
The only thing that gives me pause about Dan is that he’s got an ego – and when he’s in a room full of THOSE egos, there’s no room for one more.
And he’s really into cats, which is weird to me for a fat guy, for some reason.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
Me thinks matchmaking is an art.
There is nothing to suggest Dan Rafael knows the craft or the art.
He’s a writer with a lot of information and access.
Not a matchmaker to my knowledge.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
by pakinpower on Apr 28, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m pretty far from taking any offense that someone might see me as unqualified to be HBO matchmaker. I think I’m unqualified for God’s sake. (I’d take the job for half the pay though. Just saying, HBO.)
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Apr 29, 2011 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions
If I had a say, I’d suggest offering one of the Top Rank matchmakers more than he currently makes. Whatever feelings about any promoter aside, their matchmakers are, IMO, the best in the business. Part of their job now is what fights to avoid, but they also know what fights to make — they just don’t always have the option of making that because it’s not in the best interest of whomever.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Apr 29, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I was thinking precisely this Scott….except I believe that TR knows very well the value of their matchmakers. Everything I have been able to discern about TR suggests that the matchmakers are the true boxing men, the ones who know better than even the owners and executives what should and shouldn’t be done in moving a fighters career along.
I’ve long awaited an in depth article interviewing and profiling the great matchmakers of boxing. They are IMO like the Wizards of Oz. the good ones that is….
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
My beef with Dan relates to his fairly frequent bouts of smugness and condescension. But I don’t think these are the kind of qualities that negatively affect him as a matchmaker. I vote yea.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
Moderately intelligent fat guys often emote this.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Apr 28, 2011 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
not sure if dan is the right guy for the job
seems like what hbo needs the most is a good negotiator.
someone who can sit across the table from al hayman and golden boy with equal skills.
and who also has better foresight.
the sweetheart deals with golden boy and to fighters like berto have really hurt them and may be the biggest obstacle to getting good fights made.
for eg: bradley/khan is a fight many of us really want to see. and hbo wants to make it. but it looks like they’re having trouble getting the deal done cause they already guaranteed bradley 1.2 million for his next fight (as part of his deal to face alexander). what’s his incentive to accept ‘only’ 1.3 million for khan when he already has a guarantee of 1.2 million?
this isn’t a problem of matchmaking.
it’s so crazy to me how hbo has so much power in the sport of boxing and exercises it so poorly.
by jake_ash on Apr 29, 2011 12:32 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Either him or Col Bob.
Here’s my match to make: Dan vs. Col Bob for the All-U-Can-Eat free buffet World Championship.
by Matt Mosley on Apr 29, 2011 3:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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