A Corner Without a Cut Man Is a Costly Way to Cut Corners

Don Turner, Evander Holyfield’s trainer, rejected having cut man Ace Marotta in Holyfield’s corner for last Friday night’s heavyweight championship fight against Michael Moorer.

“Cut men are the biggest scam in boxing,” Turner told Ron Borges of the Boston Globe. “These guys fly in and they eat like they’re going to the electric chair and you know what? The fighter pays.”

As it turned out, Holyfield suffered a deep cut over his left eye in the second round and, without an established cut man, bled much of the rest of the fight. Also, much of Turner’s time between rounds was spent working on the cut instead of advising Holyfield, who lost a majority decision.

Holyfield’s usual cut man’s cut? $25,000.

Trivia time: In 1962, the Raiders of the AFL and Rams of the NFL drafted the same player in the first round. Who was he?

Expensive visit: A fan came out of the stands during a Pittsburgh Pirate game, approached Andy Van Slyke in center field and said: “I just wanted to meet you.”

Said Van Slyke: “It probably would have cost you a lot less if you waited for autograph day.”

Modesty: Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic reported that Buddy Ryan, the new coach of Arizona Cardinals, was “downright cocky” long before the recent NFL draft.

“I’ll get the guys I want. I always do,” Ryan told McManaman shortly after he was hired in February. “I don’t know if I’m just lucky or if the rest of the people in the league are just stupid.”

Nice theory, but . . . From Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle: “When Magic Johnson’s appointment as a coach was announced, I wrote that it was simply a publicity stunt to sell tickets.

“Guess what? It worked. The empty seats at the Forum suddenly filled up, and season tickets took a big jump.”

Not so according to Forum public relations director Bob Steiner, who said: “Magic’s hiring had no impact on season ticket sales.”

Ouch: From Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune: “It’s not only the players who do the taunting. This from referee Joey Crawford to New York’s Greg Anthony after Anthony questioned a call recently:

“Learn how to shoot!”

Howling: Christian Laettner of the Minnesota Timberwolves criticized teammates after a loss to Portland on Friday night in Minneapolis.

“I’m not worried about my game. I’m more worried about getting some players around me,” Laettner said.

Laettner will need plenty of help, considering the Timberwolves finished 20-62.

Looking back: On this day in 1966, the Boston Celtics defeated the Lakers, 95-93, in the seventh game of the NBA finals to win their eighth consecutive championship.

Trivia answer: Quarterback Roman Gabriel.

Quotebook: Phoenix Sun point guard Kevin Johnson on the NBA playoffs: “The smart teams know we’re the team to beat.”