Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report on arrest of heavyweight boxing champ Leon Spinks in Saint Louis on drug chgs.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner

(Saint Louis, Missouri) Details of Spinks arrest, initially for driving violations then on possession of cocaine and marijuana, given. [Saint Louis police sergeant Francis CORONA - cites discovery of white powder believed to be drug in Spinks' hatband.] Spinks' championship fight with former champ Muhammed Ali mentioned; film shown. Spinks' boxing career, include that in Marine Corps and in 1976 Montreal Olympics, outlined. Scheduled rematch between Spinks and Ali cited; Ali's reaction to arrest, as told to reporter Barbara Walters, reported; film shown. [ALI - states own view that drug chgs. are frame-up on Spinks.] Mgr. Mit Barnes mentioned as man under whom Spinks learned boxing; Barnes' position on methods of handling used by Spinks current advisers stated. [BARNES - says Spinks is smart enough to know what he wants to do with life, but advisers won't let him.] Interviews with Spinks' associates in New York City shown. [Bro., Michael SPINKS - thinks drug chgs. are a plant. Says Saint Louis police department has been after Leon each time he's there.] [MAN - would favor suspending Spinks until physicians could give evidence he was purged of drug addiction, if indeed he is drug user and pusher.] KTVI-TV reporter Stephen Ray's interview with Spinks shown. [SPINKS - denies possessing drugs.]
REPORTER: Ron Miller (KTVI newstape)