Mixed with all my elation over the Kings trip to the Stanley Cup finals, the Dodgers sensational start to the season, and two concerts I attended by The Boss, are a number of items from my two great passions, music and boxing that don't raise the spirits.

Bummer: Van Halen cancels thirty concerts. Nobody knows the reasons, but speculations is rife with fighting rumors, medical rumors, fatigue rumors and more. All I know is I had tickets for August 30 in Reno, and that was one of the 30 to fall by the wayside.

Bummer:  Robin Gibbs dies. One of my secret pleasures over the years has been the Bee-Gees. I really liked those guys. One of my favorite concerts is the one they did in 2002 at MGM Grand, One Night Only. I admired their muscial talent, their harmonies, their songwriting. I admired their longevity and ability to adjust to chaning times. I like them through all their eras, the 60's, the Disco era in the 70's and the post-disco era. So now Maurice and Robin are gone, throw in Andy and thats four of the Gibbs brothers lost, leaving only Barry

Bummer: Johnny Tapia Dies.  The former 5-time world champion boxer was one of the most talented, controversial and tormented athletes of the '90's and 2000's. the former champ was the hero of Albuquerque, and despite his continued relapses and brushes with the law, maintained a loyal fan base. Johnny was vulnerable and he had a way to makie you feel you were important to him. when I told him long that he was my son's favorite fighter, he got very animated and excited, and from then on, always asked me how my son was doing. I can remember when I was doing Forum Boxing telecasts around 1999, and I would put up my list of the top ten boxers in the world. A fan approached me one night and said Johnny was deeply hurt and upset that I had not included him on that list. Actually he was right. I apologized to Johnny the next time I saw him because he was right! He made that list the next time I issued it. My wife and I sat with Johnny and his wife Theresa at the Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales fight. We had a great time. I was in his lockerroom as part of the broadcast team before a big fight at Caesars Palace, and felt like such an intruder when he fell on his knees praying out loud before the fight and crying. Last time I saw him was last October. He was training a fighter on the undercard of a show I was broadcasting on FOX Sports net. he came up and gave me a big hug. The guy has so many sides. Throughtout all those years, I knew and everybody knew that Tapia was headed for an early grave. His demons of drug abuse were too insidious and too powerful. He died this week at the age of 45. I'll miss him.

Bummer: Paul Williams paralyzed. ONe of the most talented and versatile boxers in the world, Paul Willaims, has seen his career come, literally, to a crashing halt. Williams was thrown from his motorcycle when he swerved to avoid an oncoming car, was thrown from the bike and severed his spine. He is paralyzed from the waist down. Williims, who is promoted by the Valley's Dan Goossen was supposed to have a big million dollar payday fight against Mexican sensation Canelo Alvarez on September 15. Now his biggest ambition in life is to someday walk again.