Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Former New York Post Columnist, New York Newsday Columnist, New York Daily News Lead Columnist, New York Times reporter, NBC 1988 Olympic boxing analyst and ESPN Talk Show host. Former President of the Boxing Writer’s Association of America and ring announcer.
DOB: January 3, 1957 In: Astoria, NY
First Journalism Memory: Covering a hostage crisis at a Suffolk County HS as an intern for “Inside Newsday,” probably the first all-news TV show, back in 1982
Inspirations: Professionally, Jimmy Breslin, Dick Young, Bob Waters. Personally, my dad (Wallace).
First Famous Person You Met Or Encountered: Muhammad Ali at a book signing in Manhattan in 1976.
Last Book Read: The Godfather (by Mario Puzo). No – not 50 years ago, Re-read it this month. Better than I remembered from the first time.
First Journalism Job: General assignment reporter for Newsday, 1983.
Greatest Career Moment: Covering Rangers Stanley Cup in 1994 and George Foreman re-gaining the heavyweight title after 20 years (KO Michael Moorer in 1994 in Las Vegas).
Most Painful Career Moment: Leaving the NY Post in a censorship dispute in 2002.
Favorite Events To Cover: Heavyweight title fight, Kentucky Derby.
Funny Career Memory: Any Don King press conference.
Embarrassing Career Memory: Picking Spinks to beat Tyson (Mike Tyson won by first-round knockout in 1988 vs Michael Spinks).
Most Memorable Interviews: Bruno Sammartino.
Strangest Interview: Any conversation with Tyson or Alex Rodriguez.
Favorite Arenas/Stadiums: To work? Tropicana Field, Camden Yards. To watch? Wrigley.
Funniest Characters Encountered: King, Butch Lewis, Lou Duva, Murad Muhammad.
Last Film You Saw: Where the Crawdads Sing.
Favorite Artists: The Beatles.
People Qualities Most Admired: Integrity, honesty, kindness, humor.
Check out the first Biofile interview I did with Wallace Matthews in 1992
