Lennox is 'In the House'
Oct. 1, 1996

Former WBC Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis will play himself on an upcoming episode of "In the House," a comedy series from the producers of the long-running series "Fresh Prince of Bel Air."

Lennox was in Los Angeles last week for the taping. "In the House" airs Monday night on UPN (United Paramount Network).

Lennox is hoping to be back in the boxing ring in November. He has a tentative date but the promoters still need a contender.

Anyone interested?

Steve loves Salvador

When Baltimore Ravens center Steve Everett isn't busy using his hands to snap the ball, he is using them to create works of art.

He got interested in art when he was little (can't believe he was ever too little) by watching his dad, who is an artist. When the University of Michigan came calling on him to play football, he called on their art school and was accepted after submit ting his portfolio.

Steve told me he loves to paint with watercolors because it's more of a challenge than oils. It's harder to cover up mistakes with watercolors than oils because watercolors dry faster.

Steve said that the difference between playing football in college and in the NFL is that in college he could only afford a poster at the school bookstore of his favorite artist -- Salvador Dali. Now he can afford the real thing. He told me he likes to do caricatures of his teammates and hang the drawings in the locker room.

Steve also said the only players who don't like the drawings are the ones he likes to draw. He said that when his career is over in the NFL he hopes to concentrate on his art.

NFL coach plays to his own beat

Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green drums up more than football wins and losses. Like most people, he said, he needs interests outside his work to keep on an even keel.

What's his interest? Playing the drums.

Dennis keeps a set at home and even keeps a seven-piece drum set in a meeting room at Vikings headquarters. Dennis says playing the drums is a form of relaxation.

Although he said it's too tough for a public figure to go out in public with a new skill, he did play the drums on a jazz CD called "Sunset Celebration" and has performed on local radio and television shows in Minneapolis. Also, he has played two performances on percussion with a local symphony orchestra.

The Viking coach donated $5,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Minneapolis to start the Bus Green Music Team (named after his father), a program designed to provide musical instruments to underprivileged children, as well as give them lessons and a place to practice. The Bus Green Music Team plays before some of the Vikings home games.

Maybe they could cheer Dennis and the team up after this past Sunday's loss to the New York Giants?