tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. first up tonight, a conversation with boxing legend sugar ray leonard. he is out with a new memoir with his ups and downs. the new best seller is called "the big fight." two-time oscar nominated actress miranda richardson is here. sugar ray leonard and miranda richardson coming out right now. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is happy to help tavis improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side.

>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: i am pleased to welcome sugar ray leonard back to this program. he became a household name after the summer olympics in montreal, he went on to become one of the most well-known boxers. he is out with a memoir about his life and career. it is called "the big fight,"

about life in and out of the ring. >> always a pleasure. tavis: that me jump in and deal with this and then get to the other stuff. when i first saw the book and read it, my first question was, why? why would sugar ray feel the need to talk about molestation as a fighter? why? >> that question has been asked and at times i questioned myself why i revealed as much as i did. you know, chavis -- tavis, there are things that i can't close to my heart, to my quest for over 30 something years. -- there are things that i kept close to my heart, to my chest, for over 30 something years. there was not a day that went by, whether i was in the ring --

after a victory in the ring or marry my wonderful wife, my kids being born, i still had those moments that i relived that i knew that if i had not gotten that thing out, that poison, that toxin, that i would still be a guy who used alcohol and drugs to its fullest. not to say because i became an of pollock or i did drugs, it was everything. it was my life. i was not totally happy although from an exterior standpoint i would smile for the camera. i would smile when i met good people. i was hurting and i did this book for me. tavis: has it been therapeutic?

you have been on the tour, people are asking about it. has it been therapeutic? >> it has been. i have met people tend to of the people, the fans, friends who came up to me and gave me a hug. some, every now and then, will say i was there, too. whether it was the cameraman, whether it was a co-host, a woman, a man, i have been embraced and supported and it feels good. tavis: i anderson and the decision on your part not to name names in terms of the molestation peace. i get that. -- i and the stand the decision on your part not to name names. there are people who feel that a certain amount of dispersion has been cast on them. everyone in your camp are around

this time might be suspect. what do you say to those persons? >> the ones that were guilty, they know they are guilty. the ones that are innocent, they think nothing of that. that is my take on it. i'm glad you brought this up. my coaches from the '76 olympics, no, it is not them. they were incredible man. this happened when i was 15 and 16. this has happened before. there are a lot of young men who happen not to be fighters. tavis: this does happen and when it happened to them, they ended up question in their manhood. did you ever question your manhood? how did you get past that?

>> you know, i did not question my manhood. i questioned why i did not hurt those guys. i was a fighter. tavis: you ran out. >> i ran out. looking back with the honest opinion, the fact was that one was someone leading to the olympics. the other one was the one who supplied me or gave me money. they each had their own reasoning of why i did not become physical. tavis: when you write a book like this, and there is so much in it, and you put that kind of truth and honesty and openness in the book, it does tend to cloud all of the other stuff in the book.

did you think about that going into it? >> i never thought about the consequences or the opposition or the questions or whatever. i was just talking about me. i did not know how to be a husband back then. my wife raised my sons. one of them is 27 and he came when there were storm while in the family. i was never really there. i would give my guy money to go and buy toys. i would use money as a means to be a father. that hurts. that really hurts. i can never redo or repair. i was a lousy dad.

i was the best that i could be but all of a sudden i am obtaining this life. all of a sudden, people tell me how great i am. all of a sudden, i am being called sugar ray by family members. i am being asked to do this and do that. i am traveling the world. it was ceo -- it was so much, so fast, i never sat back and said, let's talk pantomime life moves so fast. -- let's talk, life moves so fast. tavis: this is a book of atonement, particularly the parts about juanita. you want to atone to her for not being what you could have been and should of been at that time. >> i saw her and i was in

atlanta and we did a book signing. she came to the book signing. we went to dinner. she did not deserve -- i did not deserve her. she was a good woman. she is a strong woman. she did the best she could to keep the marriage is strong. by then, i had found cocaine, i had found alcohol. i became a crazed guy. it is funny because i am loved by so many people yet i did not love my wife. i loved her but i did not show her love, if that makes any sense. tavis: your son is 37, that makes me feel old.

>> you cannot talk about sugar ray without talking about the fights. you want to respond in terms of what you thought of them and those fights. thomas hearns. >> that was my most the defining moment. that context, that fight, he brought out the best in me. he made me realize that even as tired as i was going into the later rounds when he was winning, that there is indeed a power that we all have when it you reach down and you are so tired. do can barely see. he closed my left eye with his punches. -- you can barely see. the only way to win the fight was to knock him out.

tavis: marveling heckler -- mar vin hagler. >> that was one of my most treasured accomplishments because i beat the odds. i went the distance of a guy of his caliber. he was amazing. he never got his just due. just like larry holmes or the other guy's, muhammed ali was a champion, he was all champion. they did not even acknowledge him. the same thing happened with hagler. tavis: -- >> that guy taught me so much about this.

he was doing his own gain toto. i've never been hit by anyone that hard. he was a to as many double. i could see him now. i could in vision him now. he really resented me because i was the golden boy. i did endorsements, i did all these commercials and i was smiling all the time and then he cursed me out and i am smiling and he taught me to smile. he taught me too much. tavis: comacho. he would talk a mile a minute and i never thought a million years that i've come back to fight this guy 20 years later.

that was one of the worst mistakes i could've made. these two guys, one was like my son. i was going through my divorce. i was unhappy. i was drinking heavily. my security guy said, let me stop. i was not in a from a mind to be in the ring. i should not have been in the ring at all. tavis: your assessment of the signs, what do you make about that? >> boxing is my sport and i am very optimistic but we don't have the same personalities, characters, fighters, champions.

this is too confusing. they don't use the term contender anymore. now they say, the next guy in line. i love the sport. i am the unofficial official ambassador. i always will be. we need to fix ourselves. tavis: should mayweather fight you know who? >> they both should. they were both hurt by their opponents. i saw them each hurt. you know what, this is a fight that you should not bet your house. tavis: ok.

i want. the new book is called "the big fight." this is an honest and candid look at his life and legacy. sugar ray, nice to have you on the program. >> nice to be here. tavis: up next, oscar-nominated actress miranda richardson. rand richardson is a two-time oscar-nominated actress. -- miranda richardson. she is also in harry potter. she serves as the narrator of "turtle, the incredible journey." good to have you on this program. >> great to be here, thinks. tavis: this has a march of the penguins field. one of my favorite movies of all time. is that a fair comparison? >> i think so.

there is an environmental message. there is real emotional engagement in this movie. this is the same. this is getting more towards the younger family members and i think that the engagement is with a very young total. -- young turtle. tavis: i did not know i could be fascinated by turtles. how about you? >> i did not know that i could have a favorite species. this is a chance to get to know them in greater depth. tavis: what is the value for we humans learning about animals, particularly a turtle? >> turtles are amazing because

they have been here for 200 million years. if they have been here this long, why would we lose them now? they are endangered. the main thing to get across is that life is precious. you cannot hear that message too many times. we have a park to play in getting this particular species out of trouble because we have been instrumental in the degradation of this environment and we need to keep saying that and doing something about it and to instill the next generation with curiosity and a fascination. this is a magical film. >> i made a comparison to the penguins. that covered a lot penguins and they made their march.

this documentary is powerful and that it allows us to have a relationship with this one turtle that goes around the world. why'd you think it is important for us to be connected to this one turtle? >> i think that this is the ultimate story of survival. we engage with the character of this individual. we go on the journey with her. this is an epic journey. it has lessons about survival, continuity, resoluteness, fowler -- valor. tavis: you are skipping over the good part. >> what is a good part? tavis: the journey. >> the turtle is facing all of this stuff.

you don't know if she is going to make it. she is on the beach. there is all sorts of trouble immediately. it just goes on. i don't mean to make it sound relentless because there are passages of calm. this is like you are on a boat in that journey. you kind of grow with her. you go through all the stuff that the oceans throw at her. you don't know what is going to happen. one in 10,000 of these turtles makes it. there is a lot happening to stack the odds in their favor because we have become aware. this is the first time we have understood what the journey is in total.

there are elements of the fishing industry that have to be addressed. there is even religious issues that have to be addressed because for instance, total meat is used in religious ceremonies to try and change cultural things which is a long-term thing. there is the use of a different kind of fishing hook and introducing the turtle exclusion devices and fishing. it means the turtles have a 99% better chance of surviving. it is something really simple that has to be implemented. tavis: what is the value to humankind in saving the species? >> the answer to that is any species i say is the importance of biodiversity which is

paramount. we are all interdependent and if we save the small creature on the forest floor, that means we will also survive. this also have to be about continuity and the next generation. also the duty and quality of life. can you imagine what it would be like without all the creatures that we know? the rich complexity of life is what we're talking about as much as anything else. >> i'm not an actor, i suspect getting into character it is a bit different for getting into character for an acting park. how do you get into the zone? >> i think it is tougher. you don't have anything to hide behind.

i am always in favor of doing less and i was encouraged to do it a bit more that i naturally would do and i think that has to do some of the traffic you are reaching out to. -- the demographic that you are reaching out to. there is a very emotional connection with this creature. this is immediate. and so, you have to be on her side. you feel that you want to be on the side. tavis: have always been an animal lover? >> i always have been. every time you get a close encounter, it is very special. i was quite young and i found an injured kestrel.

i stayed with her all day. by the end of the day, she was on my soldier. it was a happy ending. -- she was on my shoulder. i thought, i want more of this. i thought i was going to be a setmarian, i could not do the sciences. i wanted to be a -- i thought i was going to be a vet, i cannot do the sciences. this does open doors. i am the ambassador for wwf. i want to get a good message out there and encourage the next generation to be excited. tavis: i assume that you mean

the world wildlife federation. that is little joke. >> i know, i know is a distinction. [laughter] tavis: rita skeeter is no more. the "harry potter," series is coming to an end. >> man, i know. tavis: you like the magical stuff? >> i do like the magical stuff. it sparked the imagination. tavis: it was a good run. $8 billion run. >> not for me. [laughter] tavis: good to have you on the program. >> thank you for having me. tavis: thank you for joining us. until next time, keep the face

-- keep the faith. tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with george packer of "the new yorker." >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i'm james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove

obstacles to economic empowerment one conversation at a time. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> billy collins taught college english in the bronx for 30

years before he became a bestselling poet-- one of the few whose books have sold over 200,000 copies, thanks to poems such as this one. >> the other day i was ricocheting slowly off the blue walls of this room, bouncing from typewriter to piano, from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor, i found myself in the l section of the dictionary where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard. no cookie nibbled by a french novelist could send one more suddenly into the past-- a past where i sat at a workbench at a camp by a deep adirondack lake learning how to braid thin plastic strips into a lanyard, a gift for my mother. i had never seen anyone use a lanyard or wear one, if that's what you

did with them, but that did not keep me from crossing strand over strand again and again until i had made a boxy red and white lanyard for my mother. she gave me life and milk from her breasts, and i gave her a lanyard. she nursed me in many a sick room, lifted teaspoons of medicine to my lips, set cold face-cloths on my forehead, then led me out into the airy light and taught me to walk and swim, and i, in turn, presented her with a lanyard. here are thousands of meals, she said, and here is clothing and a good education. and here is your lanyard, i replied, which i made with a little help from a counselor. here is a breathing body and a beating heart, strong legs, bones and teeth,

and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered, and here, i said, is the lanyard i made at camp. and here, i wish to say to her now, is a smaller gift-- not the archaic truth that you can never repay your mother, but the rueful admission that when she took the two-tone lanyard from my hands, i was as sure as a boy could be that this useless, worthless thing i wove out of boredom would be enough to make us even. ( applause )