PEACH BUZZ: ESPN special on Olympic protest of ‘68

Last year, for the 40th anniversary of Tommie Smith’s raised Black Power fist salute on the Olympic victory stand, ESPN wanted to fly the Stone Mountain resident and his trackmate John Carlos to Mexico City to re-enact the moment.

Smith declined because he wanted it to be chronicled as a full special, not just a clip. ESPN eventually agreed, and the hourlong special airs Sunday at 4 p.m. on the sports network.

“They set up the awards stand the same way, and we stood there just like it was 1968,” Smith told Buzz. “It even rained the same time.”

He didn’t re-enact his record gold medal 200-meter dash. “They didn’t have any resuscitators out there, so we couldn’t run it,” he joked. But he felt “joyous, because changes have come and changes will come.”

Smith saw the special earlier this week at ESPN headquarters and was happy that younger employees not alive in 1968 peppered him with questions about that volatile time period, when he and Carlos were thrown off the Olympic team, ostracized and threatened with death.

Today, at age 64, he has no regrets about what he did and is only happy to talk about it. Smith is visiting local high schools in metro Atlanta next week and will be given a special sports lifetime achievement award Saturday evening from Morehouse College.

Clocking cupid

Are you tempted to punch something today as a parade of Valentine’s Day floral bouquets go by your cubicle? You may want to work out your aggressions at Crunch Fitness at 3365 Piedmont Road in Buckhead Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. The gym is throwing an anti-Valentine’s Day-themed Ex-Factor boxing event. You’re invited to don a pair of pink boxing gloves and take out your aggressions during a free workout.

Oh, and you’re asked to bring along a picture of your ex to tape to a focus mitt to help your aim.

So what’s the motivation behind the promotion?

“Some people are really looking for distractions on Valentine’s Day,” explains Jennifer Renfore, Crunch regional fitness director. “Because they’re single, a lot of people keep themselves busy from dawn to dusk.”

And don’t worry if you forget a motivational photo of the ex.

“A lot of people burn them or put them in the shredder,” Renfore tells Buzz. “We always make sure we have some random photos of guys and girls with words like ‘jerk’ and ‘liar’ on them. That usually does the trick!”

We’re told that Everlast is supplying the pink gloves and mitts, and all participants will receive a complimentary Valentine’s goodie bag that, hopefully, won’t include a court-sanctioned restraining order.

No charges yet for Chris Brown

Despite the continuing media interest, prosecutors say they don’t expect charges will be filed this week against singer Chris Brown in that alleged Grammys weekend domestic-violence case.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office requested that police provide more information about an incident in which Brown reportedly hurt his longtime girlfriend, fellow singer Rihanna.

District attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said Thursday that the office does not expect detectives to return to present their case this week.

Brown was arrested Sunday on suspicion of making a criminal threat and is free on $50,000 bail. Numerous messages left for his attorney and spokesman have not been returned.

Police have several weeks to build their case if necessary. Robison said a March 5 court date that appears on jail records only applies if the 19-year-old R&B singer is charged with a crime.

Rihanna, meanwhile, remained silent and in seclusion Thursday. The singer has canceled a scheduled show in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Brown has likewise pulled out of a scheduled appearance this weekend at the NBA All-Star Game festivities in Phoenix.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Actress Kim Novak is 76. Actor George Segal (“Just Shoot Me”) is 75. Actress Stockard Channing (above) is 65. Talk show host Jerry Springer is 65. Singer Peter Gabriel is 59. Singer Henry Rollins is 48. Actor Neal McDonough (“Desperate Housewives”) is 43. Actress Mena Suvari (below) is 30.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I’m garnishing these with cherries in honor of Lincoln’s birthday.”

Comic actress and “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence” author AMY SEDARIS, confusing her presidential myths while making cherry daiquiris on “Today” on Thursday

Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services

Got a tip for Peach Buzz? 404-526-2749 or buzz@ajc.com