MARYLAND STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION
MINUTES - THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2001
The May 31, 2001 meeting of the Maryland State Athletic Commission
was called to order at 3:10 p.m. Present were: Commissioners Michael Arrington, Ben Alperstein, Karl Milligan (Chairman) and Phil Feaster; Patrick Pannella, Executive Director; and Bruce C. Spizler, Senior Assistant Attorney General.
APPROVAL OF MARCH 26, 2001 MINUTES
The March 26, 2001 minutes of the Maryland State Athletic Commission, which were previously distributed to all Commission members, were discussed. Upon a motion by Commissioner Feaster, and seconded by Commissioner Alperstein, the Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to approve the March 26, 2001 Commission minutes.
Assistant Attorney General Spizler noted that, while the open session minutes of the March 26, 2001 Commission meeting are available for the public to read and will be posted over the Internet, the executive session minutes of the March 26, 2001 Commission meeting will remain sealed.
DISTRIBUTION OF APRIL 16, 2001 MINUTES
The April 16, 2001 minutes of the Maryland State Athletic Commission were distributed and will be voted upon at the next scheduled Commission meeting.
APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL BOXING SHOWS
Upon a motion by Commissioner Arrington, and seconded by Commissioner Alperstein, the Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to approve the following professional boxing event:
Thursday, June 21, 2001
Location: Michaels Eighth Avenue - Glen Burnie, MD
Promoter: Michael J. Wagner, Ballroom Boxing.
APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING SHOWS
Upon a motion by Commissioner Arrington, and seconded by Commissioner Alperstein, the Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to approve the following professional wrestling events:
Saturday, June 9, 2001
Location: Middle River High School - Middle River, Maryland
Promoter: Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW);
Tuesday, June 12, 2001
Location: The Baltimore Arena - Baltimore, Maryland
Promoter: World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (WWF);
Saturday, June 23, 2001
Location: Westminster Armory - Westminster, Maryland
Promoter: John W. Koerner / J.W. Koerner Entertainment
(All-American Wrestling Federation / AAWF);
Thursday, June 28, 2001
Location: Teamsters Hall - Dundalk, Maryland
Promoter: Donna Burke, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (MEWF);
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
Location: Michaels Eighth Avenue - Glen Burnie, Maryland
Promoter: Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW); and
Saturday, July 28, 2001
Location: Harford County Fair - Cecil County, Maryland
Promoter: Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW).
CHAIRMANS ATTENDANCE AT NABF CONVENTION
Chairman Milligan reported that he became ill at the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Convention, which was held in Miami, Florida from May 23 - 27, 2001, and had to return home two days earlier than planned.
COMMISSIONS VOTE FOR ABC PRESIDENT
Chairman Milligan announced that two individuals are currently running for the position of president of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), Larry Hazzard, Sr. of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board and Tim Lueckenhoff of the Missouri Office of Athletics. The Commission held a brief discussion regarding both of these candidates. Chairman Milligan explained that the ABC will elect new board members, including ABC president, to serve two-year terms at the upcoming Year 2001 ABC Meeting in July in New Orleans. He stated that each boxing commission which
is a current member of the ABC has one vote. Chairman Milligan also announced that he would be running for re-election for one of three
ABC vice president positions.
Commissioner Arrington suggested that, since four out of five Commissioner members will be attending the Year 2001 ABC Meeting,
it would be most appropriate for the Commission to wait until these Commission members meet with the two candidates for the ABC presidency in person at the ABC Meeting before the Commission casts its vote for
one candidate. The Commission agreed with Commissioner Arringtons recommendation.
Commissioner Alperstein, who noted that he would be the only Commission member not attending the Year 2001 ABC Meeting, said
he was very familiar with the background and abilities of Mr. Hazzard
and, subsequently, did not see the need for him to speak with Mr. Hazzard by telephone. Commissioner Alperstein stated, however, that he did
not know Mr. Lueckenhoff. The Commission asked Executive Director Pannella to arrange a telephone call between Mr. Lueckenhoff and Commissioner Alperstein, with the understanding that Commissioner Alperstein would make the Commission aware of his preference for
ABC president after he talks with Mr. Lueckenhoff.
NATIONAL BOXING COMMISSION ACT OF 2001
Assistant Attorney Spizler provided the Commission with an overview
of the National Boxing Commission Act of 2001, a Federal bill which is presently before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of United States Congress. Mr. Spizler noted that this Committee held a hearing in regard to this matter on May 23, 2001, and that the hearing was run by United States Senator John McCain of Arizona. Mr. Spizler also noted that, although the Commission received late notice of this meeting, Executive Director Pannella was able to attend the meeting as an observer.
Included in Mr. Spizlers overview to the Commission were the following points. This Federal bill is being proposed due to concern that the current state regulation system for the professional boxing industry is insufficient, and that such concern has been increased as a result of the wide variance
of boxing rules and level of enforcement by each boxing commission.
The purpose of the proposed National Boxing Commission is to establish uniform regulations for professional boxers, to protect the health and safety
of boxers, and to ensure fairness in the sport. The proposed National Boxing Commission would consist of five members appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. At least one member of the National Boxing Commission
is to be a physician or other health care official, and at least one member
is to be a former member of a boxing commission. In addition to granting national licenses to individuals involved in professional boxing, the National Boxing Commission would be responsible for maintaining
a national computerized registry; this national registry would include boxers medical records, boxing records, as well as contractural and other information relating to boxers. The National Boxing Commission would perform the following eleven functions: (1) Prescribe regulations to ensure the safety of all participants; (2) Establish minimum standards for boxers physical and mental examinations; (3) Establish minimum standards
for the availability of medical services at bouts; (4) Encourage the establishment of life, accident and health insurance for boxers; (5) Establish minimum standards for the manufacture and use of boxing equipment, and conduct research about such equipment; (6) Enter into discussions and agreements with foreign boxing regulatory entities regarding minimum health and safety standards for boxers; (7) Review the regulations of local boxing authorities, and provide assistance to local authorities in meeting minimum health and safety standards for boxers; (8) Establish standards for contractural agreements involving boxers, and ensure that such contracts are filed with the National Boxing Commission; (9) Prescribe regulations and
standards applicable to the establishment of championship divisions and the awarding of championship titles; (10) Establish weight classes and the awarding of rankings for boxers; and (11) Prescribe regulations in regard to sanctioning organizations, and prescribe regulations prohibiting conflicts of interest relating to boxing bouts.
MSAC VS. JON RECHNER / AKA BALLS MAHONEY
The Commission held a formal hearing (MSAC Case No. 01-03) in the matter of professional wrestler Jon Rechner, who wrestles under the alias
of Balls Mahoney. Mr. Rechner was charged with committing a violation of Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 09.14.08.03(F)(M)(1) which states, in pertinent part: The following actions are prohibited: Deliberately lacerating oneself or ones opponent, or, by any other means, introducing human or animal blood into the ring. Specifically, the Commission alleged that, during a professional wrestling match held on April 13, 2001 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland, Mr. Rechners forehead bled profusely while he was wrestling against his opponent in the ring enclosure surrounding the ring. The Commission could not determine if Mr. Rechner bled as a result of an intentional or accidental act. The Commission also alleged that, after
Mr. Rechner showed blood, he entered the ring in this bloody state and continued to wrestle for a period of not less than five minutes.
After the taking of testimony, the Commission came to the following three conclusions: (1) Although it had not been demonstrated that Jon Rechner deliberately lacerated himself, the evidence was more than sufficient to show that Mr. Rechner introduced human blood into the ring when he entered the ring enclosure while bleed profusely from his forehead; the
act constituted a violation of COMAR 09.14.08.03(F)(1)(m); (2) There
are no statutory nor regulatory provisions giving the Commission or its representatives the authority to stop a professional wrestling match during its presentation and, as a result, no Commission representative supervising the match was in a position to order a cessation of the wrestling match upon an observation that blood had been introduced into the ring; and (3) The introduction of blood into the ring presents an inherent danger not only to wrestlers opponent, but also to the spectators and officials who are near the
ring. The Commission ordered that the wrestlers license of Jon Rechner, aka Balls Mahoney, be revoked. The Commission further ordered that any application for licensure submitted by Mr. Rechner to the Commission shall not be considered at any time prior to January 1, 2002.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS - 2001 ABC CONVENTION
Executive Director Pannella reported that travel arrangements have
been tentatively made, pending the approval of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Budget and Fiscal Services Unit, for six Commission representatives to attend the Year 2001 Annual Meeting
of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 25 - 28, 2001. The Commission representatives include: Commissioners Arrington, Feaster, McCaffrey, and Milligan;
Executive Director Pannella; and Assistant Attorney General Spizler.
(Mr. Spizler is scheduled to address the ABC during one of the sessions
of the Annual Meeting.)
SPEECH TO WRESTLERS - BACKYARD WRESTLING
Executive Director Pannella reported that he spoke to approximately
30 licensed professional wrestlers who were working on the May 28, 2001 professional wrestling show at Teamsters Hall in Baltimore regarding Commission prohibitions against licensees participating in wrestling matches which are not sanctioned by the Commission. Mr. Pannella noted that two wrestlers echoed his comments concerning the inherent physical dangers of unlicensed individuals participating in backyard wrestling activities, as well as the dangers of unlicensed individuals competing in backyard wrestling matches against licensed wrestlers.
REVIEW OF MAY 10, 2001 PRO BOXING SHOW
Commissioner Feaster led a review of the May 10, 2001 professional boxing show which was held at Michaels Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. Commissioner Feaster reported that the shows bouts were competitive,
particularly the bout between Jimmy Lange and James Johnson.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - BOXING SAFETY ACT
Assistant Attorney General Spizler provided the Commission with a followup report on a matter which the Commission initially discussed
at the April 16, 2001 Commission meeting and had asked Mr. Spizler to research. The matter involved the Conflicts of Interest provision of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996", and whether a state athletic commission referee or judge would be in violation of this Federal law if
that person were a member of a sanctioning organization. Mr. Spizler offered the following information in regard to this subject. The Conflicts of Interest section of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996" states that No member or employee of a boxing commission, no person who administers or enforces State boxing laws, and no member of the Association of Boxing Commissions may belong to, contract with, or receive any compensation from, any person who sanctions, arranges,
or promotes professional boxing matches or who otherwise has a financial interest in an active boxer currently registered with a boxer registry.
Mr. Spizler stated that, based on the language of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996", it appears that a state athletic commission referee
or judge would be in violation of this Federal law if that person were a member of a sanctioning organization. However, in a recent conversation between Mr. Spizler and Greg Sirb, President of the Association of Boxing Commissions, Mr. Sirb opined that this particular provision has not been enforced by state athletic commissions across the board. In regard to the attendance of a Commission referee at an upcoming annual meeting of a sanctioning organization, Assistant Attorney General Spizler and Chairman Milligan concurred that it would be unfair for the Commission to prevent
a Maryland State Athletic Commission referee or judge from attending
that particular meeting when no other jurisdictions in the country are acknowledging this conflict of interest provision. The Commission determined that, until the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) chooses to address this issue and specifically directs that no judge or
referee from a state athletic commission may belong to a sanctioning organization, it would not enforce the Conflicts of Interest provision
of the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996" at this particular time.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Commission entered into an Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. to
discuss a personnel matter and to review Commission referees scores collected from a Commission referee evaluation which was performed
on May 10, 2001. The Executive Session ended at 7:15 p.m..
MEETING - RE: PRINCE GEORGES SPORTS AND LEARNING COMPLEX
Executive Director Pannella announced that, at the request of the Commission, he has arranged a meeting for Commission members and himself to attend with Ms. Marye Wells-Hartley, Acting Director of the Prince Georges County Department of Recreation and Parks on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 2:00 p.m.. Mr. Pannella advised that the subject of the meeting is the holding of professional boxing events at the Prince Georges County Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The Commission requested that, because of scheduling conflicts among Commission members for the month of June, 2001, Executive Director Pannella contact all Commission members by telephone to arrange a mutually agreeable meeting date in July of 2001.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon a motion by Commissioner Feaster, and seconded by Commissioner Arrington, the Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m..