New York Gov. David Paterson, who is in the midst of a huge scandal regarding not only his alleged interference in an assault case but also getting free Yankee tickets, is making another controversial move.
With New York State facing huge financial woes, Paterson is seeking the repeal of the state’s prohibition of mixed martial arts, Nicolaus Mills wrote in a blog for The Huffington Post Monday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicolaus-mills/new-york-head-case_b_489821.html?view=screen
Lifting the 13-year-old ban on mixed martial arts will bring in more revenue into New York, Paterson argues. As Mills points out, it’s ironic that the governor is advocating the return of such a brutal sport when the dangers of concussions in sports like pro football has been in the headlines for months now.
Mixed martial arts is a combination of wrestling, boxing and jujitsu where a fighter can hit his opponent even if that rival is on the ground. And there are no helmets for mixed martial arts.
Mills points out that for years the National Football League essentially buried its head in the ground and wouldn’t acknowledge that concussions could cause permanent brain damage. But a turning point came this fall when an NFL-commissioned study found that Alzheimer’s and other memory-related diseases were turning up in former players at a much higher rate than the overall population.
Mills warns that Paterson’s personal woes and scandals, which have many calling for him to resign, should not take away attention from this foolish advocacy of mixed martial arts. Legalizing mixed martial arts “can only add a new class of athletic victims to those we already have,” according to Mills.
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July 24, 2008 – Governor David A Paterson fired NY State Athletic Commission Chairman – Ron Scott Stevens. Stevens was quoted “I had no idea this would happen, they just said that they wanted to make a change.”
Note: (Ron Scott Stevens was not for MMA sports and did not want it in NY State)
July 25, 2008 – Governor David A Paterson appointed Melvina Lathan to NY State Athletic Commission as Chairwoman, replacing Ron Scott Stevens.
Note: (Melvina Lathan is an oldtime, good friend of Ultimate Fighting (UFC/MMA) Mark Ratner – UFC’s Vice President of Government & Regulatory affairs. She is also very for MMA fighting and states how it has a bad rap and she wants to promote it in NY State.
January 2010 – Governor David A Paterson underhandedly slips a bill for the legalization of MMA sports in NY State into his budget proposal. This budget proposal is voted either “yes” or “no”. Individual aspects of the proposal are NOT voted on. He does this, knowing the controversy of legalizing the sport in NY and knowing of the 13 year ban on the sport in NY state.
Note: The Governor’s office has also ignored the Marist poll (a poll of registered voters in NY state 68% say “NO” to MMA sports in NY) and also a challenge to a public debate to discuss all the negative character traits and the deceptiveness of the promoters.
Perspective: This very much appears to be a fascist movement of MMA sports. Unfortunately, Gov. David A Paterson has since proven his unethical ways to the public. This dismissal of an official for no reason. Then placing a good friend of a high official in the UFC in his position is misuse of office (the next day!) My personal opinion is for the FBI to review his bank account for the past 3 years to see if any significant revenue from the UFC has been funded into his account. Favors were done and I am sure the Governor received something in return for his unethical doings.
** trying to post this again, I hope this website is not like all the others and simply delete everything people post. MMA sports website and even the big newspapers like NY times delete any “anti-mma” information. In an attempt to keep any negative publicity from the publics eye. It’s fascist and simply unbelievable what the UFC’s money can buy.
outstanding article. The public should also be made aware of the following:
March 17, 2008 – David A Paterson is sworn into office as the 55th Governor of New York State.
July 24, 2008 – Governor David A Paterson fired NY State Athletic Commission Chairman – Ron Scott Stevens. Stevens was quoted “I had no idea this would happen, they just said that they wanted to make a change.”
Note: (Ron Scott Stevens was not for MMA sports and did not want it in NY State)
July 25, 2008 – Governor David A Paterson appointed Melvina Lathan to NY State Athletic Commission as Chairwoman, replacing Ron Scott Stevens.
Note: (Melvina Lathan is an oldtime, good friend of Ultimate Fighting (UFC/MMA) Mark Ratner – UFC’s Vice President of Government & Regulatory affairs. She is also very for MMA fighting and states how it has a bad rap and she wants to promote it in NY State.
January 2010 – Governor David A Paterson underhandedly slips a bill for the legalization of MMA sports in NY State into his budget proposal. This budget proposal is voted either “yes” or “no”. Individual aspects of the proposal are NOT voted on. He does this, knowing the controversy of legalizing the sport in NY and knowing of the 13 year ban on the sport in NY state.
Note: The Governor’s office has also ignored the Marist poll (a poll of registered voters in NY state 68% say “NO” to MMA sports in NY) and also a challenge to a public debate to discuss all the negative character traits and the deceptiveness of the promoters.
Perspective: This very much appears to be a fascist movement of MMA sports. Unfortunately, Gov. David A Paterson has since proven his unethical ways to the public. This dismissal of an official for no reason. Then placing a good friend of a high official in the UFC in his position is misuse of office (the next day!) My personal opinion is for the FBI to review his bank account for the past 3 years to see if any significant revenue from the UFC has been funded into his account. Favors were done and I am sure the Governor received something in return for his unethical doings.
** it disgusts me to no end that this crooked Governor still has the temerity to continue his attempt to legalize this blood sport in NY. The Governor’s office has flat out ignored a challenge to a public debate regarding all the negative character traits developed through the sport and also the Marist poll of which 68% of all registered voters in NY say “NO”. But he says he is for the people of NY? My opinion is he is being pushed by Ratner because he was bribed. Hello? FBI can you look into this as well please. The people of NY state are depending on you!