Lift the Ban Watch: NYSAC Gets a New Chair

by Chris Nelson on Jul 24, 2008 1:24 PM EDT in MMA News

One month after the sanctioning of MMA in New York was brought to a grinding halt by the state's Assembly Tourism committee, there's new hope for fans in the Empire State. Franklin McNeil at the Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Governor David Patterson has suddenly and without notice ousted New York State Athletic Commission chair Ron Scott Stevens. And though it's obviously still far too early to say, it sounds as though his replacement -- current commissioner and sometimes boxing judge Melvina Lathan -- could be instrumental in pushing MMA into NYC:

Lathan has a wealth of sports knowledge and doesn't shy away from tough decisions. And she constantly addresses safety issue.

The decision to name Lathan as NYSAC chairperson is good news for mixed martial arts. New York has yet to sanction America's fastest growing sport.

Part of the reason has been a lack of support from some of the state's key sports administrators. Mixed martial arts is sanctioned in New Jersey. Lathan has repeatedly made her support for MMA known.

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Comments

Wheres Donald's pull?

Seems to me Mr. Trump would have some pretty big pull here. New York is as much his town as Vegas is the Fertitta’s. Where is he in all this?

by Tommy7 on Jul 24, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

Who knows, this could have something to do with the Donald, or the UFC’s lobbying. Going from Stevens - a very Old Guard boxing dude - to the more forward-thinking Lathan is a pretty big shift and seems to have come out of nowhere.

by Chris Nelson on Jul 24, 2008 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Good find. Thanks.

by Luke Thomas on Jul 24, 2008 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

Yes…

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Jul 24, 2008 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Lathan has repeatedly made her support for MMA known.

Good.

by Brett Jones on Jul 24, 2008 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

Franklin McNeil at the Newark Star-Ledger

Franklin McNeil also moonlights on ESPN’s MMA Live show.
I knew I remember his name from somewhere.

by pr0cs on Jul 24, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I was gonna mention it but I really didn’t wanna be promoting Franklin McNeil any more than necessary…

Read his whole “piece” over there – is it me, or does his stuff kinda read like a 5th grader’s book report?

by Chris Nelson on Jul 24, 2008 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

It does, but..

It could be the editor’s fault.

Wait till I get the footage of my appearance on Sports Talk from last Friday. ESPN needs to higher some fresh faces for their MMA coverage and I plan to be that person.

by Luke Thomas on Jul 24, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions