Reid on Alamo controversy: ‘They are grasping for straws’

By Ron Kantowski (contact)

Wednesday, March 5, 2003 | 11:26 a.m.

In the manner of a prizefight between heavy punchers, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said today he is stunned that conflict of interest charges levied against the Nevada State Athletic Commission have continued into the later rounds.

Reid on Tuesday responded to a letter written by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, requesting that Guinn conduct an investigation of Nevada State Athletic Commission Dr. Tony Alamo's role within the boxing governing body.

Alamo is the son of Tony Alamo Sr., a senior vice president at Mandalay Bay, which is the site of major boxing cards.

"This is an effort to keep showing that boxing is bad or something needs to be done to (rectify it)," Reid said today from Washington. "They are grasping for straws."

Reid said "they" includes HBO television commentators, who raised the issue during a telecast last month, as well as McCain. Reid said he believed McCain's letter to Guinn was only to create more momentum for a boxing reform bill he has drafted to rival Reid's National Boxing Commission Act of 2001.

Under Reid's bill, the role of the Nevada commission would remain the same as it is now.

"What we are contemplating on this is we would have a national commission which would establish minimum standards," he said. "If a state didn't meet the minimum standards, the federal agency would kick in.

"In states such as Nevada, California and New Jersey (where there are credible commissions), nothing would change."

Asked what happens now to the conflict of interest charges, Reid said the ball is in McCain's court.

"We'll see if he answers my letter," Reid said.

In his letter to McCain, Reid said he was disappointed to learn of McCain's letter to Guinn.

"As you know, Nevada's commission has been regarded as the authority on professional boxing for the last 20 years," Reid wrote. "It has led the country, in fact the world, in implementing terms of boxing safety and ethical treatment of fighters, promoters and ringside personnel. Appointments to the commission are made by the Nevada governor with the deepest sense of duty and obligation to protect the integrity of boxing.

"Dr. Tony Alamo's outstanding credentials and deep commitment to the sport of boxing are what led Governor Guinn to appoint him to the commission in 2001. He was appointed Vice Chairman in January of 2003. His voting record speaks to his integrity, judiciousness and intelligence, and he continually consults with the Nevada Attorney General's Office and follows their directives."

Reid wrote that the fact Alamo's father, is a vice president of Mandalay Bay has no bearing on decisions his son makes as a commissioner.

"Dr. Alamo has no financial or other interest in Mandalay Bay," Reid wrote. "Additionally, Dr. Alamo reads a disclaimer before functioning in his role as a commissioner anytime Mandalay Bay is the site for a fight."

Reid went on the write that Guinn was aware of the situation when he appointed Alamo to the commission.

"Yet after careful review," Reid wrote of Guinn, "he concluded there was not a conflict of interest and, as I have indicated, Dr. Alamo's service in the commission has been exemplary and beneficial to the honor of the sport."

Reid asked McCain if the intent of his letter to Guinn was to boost support for McCain's own boxing reform bill that would create a regulatory commission to oversee the sport.

"However," Reid wrote, "I already have expressed my desire to create a national commission by authoring the National Boxing Commission Act of 2001, a bill you co-sponsored. Soon thereafter you introduced your own bill to create a national commission, and we are agreement on the importance of such a panel."

Until then, Reid reaffirmed his faith in the NSAC.

"I am confident the Nevada State Athletic Commission, under the outstanding direction of (executive director) Marc Ratner, will continue to be the best commission in boxing," he wrote in closing to McCain. Alamo has no financial or other interest in Mandalay Bay. Additionally, Dr. Alamo reads a disclaimer before functioning in his role as a commissioner anytime Mandalay Bay is the site for a fight."