The Washington Post is reporting that Michael Brown, the former vice chair of the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission, has announced he will discontinue his bid to become the city's mayor.
The Post reports that Brown will endorse DC City Council chair Linda Cropp, a longtime family friend, in her bid for the city's top post.
The 41-year-old Brown told The Post this morning that he will announce his decision at a news conference this afternoon. Cropp has been lagging in polls behind Ward 4 council member Adrian Fenty and is struggling to catch him before the September 12th Democratic primary, the contest that will likely determine the next mayor of this overwhelmingly Democratic city.
"Rarely do politicians in D.C. put aside their egos for the betterment of the city," Brown told the Post. He said he was dropping out "because I think Cropp will make a better mayor [than Fenty]. Until today, I thought it was me."
Brown served on the DC Boxing and Wrestling Commission from 1996 until April of 2005, when current DC Mayor Anthony Williams decided not to reappoint him to the position.
Brown became the most visible figure on the commission, especially during the city's attempts to give a boxing license to Mike Tyson in 2003 and to bring the Tyson-Lennox Lewis bout to DC in 2003. Brown's efforts helped land Tyson in DC in June of 2005 when Tyson lost to Kevin McBride.
Brown was not the only former DC boxing commissioner running for public office in the Nation's Capital. Rae Zapata is vying for the Ward 5 seat on the DC City Council.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Gary -- Great coverage as always!!! I always like visiting your site. All the best, JE
Thanks, JE! That is much appreciated!!
i think mike had a good chance i seen him on t v in the debate iwant to tell the poeple how good mike was but he the problem was timing an he was going up against two front runners so come on people in wash dc linda cropp since mike now is with her anybody what do you think anthony williams used him to get the mike tyson fight and then fired him an nobody step up DR Macknight didn"t he could have. to bring boxing back in DC we got to clean up the comimiser ofice those people don't know nothing thats why no BIG TIME PRO don't want to come what about that people
At the time Brown was let go from the commission, Williams was unsure of whether he was going to run for mayor for another term.
Since Brown was seen as a potential opponent at the time, it is widely speculated that Williams took Brown off the commission because of the increase face time he was getting locally and nationally (he has been a frequent guest on Hannity and Colmes on the Fox News Channel.
Dr. (Arnold) McKnight has no real official say as to who serves on the commission. In fact, whoever becomes DC's next Mayor can choose to take McKnight off the commission if he or she wants to. It is the Mayor's office that appoints who serves on the commission.
Are there problems with the DC Commission? I think the answer has to be yes and that will be a subject I will deal with at a later date.
I will say this much: there is speculation (and it is ONLY speculation) that the DC commission as we know it will be dissolved and boxing regulation activities may be handled by the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission. Again, that is ONLY speculation.
Gary that commission is a joke and everybody know it if it wasn't for mike boxing would have been dead that's why your down dc are still having problems with those lawsuits from the tyson fight people didn't get paid because dr macknight and his staff was taking so many comp tickets
I agree with the last person dc is in trouble with boxing they need to go and get some ex fighter and let them run it I know they will do a better job than anybody else because they what to look for I think you guys down dc has smatter fighters than up here b more I feel that you have some great champions like sharmba toosharp joppy keith holmes what do your think its time get that office together
I think did that because linda promised him something that's why he know when he couldn't win he went with her because she is getting more votes than him an maybe she will give him that commission job bak what your think about that
Gary- I would LOVE to see you turn the attention of your blog to examining what has happened with the DC Boxing Commission. The DC audience is the most knowledgeable fight audience that I have been around in any part of the US. We have the talent, quality fans, and promoters who have been willing to risk money to put on shows.
But when you realize that we had ten shows in 2003, eight in 2004, three in 2005 and only one so far this year (there will also be the Fight Night show in November which will make for two in 2006), you have to say DC pro boxing is in real trouble.
If the Commission is disbanded and Sports and Entertainment takes over, my one hope is that they can control (ie. lower!)the price of what is arguably the most acceptable and accessible venue for pro shows, the DC Armory. For DC pro boxing to be successful we need the Armory as a reliable and reasonable venue for our best club shows and even bigger television shows. But it seemed when the Armory was being used frequently, the powers that be kept raising the prices each year. Now it sits empty so many nights. The place should be $3000 for the first three shows a promoter does there and then increase to $5000. Instead its closer to $10000. and they make every attempt they can to sell you pipe and drape for exorbitant prices or whatever else they can stick you with. The end result is that there has not been a show there since June of 2003.
Don't get me wrong, the Convention Center is a terrific venue for fights, but too expensive for club show events. The Lincoln Theatre is also a good venue, but it seems extremely difficult to break even at, and problematic for television, and has no parking.
The fact is that our core audience who follow the amateurs and know more about the sport than fans anywhere find the Armory accessible and traditionally we have had our best crowds there. The Armory (with or without air conditioning) has to be the center piece of any plan to revitalize the sport in DC. The Commission or Sports and Entertainment have to make an effort to cultivate the promoters in the tri state area and see what it takes to bring them back. And putting aside the embarassing issues like all the comp tickets that the commission demands,their role has to be what can we do for the promoter, for the fan and most importantly for our fighters to have them fight here.
When we have a situation where two of the best young prospects in America (the Peterson brothers), who have been on ESPN and Showtime and are known across the country as one of the best stories in boxing, but have fought here only once, you know that something is drastically wrong.
I think that the trouble plagued Tyson show was probably the swan song of the DC Commission as we know it. If we are able to get a revitalized commission or S & E takes it over, then I would suggest that the new entity host a series of open meetings at the Armory, with you as the moderator, to try and hear suggestions as to the best way to move forward. Lets just hope that the next group of appointees accept their job in the spirit of taking something that is definitely broken and are willing to work to try and fix it, and not be more interested in who they can give a free ticket to sit with them ringside at the next fight. If there is one......
chris i agree with you gary what has happen with boxing in DC i heard too sharp was trying to work on a deal with the DC armory and boxing information center an they wanted to be sole pro but use his money is this true gary Mark was ready to brig boxing back to DC and wants again our on people shot him down. chris do you think ex fighters would be good on commission and chris i heard from good source that you was going to be his matchmaker and i also heard joe hennsley kick you to curve because you were stealing sponsor money so what about you
From what sources have told me, no one, Mark or anyone else, finished paperwork recently for a promoter's license. so I don't know whether the commission "shot him down" or not.
I think what the commission DOES need is someone with a good reputation in the sport. One thing that separates the Maryland State Commission from DC is that the Maryland commission has people who are well known in boxing circles around the country.
I personally think an ex-boxer with some status would be a great idea. The question is that whether or not the DC government knows enough about the local scene to pick the right person to head the commission.
Hey gary I'm person that's close to the source and yes the paperwork wasn't done and that's what I'm saying the people in d c let the boat sink before it even left the dock and yes too sharp is working on deal 3 venue in.md so I hope we can get him back to the table in dc we need boxing don't let hall of famer get away dr mcknight an who ever his on the commissoner
Whose fault that the paperwork didn't get done? Did Mark and others not complete it or did Mark and others complete it and the paperwork sat on the shelf?
Gary let me say this the people in dc is going to be mad watch what I tell you mark is working some deals in md pat is walking his papers right threw do you think mark can an will be good pro I talked to mark an he said he would try to work with people in dc because that's where is heart is but at the end the day its about money
Post a Comment