Shooting From the Hip
-by John Sinclair


The New York State Athletic Commision. Friend or Foe?
Way back when wrestling and boxing were considered "legitimate competions", most of the United Staes had their own version of an "Athletic Commision." Now these commissions, intention was to regulate the sport, to protect the spectators and to protect the athletes. Well, you know the old saying...

"If it's to good to be true, it probably is."

I'm not gonna bore the everyday reader with useless facts that you'll forget by the time you go onto the next page, I'm gonna tell a story that got me so heated, I had to wrie this article.
Like many of the independent fed in the north-east, RCW does many benefit shows for the community. They have raised money for The Red Cross, The FDNY, and in September, St. Johns University will host a benefit for the New York Police Departement.
While many of promoters in the NY/NJ area do "benefit" shows, much of the reason they do these show is to "put themselves over" under the guise of a fundraiser. Not NWA-NY (RCW). The O'brien's (Rick & Carlina) are genuinely into their commuinty and DO care about fellow Staten Islanders. In a world where everyone is out for themselves, The NWA-NY family is NOT
In 1998, at the very successful "Night Out Against Crime," The NWA-NY put on a FREE show at Midland Beach on Father Capadano Blvd. Many workers came from all over to be apart of that show workers like, Wayne Woo (from South Jersey, POW/MIA from Queens, Jason Knight (from Philly), Biggis Biggs (from South Jersey), not to mention all the other guys. They came out all for FREE, as a favor to the community, as a favor to the NYPD.

So then it all happend about 3-4 weeks ago. I had called Rick O'brien about the next coulmn for the page (aboout backyard wrestling...comming soon), and that when the bomb was dropped. I had mentioned about the "Night Out Against Crime," and when the show was gonna be. He said,

"It ain't gonna happen."

He went on to tell the whole story on how the commission wanted taxes and fees totalling more than $1000). For a FREE show!! I couldn't believe it, why would an agency run by the state, want to put the kaibash on a show BENEFITTING the community? I JUST DONT GET IT!!!!!!

I think the state should invest into somekind of "Public Relations Division." Because after hearing this story, I think their reputation is the shits!!

I have come up with this theory. Once you get a person who was been nothing more than a stepping stone their whole career, and then all of a sudden, they get just a tiny bit of power, all of a sudden, their GOD. And they punish the little guys, to show their dominance. Nevermind what the other guys are doing.

" We'll go after the hard working independent promoter.", they say. "What can they do?"

Nothing. Thats the sad part.

John Sinclair

"Mark for life"



THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY JOHN SINCLAIR DO NOT REFLECT THOSE OF THE NWA, RCW OR ITS AFFILIATES.

©1999 NWA/RCW
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