I received an email today regarding the press release by WAMMA and it has some of the information I was hoping would be released. Here's the structure of the organizations according to the release:
President & CEO: David Szady
Vice President: Bill Goldberg, Kay Stephenson, Godwin Asifo
Executive VP & COO: Michael B. Lynch
Executive Legal Counselor: Fred Levin
Head of Production: David Barnes
Accountant: Wayne K. Stephenson
Advisor to the Legal Department: Pete Kaufman
Interesting that they list three people as the Vice President of the organization. Most of the minds on this board seem to be legal or business minds. It almost confirms my inkling that this is purely a money making venture for the sanctioning body. Goldberg has been propelled into the VP role and no doubt has no responsibilities.
According to the email, Lynch has represented some mixed martial arts fighters in negotiating deals. Levin handles similar duties for Roy Jones Jr. and was his legal advisor. He was also considered to be one of the most successful trial attorneys in the country. Kay Stephenson was a professional football coach from 1975-1998. He coached the Buffalo Bills in 1983, and has coached multiple other football organizations such as the World Football League and Canadian Football League. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, the Bills, and the Jacksonville Sharks. Godwin Asifo is involved heavily in promotion and management of Ike Quartey in the boxing arena of sports. He's a good friend of Fred Levin and has worked with him extensively. Looks like a favor to me.
This seems like a long list of legal advisors looking to mount a case to free Din Thomas, not a sanctioning body. It's made up of people who all work in the same realm of work, same network of friends and contacts, and most likely gave their friends positions within the body to lend a name to it and make some money. Again, this is speculative, but it's my opinion.
Rankings
The release also concentrates on how rankings will be done. Interestingly enough, they will work rankings much like the Associated Press polls work in polling sportswriters. The list of writers was actually given to us, here it is:
Sam Caplan - CBS SportsLine & FiveOuncesOfPain
Oliver Copp - German MMA sportswriter on the UFC
Nelson Hamilton - Licensed Kickboxing referee
Todd Martin - Reporter for LA Times, Wrestling Observer, SI.com, and CBS SportsLine
Alex Marvez - Senior writer for FOX Sports.com
Mauro Ranallo - Canadian sports announcer for PRIDE FC, now with EliteXC, and anybody who is willing to pay.
Michael Woods - ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com
Not a bad list, although it's a fairly small sample. I'd love to see them compile a listing from the MMA community from all of the major sites. It'd be interesting to see the general consensus of the MMA community as the authority for the body, although I doubt it will ever actually matter.
Medicals
The Medical Advisory Board will be headed by Dr. James R. Andrews, here's the excerpt on his vast list of credentials:
Dr. James R. Andrews, orthopedic surgeon, is one of the founding members of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center (ASMOC) and American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) in Birmingham, Alabama. He serves as Chairman and Medical Director of ASMI. He is also internationally known and recognized throughout the world for his scientific and clinical research contributions in knee, shoulder and elbow injuries, and his skill as an orthopedic surgeon.
Doctor Andrews came to Birmingham in 1986 to help form the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center. He has been the mentor for more than 150 orthopedic/sports medicine fellows and more than 30 primary care sports medicine fellows who have trained under him through the American Sports Medicine Institute Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. Involved in education and research in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, he has made major presentations on every continent, and has authored numerous scientific articles and books.
Doctor Andrews graduated form Louisiana State University in 1963, where he was Southeastern Conference indoor and outdoor pole vault champion. He completed LSU School of Medicine in 1967, and completed his orthopedic residency at Tulane Medical School in 1972. He has surgical fellowships in sports medicine at the University of Virginia Medical School in 1972 with Doctor Frank McCue, III and at the University of Lyon, Lyn, France in 1972 with late professor Albert Trillat, M.D., who was known as the Father of European Knee Surgery.
Doctor Andrews is a member of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Orthopedic Society of Sports medicine, and currently serves as Secretary of that Board. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and International Knee Society. He is Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical School, the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the University of Kentucky Medical Center, and the University of South Carolina Medical School. He has been awarded a Doctor of Laws Degree from Livingston University, Doctor of Sciences Degree from Troy State University and a Doctor of Science Degree from Louisiana State University.
At present, Doctor Andrews serves as Co-Medical Director for Intercollegiate Sports at Auburn University. He is Senior Orthopedic Consultant for Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Alabama. He is the orthopedic consultant for the athletic teams of Troy State University, University of West Alabama, Tuskegee University and Grambling University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the following companies: HealthTronics Corporation, Fast Health Corporation, American Club Systems, Banc Corporation, and Robins Morton Construction Company. He is a member of Troy State University’s Board of Trustees.
He is Senior Orthopedic Consultant for the Washington Redskins Professional Football team. He is the Medical Director of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Professional Baseball Team. He is the team physician for the Birmingham Barons Double A Professional Baseball Team, an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He currently serves on the Medical and Safety Advisory Committee of USA Baseball.
Dr. Andrews served during the last two quadrennials as a member of the Sports Medicine Committee of the United States Olympic Committee. He has also served on the NCAA Competitive Safeguards in Medial Aspects of Sports Committee.
Very interesting, Andrews looks to have all the credentials to be a sufficient advisor for the fighters as part of the medical board. He also has a background in sports medicine, which is a plus.
Final Thoughts
It still looks like a shell game to me. I'm a bit curious though. Who is actually going to use WAMMA to sanction their events? You would think that these people got together and somehow had leads as to someone who would want them to sanction fighting for them. Levin and Lynch are both down in the Florida area, could they work a deal to sanction events in the state? I don't see them ever sanctioning the bigger events around the world, but it seems that they must have some promotions interested. There would be no reason to start something like this without any interest. Interesting developments coming from the new sanctioning body.