NSAC Puts John McCarthy Return on Hold
September 22, 2009
Sherdog reports that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has placed John McCarthy’s referee application in the pending file, delaying indefinitely his return to officiating in Las Vegas, the Mecca of fighting:
In a mailed letter from Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, McCarthy, who submitted his application Sept. 10, was informed that the state “[does] not anticipate adding any additional referees at this time. We will place your application in the pending file in case the situation changes.”
Payout Perspective:
As others are noting, it’s difficult to believe that politics are not at play here. John McCarthy has made comments perceived as critical of commission head Keith Kizer, and there have been reports that McCarthy’s application was in jeopardy due to how outspoken he’s been.
Regardless of the reason for NSAC’s refusing to grant McCarthy an immediate return, it’s absurd that the commission has decided there’s no place for the best referee in the sport to practice his vocation in its state.
As McCarthy has noted, a license is not a right but a privilege, but it’s one that he’s more than earned. The job confers a sacred duty on officials — split second decisions that can determine the difference between life and death — and with the pattern (and it’s nothing if not a pattern) of incompetent officiating in the sport, with early and, worse, late stoppages more common than they should be, any state commission should literally beg John McCarthy to work its state.
The NSAC decision is at best an embarrassment; if an MMA death occurs in Vegas, and it looks to be the result of poor officiating, the decision itself might appear to be a tragedy.
4 Responses to “NSAC Puts John McCarthy Return on Hold”
Got something to say?
Can anyone tell me how to get in touch with the right people at the NSAC? We have a ton of people here that could help with a letter writing campaign urging the NSAC to put their differences aside and allow the best ref in the business to come back.
Come on guys, really? Is the NSAC that messed up to not recognize a better move is to embrace the guy?
Mike
Mike,
The word is that both Zuffa and the NSAC are not in good terms with Big John. There were already TONS of campaigns to get John re-instated to no avail. There are politics going on here and it is obvious that the NSAC and Zuffa have a tight bond formed.
Big John dug his own grave. I think he’s the best ref in the biz, but he did this to himself. Imagine if an NFL referee quit, then started critizing the NFL, and critizing specific teams and specific players. Then imagine if that referee decided he made a bad career move and wanted to become an NFL referee again. Do you think the NFL would welcome him with open arms?
Ian B nailed it. Let’s say you’re a fighter Big John criticized while he was working for The Fight Network. Would you want him reffing your match? That’s a minefield for NSAC to wade through when they’re assigning officials and can’t blame Kizer for not wanting the headache.