Sen. Harry Reid says Manny Pacquiao won the fight, but why does his website lead with it?
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is one of the most powerful politicians in the country, perhaps the most powerful behind President Obama.
But Reid's home state isn't doing so well these days. Nevada leads the nation in unemployment, with 11.7 percent of its residents without a job in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nevada is also among the national leaders in home foreclosure rates. Many Nevadans are underwater on their mortgages.
It would seem there are plenty of issues that could take up Reid's time, but a check of his website reveals a very odd priority: It's led with a video of Reid, a one-time boxing judge, discussing the decision in the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight.
The match featured one of the most controversial results in years, with Bradley winning a split decision in a bout the majority of those who witnessed it feel Pacquiao won handily. Promoter Bob Arum has called for an independent investigation by Catherine Cortez Masto, the Nevada attorney general. The World Boxing Organization, which sanctioned the fight, has also said it would investigate.
Reid frequently attends major championship fights in Las Vegas and has long loved boxing. He was asked about the result of Pacquiao-Bradley on Monday during a meeting with reporters.
As some of you don't know, for many years I was part of the Nevada Athletic Commission and during the time I was doing other things, I judged fights, championship fights. It's hard to do. It's an inexact science. One of my very good friends is one of the judges in this fight.
From all the reports that I've seen by people on the outside who saw the fight, who attempted to be fair and judge the fight, Pacquiao won the fight. Now, I understand how upset everybody is. The person who has handled this better than anyone else is Pacquiao. He has said, 'It's a fight and I lost. We'll fight again.'
There is nothing wrong with Reid's comments on the surface. His comment that Pacquiao won the fight is one shared by about 90 percent of those who saw it, though it would have made more sense if Reid had actually seen the bout before commenting on it.
He was asked about the bout and he gave an answer. It's no surprise he would lean toward Pacquiao because Pacquiao campaigned for him in his bitterly fought 2010 re-election campaign with Sharron Angle. Pacquiao's assistance is believed to have helped Reid pull out the win.
What's objectionable, though, is Reid's decision to lead his website with the result of a sporting event. Given the pain that many Nevadans are feeling, Reid should be devoting all of his resources to trying to find solutions to the slew of problems facing his constituents.
In that same session, he endorsed Arum's call for an attorney general's investigation. Reid's power and influence in Nevada is vast and extends to all levels of government. Generally, if he wants something done in Nevada, it gets done.
Asked about Arum's call for an attorney general's investigation, Reid responded positively, which usually means it will occur in short order.
Our attorney general is a wonderful woman. She'll do her best. I feel confident there is nothing untoward, but if an investigation makes everyone feel better, do the investigation. I don't care about that at all.
An attorney general spokeswoman told Yahoo! Sports via email on Wednesday that office policy precluded her from confirming whether an investigation would be done. However, Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said Cortez Masto's office had requested records from him, which would indicate an investigation is starting.
Regardless, the point is that Reid's decision to put his comments on the fight -- a fight he did not see -- as the lead piece on his website is a terrible mistake in judgment and is an insult to his constituents who are struggling to find work and pay the bills.
