Family Says Their Son Died at Church's Illegal Boxing Match

[The Straight Story]

TULSA (CN) - Parents say their son died from fighting in an illegal boxing match, one of a series of fights that a pastor ran in his church, without a ringside physician or a licensed referee, or liability insurance for fighters, or any state license at all. Defendant William Scheer describes himself as pastor of Guts Church on his church's web page.

George Clinkscale III, 24, died on Sept. 21, the night he fought in the Tulsa church, his family says in Tulsa County Court. Clinkscale had been a linebacker at the University of Tulsa and coached at the city's Central High School.

The Clinkscales say Scheer "promoted illegal and extremely dangerous underground boxing operations and held fights on the premises of Guts Church on at least six occasions."

....

Guts Church and Scheer continue to advertise their programs on the church website today (Friday), including an "Ultimate Hitman Awards Ceremony" scheduled for Nov. 9, which "celebrates the 'Hit of the week' in over 20 local high schools and 4 states around the country."

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/04/41198.htm

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Where is the state in all this?

Surely the boxing commission must have been aware of this. Being held in a so-called 'church' doesn't grant immunity from state law.

[SidDithers]

2. Strange what passes for a church these days...

http://www.gutschurch.com/site/sections/6-home

Sid

[Fumesucker]

3. I've done some wedding photography..

A surprising number of churches these days look (and sound) more like a discotheque than what most us probably think of as a church.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6098750&mesg_id=6098750

[Turbineguy]

4. Obviously you should limit

these gigs to receptions that have 6 ft diameter round tables. That way when a fight breaks out, you can set the table on edge and using the table as a shield roll your way toward the exit.

[Javaman]

5. First rule of Guts Church...nt