MR. AMIGO ASSOCIATION IMPLODES; THE LONG $$$ SPLURGE

By Juan Montoya

 Even before boxing legend Julio Cesar chavez arrives here to reign as this year's Mr. Amigo, a swirling controversy has resulted in turmoil that has led a former president to resign from the organization and some members to question the organization's operations.

Past president Arturo Trevino, citing differences of opinion with key organization members, emailed his resignation to president Artemio Alvarez and other board members including booster Pedro Cardenas of his decision.

And leaks to social media indicate that Chavez repeatedly rejected the offer to be Mr. Amigo and was finally convinced when the conditions he placed on accepting he honor included the renting of a private jet to ferry him and his family from San Diego, Calif. to Brownsville at a hefty $26,643 tag.

Will he also require the same for the return trip?


And further revelations indicate that the boxer was paid $22,000 to be Mr. Amigo and that former presidents have been calling the shots.

Prominent among those past presidents are Bob Torres, Ralph Cowen, and Eliseo Davila, who other member say actually run the association.

The MAA is given use of city facilities and staff (including Brownsville P.D.) security for its events.

In fact, even Ralph's son, now San Antonio-based Michael Cowen, went with his dad, Alvarez and Trevino to meet with Chavez (Young Cowen says it was a hotel lobby in San Antonio, though he does not say which one.). He also said he heard nothing about paying the boxer, but he admits the meeting was in progress when he got there. The last time we looked he was not a MAA board member.

There is obviously some friction between the members because when the Association's reps took pictures with the petulant Chavez, Ralph Cowen cropped out Trevio in the photo he posted on Facebook and Trevino did the same when he posted the pictures on his page.

Some members say Cowen and Torres wield a heavy hand in the organization and that the older Cowen does not allow the organization to request a sponsorship from his son and pays nothing for him and his family to attend the MAA's events with complimentary tickets given to the Brownsville Navigation District.

Likewise, Davila, the administrative assistant to Cameron County Pct. 2 Commissioner Joey Lopez gets a free ride to the events because of his county employment. Trevino, last year's president during the Elias Ayub debacle who did not attend the Saturday parade, gets the same treatment because he donates the Micheladas to the Taste of La Frontera fundraiser.

And despite  clause in the MamiA bylaws prohibiting active members from doing business with the organization, board member - and Parks and Recreation administrator  - Graciela Salazar and her brother Sergio, also a board member, charge the MAA $5,000 for publicity through their "publicity agency."

It's not even clear today whether Chavez will pull another Ayub and not attend the Saturday parade, limiting his public appearances to placing his star on the list of former Mr. Amigos, attending the president's Costume Ball at $100 a ticket or $800 per table, and a drive-by appearance during the SombreoFest concert featuring Los Tigres del Norte.

Thi  disarray and the splurging or MAA money by the organization's past officers is one reason given for Trevino's departure. What else lurks behind the scenes?