THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300475
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GREG SCHNEIDER AND KATE FLEMING, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
He could cut off defenders like cutting the budget, sack the quarterback like sacking the state work force and toss the long bomb so true a Democrat would never lay a hand on it.
It was George F. Allen - governor, former college quarterback, afternoon touch-football star.
The populist Republican roped his brother-in-law, a handful of state employees and even a stray reporter into a sandlot game Thursday on the grounds of the State Capitol.
While most players wore their work clothes, Allen came dressed to play in sneakers, sweat pants and a Barter Theatre sweatshirt.
A reporter noted that he had sliced Barter Theatre's budget along with other state-funded cultural showcases. ``Yeah, but I gave them a $100 contribution,'' Allen said, and then added, ``But I only cut them in half.''
With the governor calling the plays, his team dominated the game just like his administration has dominated state politics since he took office nearly 12 months ago.
In fact, Allen took great delight in running up the score. When his brother-in-law was sacked and fumbled, Allen shouted, ``Way to go, Paul! S-A-A-A-A-A-A-CK!''
A few plays later, Allen tried to avoid get sacked himself and dodged into the limb of a dogwood tree, which whacked him beside the left eye, put him on the ground and left a bright red welt on his face.
``The state tree got me,'' he said. by CNB