
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 31, 1994                   TAG: 9501030059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER AND KATE FLEMING STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

ALLEN DUSTS OFF THROWING ARM

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.

George 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 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, 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.

After his brother-in-law was sacked, Allen tried to avoid the same fate and dodged into the limb of a dogwood tree, which whacked him beside the left eye, put him on the ground for a few painful seconds and left a bright red welt on his face.

``The state tree got me,'' he said.

by CNB