THE WRITING ON (AND OFF) THE WALL CITIZEN GREG'S NEW ARENA.Byline: TOM HOFFARTH MEDIA Mudslinging mud·sling·er n. One who makes malicious charges and otherwise attempts to discredit an opponent, as in a political campaign. mud isn't much of an issue in the Arena Football League. Not with so much artificial turf Artificial turf, or synthetic turf, is a grass-like man-made surface manufactured from synthetic materials. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass, however, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial , and the nice, air-conditioned facilities that offer the perfect climate to do battle. Then why is Greg Hopkins Greg Hopkins (November 16, 1971) is a former Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker with the Albany Firebirds and the Los Angeles Avengers. High school career asking for a towel? The Avengers' veteran receiver/linebacker, one of the league's most decorated players, has had his name besmirched, and he's not sure what to do about it. Welcome to the political arena, where there's no padded sidelines to cushion the blow. Two months ago, some of the more civic-minded residents in and around his tiny hometown of Nineveh, Pa. (population 88) in Morris Township There are several places named Morris Township in the United States:
People there know him and his family -- the Hopkins Family Store is pretty much the only business in town, supplying everything from duct tape duct tape n. A usually silver adhesive tape made of cloth mesh coated with a waterproof material, originally designed for sealing heating and air-conditioning ducts. Noun 1. to 16 flavors of icecream. They all know he's got a good heart, having seen him help every offseason adding something new to the local community center. They know he sports some name recognition, based not just on his pro football career, but his exploits as an outstanding high school athlete back in the day. And they know the incumbent, a Democrat by the name of H.William DeWeese, has held down the spot for the past 30 years -- and just voted himself a pay raise. Not a smart thing to do when your constituents continue to live in one of the poorest areas of the state. So, despite the fact he really doesn't consider himself much of a ``West Wing'' watcher, Hopkins has entered the ring. This morning -- a few hours after the Avengers played their final game at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. in what has ended up as a disappointing season -- Hopkins will fly back home to finish off the last leg of his hurried campaign that leads into Tuesday's primary election. He first has to gain more votes than opponent Richard Yeager, who happens to be the chairman of the Greene County Greene County is the name of fourteen counties in the United States of America, each named in honor of American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene:
It also means that if Hopkins can haul this one in, his pro football career could have run its course. Saturday night could have been his last game. ``I once thought that if I could have played 10 years in this league, I'd be satisfied, and I've got it to 11 and haven't regretted any of it,'' said Hopkins after one the team's last practices of the year at West L.A. College. ``If this is the end, and I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. , I knew I wasn't going to play forever. It's hard to beat the adrenaline rush, but this (politics) could be where everything goes next.'' Hopkins knows some of the territory of politicking, having served as the Avengers' player rep. When he came into the league, it didn't even have a players' association. He gravitated to the AFL's executive committee and helped institute things such as freeagency, salary caps, minimum salaries and league-wide safety standards Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory. . As a state rep, he calls himself a moderate Republican, wanting to focus on tax reform, improving entrepreneurship, cleaning up the water and sewage and fixing the roads. While playing at Slippery Rock Slippery Rock may refer to the following:
A well-oiled staff back home launched this campaign in March -- they collected the signatures and filed the petition while Hopkins was five games into the AFL AFL: see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. season. Hopkins has been able to swing a couple of meet-and- greet trips during days off in the season, including a major fundraiser at the end of April. Otherwise, he has been forced to do things from this side of the country, using a window of 5-7p.m. here to call potential voters in Pennsylvania for their support. That's where the mudslinging has come in. His opponents are trying to paint him as an inexperienced out-of-towner who, when he is around, lives with his parents. They're also trying to link Hopkins as an opportunist op·por·tun·ist n. One who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve an end, often with no regard for principles or consequences. op , riding the coattails coat·tail n. 1. The loose back part of a coat that hangs below the waist. 2. coattails The skirts of a formal or dress coat. Idiom: on the coattails of 1. of Lynn Swan, the NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga Hall of Famer who's running as a Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania governor's chair. Hopkins, who admits to watching C-SPAN more lately than game films, understands the scrutiny, but doesn't necessarily worry about it. ``You keep wondering how dirty this can get, and I'm only seeing it from back here,'' said Hopkins, who stays in Nineveh at least sixmonths of the year when he's not playing or doing some modeling. He helps tend to the family cattle ranch and serves as the township auditor. ``As a football player, I think I've developed some leadership skills, but I've also developed some thick skin. I can handle this. It's a big responsibility, but I'll take a pay cut to do this job because the issues are important. ``If I don't win, I don't want it to be because I didn't give it my best shot. It's like preparing for a football game. I know the staff is tireless and doing all the dirty work. It seems like I just come in and smile for everyone. I'm not into the mudslinging.'' For Hopkins, it's really just another turf war. And he's willing to go long. CAPTION(S): 4 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1) Greg Hopkins Edna T. Simpson/Daily News (2) ALBERT PUJOLS (3) MARK CUBAN (4) JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE Box: (1) sunday punch By Tom Hoffarth (2) THE HOPKINS FILE |
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