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The following is not, nor is it intended to be, a paid or unsolicited political message. And as President Harry Truman said, “I don’t care what they call me, as long as it’s not true.”

Truman, incidentally, despite a reputation as incorruptible, owed his political life to a corrupt Democratic Party machine run by Tom Pendergast who, before he was convicted for income tax evasion, ruled Kansas City and much of Missouri, from which Truman was chosen to serve Pendergast’s interests as a judge then as a U.S. Senator.

But as Bryson DeChambeau said of his Saudi government golf benefactors and suspected royal mob behind the 9/11 attacks that murdered 3,000 Americans, “Nobody’s perfect.”

But this one’s about a dishonorable man who last week declared his candidacy for President of the United States, former N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, the latest among slim pickings to give the job a shot.

Christie’s dishonor I can personally attest to as a sportswriter. It has nothing to do with the rank arrogance and self-entitlement with which he closed the state beaches, as per safety precautions then, that same day, brought his family for a day on the Jersey beach.

And it has nothing to do with the fact that he threw his weight fully behind the successful presidential campaign of Donald Trump, only to now deride Trump as a name-calling, reprehensible brat and self-supremacist.


  Republican Presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to voters in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Ron Haviv/VII/Redux Republican Presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to voters in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Ron Haviv/VII/Redux

Many of us, not nearly as plugged in as Christie, knew that about Trump 35 years ago for his USFL wrecking, his self-serving promotion of Atlantic City casino boxing — remember the “Thank You, Mr, Trump,” promotions for the 1988 Mike Tyson-Leon Spinks calamity? — and his eagerness to play the in-ring, pay-per-view fool for twisted Vince McMahon’s twisted pro wrestling shows.

Trump’s casino-side boxing matches included the ring announcer ignoring the former champs in attendance in favor of introducing “close, personal friends of Mr. Trump” who included Carl Icahn and Jesse Jackson.

He had no known political allegiance then, when I began to refer to him in this space as “Sportsman Donald.”

Then there was the more recent “sports” episode when Trump cheated his Florida golf club members by winning a championship with bogus scores.

My issue with Christie is from his days when he abrogated his sworn duties as N.J.’s governor to become a State Troopers-escorted semi-regular in Manhattan on WFAN with kindred spirit Mike Francesa, thus abandoning his constituents to serve his ego.


  Then coach Kyle Flood leads Rutgers out on the field in 2015. AP Then coach Kyle Flood leads Rutgers out on the field in 2015. AP

In 2015, I wrote about how Rutgers, in trying to compete for Big Ten football glory — and with taxpayers’ funding — had scandalized itself:

“Despite finishing 0-9 in conference, credit Rutgers football for doing all it can to prove it’s serious about being in the Big Ten.

“First, there were those six felony arrests of RU players for crimes including home invasion assaults and armed robbery. Given that he wasn’t a victim, Gov. Christie excused the perps as kids just being kids.”

Christie’s response:

“I see I am referenced in your column on Rutgers football. Can I please have the quote from me that excused the students who were charged as ‘kids just being kids’? I don’t remember ever saying anything close to that and would be interested in your source for that characterization.”

So I sent it to him. His quote had appeared in, among other newspapers, New Jersey’s largest, the Star-Ledger:

“Sure, Mr. Governor. I refer you to what you were widely quoted on:

“[It read], ‘You guys can micromanage Rutgers. I have a president there. I have a Board of Governors. If they need my help or my advice, they’ll call. If I see something that I think is completely outrageous, I’ll call them.

‘They’re dealing with disciplinary problems with teenagers. This is not shocking, you know. I’m a father of four and having difficulty with teenagers is the normal course on a college campus.

‘The breathless media coverage of all of this — and every time there’s a problem or some indication of a problem, some deep-seated problem at Rutgers — you guys gotta find something else to do.’ ”


  Chris Christie Getty Images Chris Christie Getty Images

I added that, “Among the recruits arrested on felony charges was a 21-year-old ‘teenager.’ ”

Christie replied: “And all are being dealt with appropriately by Rutgers and law enforcement authorities. The implication of your column was that I did not care, when, in fact, we ensured that all the students were dealt with directly by all authorities without any special treatment.

“I guess I should not be shocked that the results and the actions by law enforcement to date (including indictments and jail) were not mentioned — that would undercut the point you were trying to make.”

My reply: “Mr. Governor, You asked me for evidence of your position, clearly upset that I’d fabricated it. I provided it. Your response strikes me as disingenuous.”

And thus ended my correspondence on the matter with the latest slim pickings candidate for the highest office in the land, President of the United States.

Darling comment knocks it out of park

What’s love got to do with it? Ron Darling, Thursday on SNY from Atlanta, with Brandon Nimmo coming to bat, two out and the bases loaded:

“Remember Nimmo, with runners on base, loves to swing at the first pitch, loves to be aggressive.”

First pitch to Nimmo: a grand slam.

How much extra does it cost to pay attention?


  Braves manager Brian Snitker USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Braves manager Brian Snitker USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Last Sunday, Braves manager Brian Snitker yanked Marcell Ozuna after he stood and watched his 415-foot “home run” result in a single.

Thursday, Ozuna ran to first while hitting an actual homer against the Mets. But as he reached the dugout with Snitker in it (How would they interact, if at all?), SNY cut to a replay. Ugh.

In the past few weeks, the PGA Tour surrendered to the forces of Saudi blood money while 24 of 32 NFL team owners voted to further abuse fans and customers through added Sunday afternoon-to-Thursday night game-flexing.

But parking at Yankee Stadium remains just $45 — no rain checks.

Fox won’t re-sign Reggie Bush to its college football pregame and postgame show? The question should be: Why did Fox sign him to begin with? He added nothing to a show already loaded with nothing — like all the others.

Hard to root for dirty mouth

Isn’t it time for Pete Alonso to grow up? Or put his way, grow the F up and shut the F up? Why do so many players now choose to make it difficult for so many to root for them?


  Pete Alonso AP Pete Alonso AP

Well, shut my laptop! Just when I’m ready to ridicule MLB Network for scrolling another absurd stat — “Mariners are 0-8 when allowing 10+ runs” — the Braves beat the Mets, 13-10.

A commercial for a movie about a teenage boy’s sexual escapades appeared during the Mets-Braves game Thursday that was, by design, indescribably lurid for both its content and the fifth inning.

New Mets radio man Keith Raad should lighten up on giving numbers, perhaps spend more words alerting an unseeing audience as to where the outfielders are playing. Too many stats cause listeners to hear nothing.

From reader Bill Unger: “For those who miss the good old days of MLB, they should watch the Mets. They play like it’s 1962.”

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