This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 14, 2009 - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is on crutches this morning -- and won't be in St. Louis for a news conference on economic issues -- because he tore his calf muscle during a basketball pick-up game.
Honest.
Nixon, 53 and with knee surgeries in his past, may finally have to give up his beloved game. He did pretty well last month in the senior division at Mizzou's "Show Me Games," garnering 60 percent of his shots from the foul line. He'd just returned from a visit to the Middle East.
According to the official announcement from his office this morning, the Democratic governor "will be unable to travel to St. Louis today because of a torn calf muscle. The Governor injured his leg Wednesday evening while playing a pick-up basketball game at his church in Jefferson City.
"Gov. Nixon is undergoing treatment for the injury and is walking with the aid of crutches today,'' the statement added.
The news conference is still on tap in Manchester. But it will be headlined by state Economic Director Linda Martinez, who had been slated to accompany the governor.
In the meantime, maybe the governor will be able to relax and read up on his latest favorable poll numbers. (SurveyUSA) Apparently, that e.coli flap at Lake of the Ozarks has yet to become a major issue among the public.
