Football-playing beau [Gene Washington] for Condoleezza [Rice]?

Times of India ^ | 6-1-03 | Times of India

[GraniteStateConservative]

NEW YORK: As a girl, she vowed that she would marry an American footballer, but she has ended up helping to run the country instead.

Now there is speculation that Condoleezza Rice may fulfil both ambitions after she invited a handsome sportsman not once but twice to the White House as her date.

The gossip began when Gene Washington, a former player with the San Francisco 49ers, turned up at a formal dinner for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines just over a week ago.

Noticeably, Rice, the US national security adviser, had also invited him to dine with the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski, last summer.

They attend American football matches together, where Washington can always secure the best seats. Long retired from the game, he is director of operations of the National Football League (NFL) in New York. Rice, a sports fanatic, has often said she wants to be commissioner of the NFL one day.

In his first interview Washington, 57, laughed off reports that he and Rice were dating each other, but there is no doubt that he is starry-eyed about her talents.

‘‘Condi’s phenomenal,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s so articulate, she never gets ruffled, she can handle tough situations with aplomb, she is as impressive a person as you’d ever meet.’’ But are they dating? ‘‘We’re not,’’ he insisted. ‘‘What else is there to say? We’re great friends, we’re comfortable with each other and we enjoy each other’s company. She can relax with me. We’ve known each other for so long she doesn’t have to break me in.’’

The pair, who both grew up in Alabama, share a passion for football, which Rice learnt from her father, a high school teacher who also coached the sport.

Washington said she often compared the game to war. In her view, ‘‘football is about taking ground’’, he said. ‘‘The idea is to take more ground than you give up.’’

Washington and Rice met in the 1980s at Stanford University in California, where Rice, a professor of political science, went on to be the provost and Washington was a sports administrator. Antonia Felix, author of a biography of Rice, claims that they dated briefly.

Washington is separated from his wife, who lives in California, and has two daughters, aged 27 and 15, and a son of 13.

A dedicated athlete who still works out every day, Rice toyed with becoming a professional ice-skater. She also considered a career as a concert pianist, but decided she was not gifted enough.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Rice's past boyfriends include a member of the Denver Broncos, whom she almost married, a University coach, a Fortune 500 professional, and Gene Washington, the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver.

[My2Cents]

Do you think Bill Walsh introduced them?

[MattinNJ]

IMHO, Arnold would not dig up dirt on Condi (although if he were competing against her on stage he would hide her posing trunks). Do you think this sounds like him or is it just the rats up to their normal game?

[MattinNJ]

Kindly disregard my previous post on this thread-it was meant for another thread that said Arnold was building up a file on her. My bad

[Tax-chick]

Washington is separated from his wife, who lives in California

Since the article's from India ("American football matches?") can we assume this means he's divorced? Otherwise, it sounds kind of Clinton-administration-y, to coin an adjective.

[Trust but Verify]

I beleive Washington is just separated, not officially divorced. I also don't think there is anything wrong with him escorting Condi to dinners, etc. It is clear they are friends. Long time, trusted friends and you've gotta beleive that's an important thing for her to have in the business she is in.

[Tax-chick]

I also don't think there is anything wrong with him escorting Condi to dinners,

No, I guess not. The article implied a developing romance, which I would find problematic ... but I'll assume this is mainly fluff, and forget it!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Not a bad guess, but either way, guys love women who like football. She'd be an ideal candidate for any office-- women would support her because she's one of them and men would because she's so much like them. Reminds me of Prof. Henry Higging: "Why Can't a Woman be more like a Man"

[Trust but Verify]

They can imply all day long, but I think Washington's own words carry more weight than implications.

[Tax-chick]

Careless reading on my part. I wouldn't have even brought it up if my vision hadn't blurred before the end of that paragraph!

Too many kids, too little coffee ...

[kms61]

I guess it depends on the couple involved. If they're separated but trying to work things out, of course they shouldn't date other people. OTOH, if they're just waiting for the divorce to become official, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Now if they're dating someone who broke up the marriage, that would be another story (speaking hypothetically of course. No indication of that here.)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I myself would never date, while going through a divorce, because I am a parent. I think this can be too confusing for the children. However, I do not have enough facts about this separation with Washington and his wife, to speculate further.

[aShepard]

What! No Larry Flynt pictures, no sleaze, no lies, no abortions.

Come on RATS, you need to do better!

We want pictures!

[Tax-chick]

They say they're not "dating," anyway. What really threw me off was the graphic with the article!

[rintense]

Here's an old pic of Gene:

Gene also did a fair bit of acting back in the day.

[Our man in washington]

President Washington...that could work.

[rabidralph]

All Gene says is that he is her escort and they've known each other for years. Why do people have to assume that something romantic is going on just because they know each other so well. Can't men and women be good friends and not date? Don't you people watch Seinfeld? :-)

[chasio649]

one thing always seems to come up...

[rabidralph]

...and what would that be?