Let me begin by saying that I do not believe this rumor, but it is floating around my wife’s medical school in Newark. She does believe it, even though she’s liberal who voted for McGreevey.
Shortly after Jim McGreevey was elected Governor of New Jersey, he broke his leg. He said it happened walking on the beach. This was a bit surprising, because most of us go to the beach in the summer, not in November. Also, it was a major break in the bone below the knee – an unlikely accident from just walking on the beach. Anyhow, the rumor is that his leg was broken by organinzed crime figures because he hadn’t rewarded them sufficiently for their past support.
Do any of the wise folks here at the Straight Dope have any knowledge or thoughts on this rumor?
Mods – I’m putting this thread in GD, but feel free to move it, close it or delete it, as you see fit.
In general, the mafia has tended to be extremely reluctant to go after public officials, let alone governors, fearing the retaliatory wrath of the public. Dutch Schultz lost his life over this, although that was many years ago.
But this is merely another reason to disbelieve what is an extremely unlikely story even without this factor.
Which aspect of this are we supposed to be working on here, December? That the Governor’s broken leg was no accident (unsubstantiated rumor of uncertain origin) or that he was/is in bed with organized crime (just flat innuendo planted by our old friend).
The fall occurred off a four foot sand ledge in poor light.
I know a lot of people who stroll beaches in winter (Feb 2, not November).
Depending on the date of Inauguration Day in NJ, he would have had from two to four weeks to make appointments–a fairly short period to know whether any group was going to be excluded unless there was a specific agreement on a specific office. (In which case, breaking his leg would tend to anger him and make him less likely to go along with their program–as opposed to whacking the “wrong” appointee as a warning to fill the recent vacancy with the “correct” person.)
As noted by Izzy, organized crime tends to avoid going after public figures–it is not good business.
I have found no web sites linking McGreevey’s fracture to “mafia” or “organized crime” or even linking McGreevey to crime, in general. The 1997 Camden mayor event did not seem to be linked directly to the candidate, but appeared to be something hizonnor did on his own. (Most hits are either humor sites linking NJ to crime or entertainment sites mentioning McGreevey and The Sopranos on the same page.)
Does the NJ governor typically wander around with no bodyguards? I would not expect a Secret Service type detail, but most governors tend to have at least some sort of escort–the sort of people who would have been disciplined if they had let a few goons walk up and hold the gov while they smacked his leg.
There seem to be quite a few obstacles to accepting this really weak rumor.