George,

I can't get this scene out of my mind. It was several years ago at a casual softball game between local Democrats and Republicans. The winner was to play a radio station team.

Before the game, players milled around home plate. Abruptly, this big guy began jabbing his finger toward some of the Democrats, accusing them of being illegitimate recruits ("he's a ringer, he's a ringer,' etc.). It was preposterous, particularly considering the modest talent of the accused, but worse was his highhanded belligerence.

To the Democrats' credit, they did not draw their bats. They maintained a bemused incredulity at this carrying on. Also, to their credit, the GOPers did not follow his lead.

I, a light-hitting, lead-footed "ringer,' have never felt so at home at the plate, with Darden Towe benignly lobbing in pitches and Lindsay Barnes good-humoredly razzing from short.

The Republicans won. Later, I learned that the finger-pointer tried to recruit the best Democrat to play against the radio team. I assume that was done with no ethical ambivalence despite his earlier grandstanding. Here one saw an ends-justifies-the-means guy at work.

What I observed that day is my touchstone for George Allen, playground bully. Call it just a game, but I contend that you can learn much about a person at play. Take off that tie, and a lot is released.

Since then, we've seen the same overbearing character at work. His dirty-trick advertisement against Kay Slaughter in a previous campaign was no surprise.

Our country and state have suffered from leaders vulnerable to monster egos, overzealous us-vs.-them partisanship and an inability to sort through criticism (LBJ, Richard Nixon, Doug Wilder).

The character issue has been misused to the point of meaninglessness. I look for "reasonableness.' Reasonable candidates are those whose ego, partisanship and sensitivity to criticism are in balance.

George Allen is a happy warrior with good qualities, to be sure, but hardly a thoughtful statesman. His combative approach may intensify our acrimonious political atmosphere.

Allen was a backup quarterback in college. In his political career, he seems forever trying to make up for missed playing time. He should keep playing, but he's not someone ready to be, in his term, "head coach."

Jim Barns (electronic mail).