Largent loses governor's race in Oklahoma to Democrat

Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Largent was beaten in the Oklahoma governor's race yesterday, losing in a tight vote to an opponent who was practically a political unknown six months ago.

Former Winter Olympics chief Mitt Romney enjoyed more success on a day when a number of high-profile sports figures ran for office. Romney drew on his performance at the Salt Lake City Games to become governor in Massachusetts, defeating Democrat Shannon O'Brien.

In the House of Representatives, great miler Jim Ryun, R-Kan., won re-election against Democrat Dan Lykins. Also seeking re-election was former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, R-Neb., while Rick Renzi, a former football player at Northern Arizona, was running for a seat in Arizona.

J.C. Watts, the quarterback who led Oklahoma to two straight Orange Bowl victories, is leaving his Oklahoma congressional seat. Ryun is seeking a Republican leadership post held by Watts.

Largent played for the Seattle Seahawks from 1976-89 and was one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. He served more than three terms as a congressman in Oklahoma before resigning to begin his campaign.

The 48-year-old Republican was once a heavy favorite but he lost to Democrat Brad Henry, once an obscure state senator, 44 percent to 42 percent. The rest of the votes went to independent Gary Richardson, a wealthy Tulsa lawyer.

Largent had a reputation as a religious conservative in Congress and had to deal with a couple of embarrassing episodes during his race. He was hunting in Idaho on Sept. 11, 2001, and was forced to apologize when his staff issued his reaction to the terrorist attack before he was aware of what happened.

Romney presided over an Olympics that IOC president Jacques Rogge called a "superb job," although it was an event shadowed by a bribery scandal before it began and a figure skating judging scandal that rocked the games.

Romney, a 55-year-old former venture capitalist, is the son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney. His only previous political experience was an unsuccessful 1994 bid to unseat Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Democrats tried to knock him off the ballot even before his campaign got going. They contended he didn't meet state residency requirement because of his time in Utah, but the challenge was rejected.

"What we've accomplished today and over the last eight months has been extraordinary," Romney said.

In other races:

• Derrick Hord, who played basketball at Kentucky from 1979-83 and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, lost his bid for a seat in the Kentucky state Senate to Republican incumbent Alice Kerr.

• Alderman George Unseld, a college basketball player at Kansas in the 1960s and the brother of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld, won election to the new metro government in Louisville, Ky.

• Joe DeNucci, once a fifth-ranked middleweight boxer, was elected to a fifth term as Massachusetts state auditor.