Greene cries foul over bobblehead figurine

COLUMBIA -- Alvin Greene says the RiverDogs struck out on the miniature statues the team' i handing out to its first 1,000 fans at tonight's ballgame.

"They look tacky," Greene said Friday. "That wasn't a good enough effort. They should have made something more original. If they're going to do it, do it right."

Greene had something different in mind when he pitched the idea of Alvin Greene action figures to a British newspaper last week as a way to put people back to work.

And indeed it did, however temporary. Workers at the game will affix a picture of Greene's face on a "Mr. Liberty" statue, a takeoff of the idea earlier this year to put a male Statue of Liberty near Patriots Point.

First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at Riley Park. The RiverDogs play the Augusta GreenJackets. Greene said he won't be there.

"Who better epitomizes the American dream that anything is possible than Mr. Greene?" RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols said this week.

Charleston Democrats Sen. Robert Ford and Rep. Wendell Gilliard said the promotion is a mean joke. "To mistreat this young man ... we think it's a slap in the face," Ford said. "To be a public servant, you don't have to be a professor or a lawyer or a business person. He won the primary. That should be the end of the story."

Gilliard said Greene is a veteran and deserves respect, adding that he didn't vote for Greene and does not condone what he might have done in his past. Greene faces a felony obscenity charge.

Greene is unemployed. He was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the military. He has refused to discuss details about his reasons for being kicked out of the military.

"To make a doll with his face plastered on a Statute of Liberty structure, it's a mockery and should be a mockery to all veterans," Gilliard said. "This is not about the American dream. The American dream is about treating people right and the ability to be gainfully employed. We've become the brunt of jokes nationally. I am quite sure the ballpark manager knows that."

The RiverDogs are known for their wacky promotions.

Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-926-7855 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.