The immaculate reception

 Greenwich resident Paul Hicks III, executive vice president of communications and government affairs for the National Football League, next to the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the NFL offices in New York City, Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 31, 2012. Publication History:

Greenwich resident Paul Hicks III, executive vice president of communications and government affairs for the National Football League, next to the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the NFL offices in New York City, Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 31, 2012.
Publication History:

The first down marker is at $250,000 for John McKinney.

Needing to raise that amount in small donations to qualify for public funding for his gubernatorial campaign, the Republican Senate minority leader is turning to one of the National Football League’s most powerful suits and a longtime political ally for help.

Paul Hicks III, an executive vice president for the NFL, will host an Oct. 4 fundraiser in his hometown of Greenwich for McKinney, Hearst Connecticut Newspapers has learned.

There is a connection between the two men, with Hicks serving as chief of staff for McKinney’s late father, Stewart McKinney, who represented the 4th District in Congress from 1970 until his death in 1987.

“I don’t know if the NFL wants to take a stand in the Connecticut governor’s race,” McKinney quipped. “He’s just a good guy, and I’m really happy to have him doing an event for me in Greenwich.”

A message was left Thursday for Hicks, who was a selectman in Greenwich from 1987 to 1991. Donations of up to $100 are accepted, per McKinney.

McKinney is one of four Republicans eying the state’s top office, but is the only candidate to formally declare in the race.

We never would have guessed it, but McKinney admits to being a fan of the Silver & Black — the Oakland Raiders.

McKinney traces his allegiances to the “Immaculate Reception” 1972 playoff game, in which he rooted against his dad’s beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and for the Raiders just to be a contrarian. The Steelers won 13-7, courtesy of fullback Franco Harris’ catch of deflected pass and touchdown run.

Neil Vigdor