Now he’s experiencing the rough-and-tumble of New York State politics. McConkey, a trader at Garban-Intercapital, the fixed-income and derivatives interdealer broker, has been mentioned in the local media as a potential Conservative Party challenger to Governor George Pataki in next year’s election. The state’s conservatives are upset that Republican Pataki has recently embraced the political center. McConkey, who declined to comment on a possible candidacy, is an attractive alternative, largely because of his name recognition: The scrappy former pass-catcher played on two Super Bowl championship teams and is a folk hero among die-hard Giant fans. There are whispers, however, that a McConkey candidacy is actually a smoke screen to help potential Pataki rival Andrew Cuomo; McConkey, reportedly a friend of Cuomo’s brother Christopher, donated $500 to the Democrat’s campaign. “That suspicion is alive and well,” says Conservative Party chairman Michael Long. “These are questions that need answering.” If he does decide to run, McConkey may want to dig out his old pads.
