UNM coach Steve AlfordIs Steve Alford endorsing Darren White or not?

A day after blogger Joe Monahan reported that " University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Steve Alford would lend "his name and fundraising power to the campaign of ABQ GOP congressional hopeful Darren White" by posing for VIP photos for $1,000 a pop at a fundraiser, Monahan reported today that UNM has gone into "damage control mode."

Paul Krebs, Vice-President for Athletics for UNM, told KKOB-AM radio that he and Alford were unaware that the coach’s appearance at the July 16th event at the home of UNM lobbyist Joe Thompson would be used to raise money for White, Monahan reports. Krebs said he asked Alford to attend the event to hob knob, not to endorse White or raise money for his campaign. Krebs’ assertion that neither he nor Alford knew the intent of the event was met with disbelief by some of the radio station’s callers, Monahan notes. But others strongly felt the non-political Krebs and Alford were duped into participating.

Calls in to UNM and Alford have not been returned. Thompson is out of town on personal business, his wife said.

And an e-mail to White’s campaign seeking response was not immediately returned.

Now we wait to see if Alford and Krebs will cancel the appearance, which will be attended by two Republicans who also happen to be UNM regents, Jack Fortner and Don Chalmers.

Alford’s a curious celebrity these days when it comes to politics. He previously attended a fundraising event for Democrat congressional candidate Harry Teague. Wonder if he knew that was a fundraising gig? Alford didn’t hawk photos for Teague, however.

Is he a "political tool" as Monahan asks, or just a sports celeb in a town with a shortage of any who got caught up in the PR machine when he was asked to headline the party. Krebs is going to have to clear things up. We’ll wait.