TRENTON, N.J. _ As the George Washington Bridge scandal reemerged in national headlines with the accusation that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie knew about the September 2013 lane closures _ and that a local mayor wasn't getting calls returned _ the governor carried on Tuesday morning by spending four hours co-hosting a sports talk radio program that he's made a habit of sitting in on.
"What a bum is Madison Bumgarner," Christie said on the "Boomer & Carton Show," calling the San Francisco Giants pitcher a "punk" for feuding with right fielder Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While he hasn't been charged, Christie figured prominently in opening arguments Monday in the trial of two of his former allies accused of carrying out the lane closures to punish a mayor who didn't endorse Christie's re-election. Defense attorneys painted the Republican governor as close to David Wildstein, the former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official who pleaded guilty to conspiracy last year and is cooperating with the government.
Also on Monday, a suspect in the weekend bombings in New York City and Seaside Park, N.J., was taken into custody after a shootout with police in Linden, N.J.
On the radio Tuesday, Christie praised the "incredible job" by law enforcement and described how he kept apprised of Ahmad Khan Rahami's arrest while holding a town hall meeting Monday. "One of my aides came in with a piece of paper," relaying that the suspect was in custody and that two police had been shot.
Because law enforcement had collected evidence after the bombings, Christie said he had "felt pretty good" over the weekend about the situation.
On Monday night, he took his children to an Adele concert. "I was happy to see Adele," he said, taking ribbing from co-host Craig Carton for being a fan of the soulful British singer.
Besides recapping Rahami's capture and opining on various sports-related topics _ "Don't tell me it's (San Francisco quarterback Colin) Kaepernick," Christie said, in response to Carton bringing up the "most popular jersey sale in America" _ the governor on Tuesday debated the correct pronunciation of the word gif, participated in sexually explicit banter and accepted compliments on his leadership.
One caller, in a reference to Christie's role advising GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, addressed the governor as "soon-to-be attorney general." Trump, in a statement to The New York Times, stuck with Christie following Monday's bridge scandal news, saying he was "greatly honored" by Christie's endorsement.
Musing about his career, Christie noted to Carton that "I get out of office on Jan. 18, 2018. I was sworn in as U.S. attorney on Jan. 17, of 2002" _ "16 years and a day."
Someone else on the show offered that Christie _ who plans to co-host again Oct. 11 _ could start working for the radio station the day after he leaves office, Jan. 19, "which is a Friday."
"Let's go to a break," Christie said, joking that they would negotiate.
