For anyone who reads the New York papers or lives in the state, the current non-event getting ink is that former Governor Mario Cuomo refuses to sit for, let alone cooperate with anyone with, an official portrait to hang in the State House.

Every governor who has served has one, but Cuomo still says no - wife Matilda is the looker in the family. This is certainly beside the point, at least until Matilda is elected to the governor’s office. Even his son, the crime-busting Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, says the old man ought to oblige. For an intellectual guy, the former Governor is playing shyness to the hilt, and actually calling more attention to himself than if he would sit for a portrait artist – or even cough up a photograph of himself that he likes.

In the theater world, such “shyness” is called “pulling focus.” By demurring, he is really sending the message: “Look at me. I am so modest.” I am reminded of a Broadway event some years ago where some star or other stayed extreme stage left – far away from his peers who were in the center of the stage. This was his statement that essentially said, “I’m not really important. I don’t belong here.” Of course everyone’s attention was pulled stage left, in fact detracting from the assembled group of stars center stage.

So, Mario, to get everyone off your back and to stop the begging, honor the tradition and can the coy, bashful act. It is strangely neurotic. You were Governor. Honor the record, and the tradition. Enough already.