California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to be severing some ties with his hometown of Graz, Austria.
Officials in Graz have been threatening to rename Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium to protest the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, who was put to death in California last week. Now, to prevent Grazers from replacing his name, Schwarzenegger is demanding his name be taken off the stadium. (Sort of a "you-can't-fire-me-I-quit!" situation.) But there's more.
Arnold is also prohibiting the city from using his name for any promotions or advertising. And he's told Graz that he's returning the "Ring of Honor" that the city bestowed to him in 1999. At the time, Schwarzenegger called it "the most precious award I ever got." This week, though, he sent a letter to Graz: "Since, however, the official Graz appears to no longer accept me as one of their own, this ring has lost its meaning and value to me. It is already in the mail." Snap!!
All this, plus the word a few months ago that Graz was closing its Arnold Schwarzenegger museum.
The Guv says he still loves Graz and looks forward to his next visit. But come on--Graz's stadium is changing its name, Arnold sent back the ring. How long can this relationship last???
UPDATE: The mayor of Graz wants to kiss and make up. He tells Arnold, "I hope that very soon we'll hear you say, 'I'll be back.'"
