By Wade Keller, Torch editor

The following is from PWTorch Newsletter #525, cover-dated Dec. 19, 1998. To read the entire back issue backed with insider news from that week, Keller's Cover Story, editorials, TV reports, and more, become a VIP member where ten new Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter back issues are posted each month from five, ten, and twenty years ago that month in both online text and PDF formats...

Ventura Needs Our Help! If anybody out there is willing to start a fund to help tide Jesse Ventura over during the holidays, he might appreciate it. In Minnesota last week there was controversy over Ventura agreeing to write a book during the first six months of his term as governor. Ventura defended his decision to write the book (with $500,000 guaranteed up front, plus potential bonuses based on sales), stressing that he'll only write it during his free time and that he hasn't collected a paycheck since he was suspended from his radio job last summer. Ventura, who drives an expensive sports car and lives on a multi-acre ranch, is weeks away from starting a job that pays $480,000 total over four years guaranteed. If anybody out there can relate to his financial woes and wants to start a fund to help him out during these lean times, it might make things easier for him. While you're at it, why not also start a fund to help the locked out millionaire NBA players, one of whom said, "We make a lot of money, but you have to understand, we spend a lot of money, too."

Seriously, Ventura's infamous defensiveness is already surfacing and he hasn't even taken office yet. For him with a straight face to claim that had he not been elected governor he would be getting anywhere near the endorsement, movie, and book opportunities that he has since winning the election is insulting to the Minnesotans who elected him. If he's going to unapologetically exploit the governorship for six-figure deals, at least be up-front about it. And no, saying he doesn't allow the term "governor" to be attached to any products doesn't exonerate him of due scrutiny.

Perhaps more ridiculous though is this week's controversy - Jesse's stance that the public affairs comic strip "Doonesbury" is "making money off of his trademarked persona." Talk about double-standards. Minnesota law allowed Ventura to run for office under a "nick name" (his legal name is still James Janos), but now he wants to prevent "fair comment and criticism" of himself by saying a comic strip cannot use his trademarked Jesse Ventura persona? What a lame-brained, thin-skinned, crybaby stance. Maybe the first proposal Ventura could make after inauguration in January is a law that prevents the media from making fun of him.

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