A recent TV ad promoting MN Gov. Jesse Ventura's role
as a color commentator with the XFL "may have violated his
contract with the league," according to Bill McAuliffe of
the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, who wrote that the ad showed
Ventura at the November 17 press conference announcing his
agreement. As the national anthem played in the ad, a voice
stated, "As the nation waits for its next president, the XFL
is declaring Jesse (The Governor) Ventura as the new color
commentator of the XFL. Coming February to NBC." Ventura's
attorney, David Bradley Olsen, said that mentioning Ventura
as governor "violates his contract with the XFL." Olsen
added that he "intends to talk to the producers" of the ad.
NBC Sports VP/Communications Kevin Sullivan said that the
ad, which is no longer running, "apparently was produced by
the WWF." Sullivan also said that Ventura has been featured
in five 20-second ad spots produced by NBC (Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE, 12/21). In St. Paul, Joe Soucheray wonders, "Is it
fair game for a politician to trade on public life for
public gain?" Ventura has "his hands out, and isn't very
clever about it. In fact, he is now telling legislators to
'bring it on,' meaning a possible legal challenge to the
propriety of his stuffed pockets" (PIONEER PRESS, 12/22).
