THE BODY AND THE PLAYER

Imagine that it's election night and the Governor-elect is giving his acceptance speech to a national audience. In the middle of his monologue he stops and says, "Hey how are you doing? It's good to see you."

No big deal, right?

Well -- when it's former World Wrestling Federation star -- Jesse 'The Body' Ventura -- It's a big deal.

That's exactly how it happened for Delaware basketball player Ryan Iversen on election night in Minnesota.

"It was really something," says Iversen. "I don't know how he saw me because there were so many people there. The next thing I knew it was on national news. After his speech he came up to my friend and me and invited us to a little private victory room. I can say that I was the first person in his room after he was elected Governor. That is pretty cool."

As Iversen would put it, what's even cooler is how his friendship with Governor Ventura began.

Iversen -- who turned 22 today (Nov. 21) -- was a two-sport star at Eden Prairie High School, in Minnesota. He re-wrote basketball record books and was a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Basketball Award as a senior in 1997-98.

But it was his talents on the gridiron, which brought him in contact with Ventura.

He was the Associated Press Football Player of the Year in 1997 and led his team to back-to-back state titles, catching the game-winning touchdown on both occasions.

At the same time Iversen was a dominating force on the gridiron, Ventura had his own weekly talk radio program on K-FAN, devoted to high school football. And one Friday night, he interviewed Iversen.

It was quite a thrill for Iversen, who had grown up a big fan of  'The Body,' and he knew that his boyhood idol had season tickets to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"During our interview I asked him what his future plans were," laughs Ventura. "He said he wanted to see the Bulls and Timberwolves play so I took him to the game."

And that's how it all began.

"All night long he kept calling lucky," says Iversen. "I had always won in high school and that night the Timberwolves beat the Bulls for the first time ever. He kept saying it was my touch and my luck that did it."

Luck. Now there is something that every politician wouldn't mind having, but that's not what spawned this friendship.

"He is a young guy who has strong values," says Ventura. "He impressed me with his respect for his parents; there was a good family relationship there. "We just hit it off very well even though I am twice his age. Although, I tend to think like I am a 21-year old most of the time."

The highly recruited Iversen accepted a football scholarship from the University of Minnesota, but before he would suit up for the Gophers there was the matter of his high school graduation party and a surprise guest.

?Not only did Jesse show up, but he chatted with family, friends and a few wierdos," says Iversen. "He knew that by showing up, people were going to be bothering him and stuff, but he seemed to really have fun. He stayed for two or three hours, which made me realize that he was my true friend and a truly good person."

The amount of time spent by Ventura at the graduation gathering was nearly equal to the time Iversen remained a part of the Minnesota football team, saying ?football just wasn't fun anymore."

He had given thought to playing for the Gophers basketball team, but an academic scandal and the subsequent firing of coach Clem Haskins, further reinforced his desires to play elsewhere.

So Iversen transferred to the University of Delaware to play for Mike Brey (now the head coach at Notre Dame). After sitting out a season, Iversen quickly emerged as one of the best sixth men in the America East Conference (Delaware is now in the Colonial Athletic Association).

But Delaware is a long ways from Minnesota so the two don't chat quite as much as they once did, but they remain in contact through the mail and the occasional phone call.

Ventura jokingly admits that he is, "not good on the internet," but Ryan sends him articles so that he can keep up with Delaware basketball.

There seems to be little doubt that the basketball player and the Governor will remain great friends.

Both are sports enthusiasts. Both are passionate in their pursuits. And both are committed to excellence.

And perhaps there is another commonality.

"There is a little Jesse Ventura in Ryan Iversen," says the Governor. "He is fun loving kid and he has a ego, which he can back up."

About the only thing that separates these two would be their opinions on the outcome of a WWF steel cage match.

"If Ryan and I were to climb into the ring today I would have to say Ryan would come out the victor, but in my prime I would," laughs Ventura. "But then again I have more years of knowing how to cheat, so he may not beat me today."

Score one point for the 50-year old Governor.

"He's old and seems to be enjoying the meals," laughs Iversen. "On the other hand, I'm a lean, mean, muscle machine. You make the call."

One, two, three slaps of the hand on the mat and the winner is -- Friendship.