Posted on Aug 4, 2003 By Anthony DeBlasi                     <<BACK TO NEWSBOARD

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Courtesy of the DesMoinesRegister.com: Iowa wrestling museum honors Ventura By JULI PROBASCO-SOWERS Newton, Ia. - Marvin Erickson, 84, of Ames leaned on his cane, waiting for a glimpse of Jesse "The Body" Ventura, former governor of Minnesota and former pro-wrestler. "I think he should be the next president," said Erickson. "Is he here yet?" Ventura traveled to the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton on Saturday to receive special recognition for bringing professional wrestling to a new level with the work he has done as a politician. As governor from 1999 to 2002, he has been on every major talk show in the country and the cover of Time magazine, never ducking discussion about professional wrestling. Erickson had heard Ventura talk on a radio show last week and liked his straightforward, honest style. "I just enjoyed listening to him talk," Erickson said. "Who knows, maybe I'll wrestle him." Ventura, who won the 1998 election for Minnesota's governor as an Independent, said Saturday that he'll never say never when it comes to re-entering the political arena. There is only one office he's interested in. "I've already measured the curtains," he said as he held a chewed-on cigar in one hand and flashed a cynical grin. He acknowledged he was talking about the office of president, but quickly added, "Now, that doesn't mean I'm announcing today or anything, just that if I were to get into politics again, that would be the only office I'm interested in." He left office at the end of last year, finishing a four-year term. Ventura fan Skip Joens, 45, of Des Moines would settle for something a little less lofty from Ventura. "I wrote Jesse in as governor of Iowa last time. I didn't like either of the guys we had running," said Joens. "I like his politics better than his wrestling. I like him because he's not a career politician." Mike Chapman, director of the institute and museum, told Ventura Saturday, "You have made a bigger impact on professional wrestling than anyone in the last 50 years." He handed Ventura the Frank Gotch award in front of visitors packed into a room at the museum dedicated to the history of professional wrestling. Gotch was world heavyweight champion from 1908 to 1915 and one of the best-known athletes in the United States at that time. The award is given annually. Ventura had initially turned down the idea of the award, in part because he hadn't wrestled in high school. "I loved professional wrestling as a kid growing up, but I was a swimmer in high school." He changed his mind about the award after reading a follow-up letter from Chapman and doing some research on Gotch. Before becoming a professional wrestler, Ventura served in the U.S. Navy, seeing action in Vietnam. He became interested in professional wrestling when he attended a wrestling event while on leave toward the end of his military service. More than any other sentiment, Ventura expressed appreciation Saturday. "I'm humbled by this award."