Whoever said pro wrestling isn't a good career move? Former mat slammer Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who snagged the governorship of Minnesota last month, has taken his political shaggy-dog story to the media with one deal that could even make Hollywood Hulk Hogan green with envy -- and a second deal on the way.

In an auction conducted by Ken Atchity of Atchity Editorial/Entertainment International Inc., the 20-plus page proposal for "I Ain't Got Time to Bleed: Reworking the Body Politic From the Bottom Up" was snapped up by Villard Books for a deal in the mid-six-figure range. The book will cover Ventura's race for governor, his background as a Navy SEAL, and his days as a pro wrestler and actor.

The book won't be entirely biographical, however. Readers can also look forward to a hefty dose of pull-no-punches political commentary from Ventura. On the subject of marijuana, for example, Ventura writes in this book proposal that "people don't realize it's a very multifaceted plant, that it should be used rather than eradicated. I can't understand why every environmentalist wouldn't get on board for it." A comment sure to warm Woody Harrelson's heart, but not one to necessarily sit well with the right wing.

Despite juicy tales of Ventura's battles in the wrestling arena and in Hollywood with producer Joel Silver on the set of "Predator," the book proposal received a pass from at least two major publishers on the grounds that interest in Ventura might fade before the book reaches newsstands. "I think that's utter nonsense," says Atchity. "The truth about a lot of people in publishing is that they never watch television and aren't in touch with what's going on. But people realize that Jesse Ventura's speaking to a raw nerve in politics today. I once asked him, 'Why did you run for office?' and he said, 'I ran to see if the American dream was still alive.' That's what people relate to, and that's why he's got national importance."

For less literary fans of "The Body," a movie version of Ventura's life is just a heartbeat away. "We've gotten about 10 offers, ranging from TV movie deals to feature deals," says Atchity, "and in the next few days we'll make a decision."

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