And like that, he's gone

Manifesto

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is clearly gearing up for a run at the Presidency. He's already got the self-indulgent autobiography and gives all of the right non-denials when asked about it. But if I were Gov. Richardson, I'd be reconsidering right about now:

For nearly four decades, Richardson, often mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate, has maintained he was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics.

The claim was included in a brief biography released when Richardson successfully ran for Congress in 1982. A White House news release in 1997 mentioned it when he was about to be named U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. And several news organizations, including The Associated Press, have reported it as fact over the years.

But an investigation by the Albuquerque Journal found no record of Richardson being drafted by the A's, who moved from Kansas City, Missouri, to Oakland, California, after the 1967 season, or any other team.

Really, is there anything to say other than goodbye. Seriously? Padding your resume. With something as stupid and verifiable as that you were drafted by the A's.

And this is your response:

In the summer of 1967 he played for the amateur Cape Cod League's Cotuit (Massachusetts) Kettleers. The words "Drafted by K.C." appear next to his name on a faded team program, the Journal reported.

"When I saw that program in 1967, I was convinced I was drafted," Richardson said. "And it stayed with me all these years."

Goodbye, Governor. Hopefully Mark Warner doesn't claim that he was drafted by the NBA in his biography.