I just ran across a front-page article in yesterday's New York Times about New York Gov. George Pataki's good financial fortunes thanks to a certain friend and college buddy from his days as a Yalie.

That buddy being none other than Rick Hayden of Lake Oswego, Ore., a law firm boss of mine from 20 years ago who's since dropped out of law practice and become quite the tycoon wheeling and dealing in real estate around the country.

The Times article is curious. It's apparent that the writers were hunting around for something illegal or unethical in the Patakis' relationship with the Haydens, and didn't find what they were hunting for. So the paper published what they did find, anyway.

The governor doesn't make much money in his public office, and he's got kids to send to expensive colleges and law schools. Hayden noticed this, and offered to give Pataki a chance to join him in some real estate ventures, which turned out very well.

Hey Rick, old buddy, old pal, remember me? I've got a couple of college funds going now...

Perhaps the funniest part of the Times' expose lite was the picture it ran of Hayden. He wouldn't let them take one now, and all his old law firm shots have long since evaporated from the 'net. So they had to go with his Yale college yearbook photo from 1967. He was quite the cleancut kid back then.