FanHouse Jim Cramer

Jon Stewart is, without question, one of the funniest human beings on the planet. The Daily Show is consistently hilarious and his "rivalry" (it's almost too one-sided to call it that) with Jim Cramer a few months back was just ridiculous. But that was all put to bed eventually ... until Lenny Dykstra had to go and get all bankrupt and Stewart had to go and find video of CNBC's Cramer going and getting all supportive of Dykstra when he first became a financial whizkid. It's almost guaranteed to be the best five minutes of your day.

Ben McGrath's New Yorker feature on Lenny Dykstra has been making the rounds today, and deservedly so: it's a terrific read that spotlights Dykstra as a can't stop won't stop businessman that despite seeming dimwitted, is exceptionally successful in his endeavors.

There's quite a lot to highlight out of the piece -- CSTB choose to go after his peculiar eating habits and life of luxury -- but I found this part most fascinating:

As of 2003, Dykstra had never used a computer, but he went about investing in the stock market with the same relentlessness and fearlessness that had characterized his playing career. He began sending e-mails to Jim Cramer, the host of "Mad Money," on CNBC, with questions and tips. "My first reaction was that it wasn't Dykstra, that someone was just using his name because they thought it was funny," Cramer told me recently. "My second reaction was: 'My sister's a huge fan. Can I have your autograph?' He sent this huge poster that said, 'Nan, I love you.' " (Cramer's sister is named Nan.) Cramer eventually encouraged Dykstra to write a daily column for his financial site, TheStreet.com, and "Nails on the Numbers," one of the site's biggest traffic generators in recent memory, was born. Writing it typically took Dykstra all night. "Me and Mr. Thesaurus were, like, buddies," he said.

So not only did an avid businessman and day trader not use a computer until a few years ago, but the first thing he did was start sending e-mails to Jim Cramer of all people, who in turn gave him a column -- which people apparently loved.

Mad money, indeed.