Bill Simmons book signing.

Tonight I finally met Bill Simmons in person after years of reading his column and even a few email exhanges here and there. He did a book signing over at Borders in Westwood so I figured I'd go over there and kill two birds with one stone (bird one: actually get book. bird two: get book signed and meet Bill). A couple of highlites: some girl went to the signing for her boyfriend, who couldn't be there. So Simmons had her call him up on his cellphone so he could say a quick hello. Some guy brought him a bunch of DVD's - the White Shadow collection along with some others. Actually that guy went right before me, so the first thing I said when I got up there was "yeah I didn't bring you anything." "Doesn't matter," he said. "You probably couldn't have topped that." Right. Anyway who buys things for the authors at these things? I went to two different book stores today to try and get the book in advance, and they were both sold out. Bill's obviously going to be pretty strapped for cash these next few months. He even told me he already had all the DVD's the guy brought him. I mean seriously, he's only been talking about those damned White Shadow DVD's for the last few years, did you really think there was a chance that he didn't have them yet? I think he even wrote that Fox sent him the DVD's when they came out. Alright now I sound a little crazed. Forget it. Oh one other funny thing: some UCLA guys who were there together brought a hammer and a copy of Rocky 5, then took pictures of Bill as he pretended to smash it to pieces.

I got up there and, after telling him I didn't bring anything, introduced myself and talked a little about how I started reading him, about how I'd read the first chapter of the book while waiting in line and that it was weird to read him swearing in print. Then we talked about Aaron Sorkin (West Wing writer), because in the "cowbell" section today he mentioned that he'd gotten his hands on the pilot script of Sorkin's next show (read about it here if you want). Simmons was really sincere about how amazing he thought it was. Even better than the West Wing stuff, he said. Of course Bill is mistaken about this, but I didn't want to start arguing with the guy. Anyway he asked me if I wanted him to write anything specific, obliged my request, and we shook hands before I took off.

A couple of surprises about the book: I already mentioned the swearing -- I'm looking forward to reading this writer without the constraints of Disney's censorship. Also, it's really long. It literally starts with Bill being born and apparently takes us all the way up to the Boston World Series win. Over 350 pages; and he makes little side notes in the margins of each page regarding certain things you're reading in the main text. There are exactly 500 of these side notes, so I think the thing to do is read the whole book and then go back and read the side notes, just as you'd watch a DVD movie and then go back and check out the extras afterward. Lastly: we learn the Sports Gal's name and his daughter's name.

Anyway, certainly glad I finally met Bill, and am looking forward to what I'm sure will be a very quick read with "Now I Can Die in Peace." Oh yeah, here's the inscription on my copy.