Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

One of my favorites, Chuck Klosterman, made two stops in DC this week to promote the paperback version of his latest offering, Chuck Klosterman IV. (Like Led Zeppelin IV, get it? I bet Mike Damone does.) His reading before a crowded Olsson's Books and Records was light and entertaining, as was the Q & A that followed. Much of the evening was spent discussing reality TV, North Dakota, celeb obits, The Sopranos finale, blog culture, etc., and here are a few sports-related notes:

· He plans to write a book about the relationship between sports and violence, but he has a non-sports novel due out next summer.

· Former Rangers pitcher Rick Helling is his archenemy, because the guy was an ass when the two attended basketball camp together as tweenagers.

· He gets a +1 for looking like a red-haired wookie, a +2 for wearing a Beatles-inspired '80s Celtics shirt and a +3 for the look in that young lady's eye.

For those who aren't familiar with Klosterman, here's how I'd rank his four books:

4. Killing Yourself to Live: His personal favorite, although I struggled through it a bit. Enjoyed the stuff about dead rock stars, but not so much with the ex-lovers stuff.

3. Chuck Klosterman IV: Primarily a collection of previously published essays and features, most of which originally ran in Spin and Esquire, including one about Steve Nash.

2. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: It was awesome reading a book with entire chapters dedicated to Saved by the Bell and The Real World.

1. Fargo Rock City: His first book and my favorite, maybe because it was my introduction to his style. The bit comparing the second side of G 'n' R Lies to Abbey Road's album-ending medley is priceless.

If you're familiar with Klosterman's work, feel free to disagree.

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• #1 Comment from smperk 
  7/13/07 12:25 PM | Permalink

  Awesome, Mr. I.
  
  I was there, and asked the blogging question.  What a fun time that was.