Dead Seriously.

2:10 pm.
After about a dozen wrong turns around the Disneyland resort, my buddy Jeff and I finally found the espn zone where the event is being held. We picked a cool two hours early, not knowing how many people would be here, given that it’s the only signing inall of socal.

2:18pm.
We just got in line, and it would appear that we guessed right–there are only about 15 people ahead of me in line, and suddenly lots of folks are lining up behind us.

220pm.
My buddy Jeff mentions that he hopes the person in the front of the line knows what he’s doing. That would be hilarious if we are all lined up behind a guy who just needed a place to sit for a while, but has no actual connection to the event.

225pm.
Suddenly the fact that I am going stand here for two hours sets in. Everyone else is mostly sitting on the pavement reading copies of their books.

I am wearing some new pants, and I refuse.

240pm.
I haven’t been to Disneyland since late summer–like august I think. Being back here, and watching all the people walk by as I stand in line reminds me of a project I wanted to undertake last spring for BCC but somehow forgot about: counting and photoblogging Mormons at Disneyland for an entire day. Seriously, they are so conspicuous–the white legs, the byu hats, and the 4 kids running around a 23 year old mom and 26 year old dad. Truly, these are my people!

245pm.
Just remembered my plan to buy bill simmons a beer. I hope it works out, but I have a feeling that the “ushers” are more like moonlighting TSA employees and will not let me approach BS with anything that could be broken in half and used as a weapon by a disgruntled Deron Williams fan.

My buddy Jeff thinks it is a great plan, and seems willing to be my alcohol agent here. Here is a pic of him in his red shoes.

255pm.
A sure-thing Mormon family just walked by. I was tempted to ask them about the TCU game. In other news, I appear ro have taken on the role of line authority. People keep walking by and asking me who is coming, what the line is for, etc…a very stout lady in a Jay Cutler Bears jersey just asked–and had no idea who BS is; she must not have seen his column today.

300pm.
I am a little disappointed in the lack of creativity of my co-queuers. Only one guy seems to be dressed for the occasion, and he is boringly laid out in a Tom Brady jersey. No Kobe gear. No Lakers garb anywhere.

310pm.
Last 4 Songs played outside of the ESPN Zone while we have been standing in line:

-Heaven On Earth, Belinda Carlisle
-Cruel Summer, Bananarama
-I think We’re Alone Now, Tiffany
-some song by Hannah Montana (I think)

I think ESPN is catering to the more masculine crowd.

335pm.
The fellow next to us in line has metallic shades, a Pearl Jam t-shirt, and a butt ugly new York giants cap on his head. Why is this important? Because we just realized that he is a huge knicks fan, so I got to tease him about the Jazz having unrestricted rights to the Knicks’ draft pick. I am giddy about that draft pick. I almost want the Jazz to tank themselves and get two killer picks.

338pm.
20 minutes to game time, and no sign of Simmons yet. I doubt he will come through the front door, but it is still fun to think about what it would be like if he did, and if I jumped in front, tackled him, and gave him noogies until he says that DWill is the bee’s knees.

4:00pm.
Joyride is playing over the loudspeakers. Someone seriously needs to be let go.

Meanwhile, going inside now! My first intentional celebrity (?) meeting. Hunh.

421pm.
Bill was cool. He talked to me. Like we were old buddies. He was genuinely cool, even when I made him talk about Deron Williams. For several minutes, we chatted about the Jazz losing a game the night before in Boston, and how much he had liked D-Will’s comments after the loss to the press. We talked about William’s emergence as a leader on the court and now, in the clubhouse. He even hollered after me as I walked away from the desk, making sure to get one last thing in.

More often than not, we’re underwhelmed when we meet people we idolize in one way or another; in this case, I was overwhelmed.