Tom Rinaldi at Harvard Bookstore

A friend of mine at work mentioned that the legendary ESPN reporter, Tom Rinaldi, was going to be at Harvard Bookstore doing a talk and book signing.  Thankfully, I was able to move some things around and join him for the event.  I'm a big fan of Tom Rinaldi's character pieces.  He always gets to the hearts of the athletes and/or events he's profiling.  More than once I've teared up watching his stories.  He recently wrote the book, The Man in the Red Bandana, based on one of his most famous segments by the same name, which profiled a man who was a hero on 9/11 and ultimately perished in the towers.   I can't do the story justice so watch the linked video for the original ESPN segment.

Tom Rinaldi did not disappoint.  His voice is just like it sounds on tv and it's entrancing.  For thirty minutes I was spellbound as he talked about the story and the making of the book.  Afterwards, he stayed and signed copies of his book.  When he signed mine he asked me why I came and I told him I was a big fan.  He asked if I watched ESPN a lot and I responded yes and told him about how I was a Husky fan.  He had such kind words for UConn and Geno- it made my night!

I've never gone to a book signing at the Harvard Bookstore but I had such a good time I went back a few weeks later when the author of Dining Out in Boston:  A Culinary History was in town.  I'm definitely keeping up with the author's visit calendar.  Such a fun thing to do in Harvard Square!