This Suit Is Not Black Posts

There's nothing I enjoy more than trudging my way through pouring rain to huddle under a small tent with people I don't know to wait to speak with people who, as a general rule, want nothing to do with me. But I hold my commitment to FanHouse with too much gravity to stay safe in a warm (dry) bed, so I made the trek to New York City's Union Square for the NBA Tip-Off 08 presented by KIA Motors Basketball Celebration on Tuesday and, with the exception of the weather (and maybe David Stern), it wasn't a disappointment.

Video, and some details, after the jump.

I don't expect a lot when I hear that an athlete is coming out with a book. I don't have much to base this on, as I've never read an athlete's book before, but I find the general assumption that the majority of these memoirs are written by ghost writers is a deterrent for a lot of people, not just me. It's with that bias in mind that I picked up Plaxico Burress' book, Giant: The Road to the Super Bowl, written with Jason Cole.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Within moments of beginning the first paragraph, it was obvious that Burress had put pen to paper himself. A bit painful, but obvious and refreshing. And honestly, I didn't mind it. He wrote his story himself, and Cole was around mainly for the editing process. It's not exactly a masterpiece, but Burress isn't exactly an author. I kept that in mind when I got to sit down with him Tuesday during his media rounds.

It's amazing how quickly 10 minutes goes by, especially when charmed between the lines and the slow drawl of this 6-foot-5 Super Bowl hero's speech. I wasn't able to ask all of the questions I had hoped, but what I did ask, he answered honestly.