Angela Marie Stefano

If you’re like me, you don’t check ESPN.com unless someone tells you to. Well, I’m going to be that someone and tell you to go read Part One and Part Two of Bill Simmons’ column from this week, because, as per the usual with his stuff, it’s funny, and, more importantly — and the reason I was even told to read this column in the first place — it’s totally based around Almost Famous.

Now, once again, if you’re like me, you’re going to skim over this article because you really don’t like basketball, and you’re just reading the column because it’s based around your favorite movie. Simmons hooked you in by naming Almost Famous the movie of the decade, and you really enjoy the thought of reading all the best quotes from the movie — but the basketball stuff? Eh, skimmable.

I’m warning you, though, skim well. Specifically, quote #16 in Part One reveals some very interesting information about the part of Russell that may make you shudder, want to cry, etc., and Part Two brings up the idea of using “Levon” instead of “Tiny Dancer” in what is my — and I think a lot of people’s — favorite scene (or one of them) in the movie.

It is with this article as a catalyst that I give you…*drumroll*…The Almost Famous Drinking Game. I wish I could tie this in even better and say that the article made me dream this up, but Meg and I created the rules a few weeks ago. Just as a warning, you should know that we love this movie and know it inside and out, so, um, you’re probably going to find yourself drinking to a lot of things.