Gelf's Varsity Letters sports reading series returns to New York on Thursday, October 2, at 8 p.m. At this free monthly event at a Lower East Side bar, hosted by Gelf, Jeff Pearlman, Kate Torgovnick, and Ralph Vacchiano will read from and talk about their work, and take questions. Pearlman will describe the glory days and party nights of the 1990s Cowboys dynasty, Torgovnick will go inside the world of cheerleading, and Vacchiano will chronicle Eli Manning's championship season. Plus: Todd Gallagher will challenge Michael Phelps to a two-man sports competition.

Admission is FREE. Please spread the word to sports fans and book lovers.

Event Details:

Happy Ending Lounge (official site, CitySearch, MySpace)
302 Broome St.
(between Forsyth and Eldridge)
212-334-9676
J/M/Z/F to Delancey
B/D to Grand Street
Look for the hot-pink awning with the words "Health Club" on it.

Doors open at 7:30.
Readings start at 8 sharp.
FREE!

More on this month's authors:

•Jeff Pearlman, author of Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty (Read Gelf's interview with Pearlman)

•Kate Torgovnick, author of Cheer!: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders (Read Gelf's interview with Torgovnick)

•Ralph Vacchiano, author of Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback: The Incredible Rise of the New York Giants (Read Gelf's interview with Vacchiano)

•Todd Gallagher, author of Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan: Taking the Field with Pro Athletes and Olympic Legends to Answer Sports Fans' Burning Questions

Copies of the books will be available for sale, courtesy Mobile Libris. Questions? Suggestions for future readings? Email varsityletters@gmail.com.

Upcoming Varsity Letters

November 6:
•Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream and Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager
•Drew Magary, co-author of Kissing Suzy Kolber and author of Men with Balls: The Professional Athlete's Handbook
•Dan Steinberg, author of the Washington Post's D.C. Sports Bog

December 4:
•Gary Andrew Poole, author of The Galloping Ghost: Red Grange, an American Football Legend
•Liz Robbins, author of A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York
•Jesse Einhorn, Nathaniel Friedman, and Jacob Weinstein, editors of Free Darko and authors of The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac: Styles, Stats, and Stars in Today's Game

January 9, 2009:
George Kimball, author of Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing
ESPN.com columnist Wright Thompson
And another author TBA.

February 5, 2009:
Jon Wertheim, author of Blood in the Cage: Mixed Martial Arts, Pat Miletich, and the Furious Rise of the UFC
And other authors TBA.

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