When I innocently noted to John Benson, so many years ago, that I was a pretty good editor (as long as I am not editing my own stuff) and that I would be happy to review his books before they went to press, I had no clue where that would lead.

Well, where that innocent enough offer would lead, I had no clue. It certainly led to this very website, and a number of pretty nice web gigs, and work for mlb. It also somehow led to Tout Wars, which somehow led to the book Fantasyland, which somehow has now led to, gasp, Fantasyland, the Movie.

So, somehow or other, that conversation pointed to my annual arrival in the Apple Thursday, with a film crew filming my beak as I checked into the Marriott Residence Inn near Bryant Park. They followed me into the elevator, and to my room, where my girlfriend Diane, unknowingly--and, I tried to call her on her cell to warn her,  but it was recharing--answered the door to me and the film crew.

They stayed for over an hour, asking about my trip out, my Tout experiences, whether I was ready for the draft, and how the zen works.

Of course, then they had to ask Diane what it is like to hang with  a fantasy guy, and quite simply, she responded she did not know too much about fantasy, but, since she lives in Chicago, and I bay area, and since we see one another roughly once a month, meeting in New York seemed like a fun plan. And, well, since Di has never been to New York before, well, that was the exciting part. (She is actually right.)

But, as all this began unfolding around me, I was not sure exactly how it happened. Not to mention my hopes are around a fun and engaging film are somehow halted by thoughts of "how can a roto draft possibly be engaging?" and, worse, "what if I wind up looking like a stooge in Borat?"

Late Friday-we drafted early this year to accomodate Easter Sunday--we were all introduced to Jed Latkin, the fellow the production company selected to play the newbie role that Sam Walker created in the book.

And, then, with four camera crews, and a bunch off lights, we were suddenly off to the races, having every bid and faux pas recorded for some kind of posterity.

I know it is hard to get a movie made. And, if you get the funding, and assemble the pieces, and get the movie to festivals, and find some distribution, that still doesn't mean the words "straight to video" do not haunt.

And, though I have never had a desire to be on a game or talk show, and I have never even really watched a reality show, I have to admit the whole process was pretty exciting.

It was fun, too. I guess the question is how much of all this will end up on the cutting room floor, and how much will make the big screen, if anything, and whether this thing actually makes it to any kind off screen.

It does make me wonder about this strange path of life, and how one domino knocked over--like an innocent phone conversation with John Benson, 15 years ago--could lead to this.

I dunno, but, like Diane in New York for the first time, I am truly happy just to be here. It has been quite a ride.