To look at Chris Jericho, the self-professed “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla,” you probably only see a professional wrestler. But this 37-year-old, who has been a sports entertainer, radio host, rock musician and author, can scream to the thousands in attendance (and the millions watching at home) that he’s a recipient of the James Joyce Award for 2008.
The Literary and Historical Society of University College in Dublin, Ireland, presents the James Joyce Award to people who have achieved excellence in their profession, but mostly to writers, politicians, actors and artists.
Jericho joins recent recipients Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, Monty Python founder Michael Palin, U.S. civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, former South African President F.W. de Klerk and comic actor Will Ferrell. (As you can see the range is wide for this type of award, if Rev. Jackson and Will Ferrell can include it in their list of awards and accomplishments.)
James Joyce wrote books such as Ulysses, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Finnegans Wake.
Wrestler Jericho penned a book called A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex, a more catchier title than any of those listed above.
Source: Houston Chronicle
