Jerichoholics turn out to see wrestler

World-famous wrestler Chris Jericho made his first visit to a college campus last night to meet some of his younger fans - Jerichoholics - and disclose details of his life in spandex.

"I haven't been on a campus in 17 years, since I got my journalism degree from Red River College in Winnipeg, Canada," Jericho told The Daily Free Press. "It will be my return to the world of academia."

Though last night was Jericho's first time on the Boston University campus, he has met many Boston wrestling fans in the past.

"Boston is a great town," Jericho said. "It's filled with Jerichoholics, filled with wrestling fans, filled with great people."

About 100 fans, young and old, went to Barnes & Noble to meet former World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Jericho and get signed copies of his autobiography, A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.

Chris Amaral, of Westport, was the first person in line and said he first found out about Jericho when he was involved with World Championship Wrestling.

"He proved that you didn't have to be seven feet tall, 300 pounds to be a champion," Amaral said. "That's why he's one of my heroes."

Fans brought not only copies of his book, but photos, posters and even a baseball to have Jericho sign.

Jericho's book chronicles his interest in becoming a wrestler as a youth and the difficulties he faced working his way to the top, starting with independent matches in Japan to signing with the defunct WCW, then his debut with the WWE and the World Wresting Federation.

The signing was advertised to end at 5:30 p.m., but Jericho stayed and continued to sign books for fans until 6 p.m., much to the delight of the people still in line.

"I missed my physics class to come meet him," said Wesleyan University student Nicole Johnson.

When fans met him, Jericho struck up conversations from baseball to hockey to whether he plans on making a comeback in wrestling, for which he did not have a clear answer.

Although the signing ended 30 minutes late, not only were the fans happy to meet him, but Jericho said he enjoyed meeting his fanbase.

"Anytime you get to meet great people, great fans, just sit down and chat, the time goes by really fast," he said.

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