A book signing in Florida by Michael Chabon scheduled for tonight has been canceled due to the NCAA championship game between the University of Florida and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Chabon’s appearance at the University of Florida’s Hillel Jewish Center was canceled after a conflict arose related to the game, The Gainesville Sun reports. The University of Florida’s Gators face-off against UCLA’s Bruins in tonight’s game.

Oddly, the paper reports Chabon was supposed to be signing his new novel, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. That book doesn’t hit the stands until January 2007.

The Center for Jewish Studies, the event’s sponsor, has no plans to reschedule Chabon.

Original reports had Chabon canceling the appearance personally just to see the game. However, Chabon says that’s just not true.

“That’s crazy,” he told GalleyCat. “I don’t give a shit about basketball!”

He adds: “I have missed WORLD SERIES games because I had a speaking gig, and I love baseball inordinately.”

Chabon’s agent has offered to reschedule, but the school has yet to respond.

Correction: This story originally stated Chabon canceled the event himself, based on what the newspaper article reported. This has since been corrected.