The "Screw The Chain Letter Aspect Of It" Version Of 25 Random Things About Me

So on her Facebook page, my sister decided to post a note listing 25 Random Things About Her. She then "tagged" 25 other people on it, with the instructions that whoever got tagged has to write 25 random things about himself or herself then tag 25 other people. Naturally, the instructions also state that if you do not write 25 random things about yourself and tag 25 other people, you'll get a scary phone call or you'll break a toe nail, or something like that.

I say pfffft to that. I've never believed in or been scared of the "destructive potential" chain letters supposedly have. But you know, sharing these tidbits with y'all will be kinda fun - I just won't tag anybody. Read at your leisure or your pleasure, and if this inspires you to to write 25 random things about yourself, go ahead. If not, that's fine too.

So without further ado:

1) One of my pet peeves is hearing people pronounce Xavier as "Ex-zay-vee-urr" instead of "Zay-vee-ur", and not only because I went to "Zay-vee-ur" High School in New York. I mean, do you pronounce Xerox as "Ex-zee-rox", or Xenophobia as "Ex-zee-no-pho-bia"? No you don't. Why make an exception for Xavier?

2) The first video game I ever finished was the original Legend of Zelda for the NES.

3) When we were little kids, my sister once wrapped a tiny rock in candy wrapper and gave it to me, which I popped in my mouth without looking. More proof sisters are evil.

4) I was 15 years old the first time I went clubbing in New York. As I went clubbing more often in high school, my sister covered for me and my folks never found out about it till I willingly fessed up a few weeks before I graduated. More proof sisters can be not-so-evil.

5) My first alcoholic drink ever was a glass of Vodka and Cranberry; I had it during that "first time clubbing" fact I mentioned in #4.

6) I did not learn how to ride a bike until I was about 10 or 11 years old.

7) I once had to save my sister from drowning in a 4 foot deep pool. Did I mention she had graduated college already when I did this?

8) I have had the honor of being Best Man three times already, to Danny, Dennis and Caton.

9) In the late 90's, Dennis, Danny and myself once went to Kinoko, an all-you-can-eat sushi place in the Upper West Side, with the stated goal of eating 100 pieces of sushi EACH. We succeeded.

10) I am a Laker fan, and one of my fondest memories was being there in person at The Continental Arena when the Lakers beat the Nets in Game 4 of the 2002 Finals to clinch the championship.

11) I have a PS3, a 360 and a Wii. I know of only one other person who has all 3 as well - my friend Sean.

12) The first time I ever went to a Met game at Shea, Daryll Strawberry hit a home run. He was my favorite Met ever until David Wright came along.

13) I am a big Alex Rodriguez fan. How big? Dennis and Anagha gave me an A-Rod Yankee jersey several years ago, and even though I hate the Yankee with a passion, I have worn it in public and there are pictures to prove it.

14) I have 4 books in my collection which have been signed by the author: Danger and Survival by McGeorge Bundy, Brooklyn's Dodgers by Carl Prince, Gasping for Airtime by Jay Mohr, and Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan. The Jay Mohr book is the only one I did not ask the author to sign personally, as it was a gift from my buddy Randall.

15) I am the founder and commissioner of the MCL, an 8 team keeper Fantasy Baseball League which has been around since 1996.

16) I was once walking around New York City with a friend at 1 in the morning and this guy holding a revolver in his hand walked right past us. It was the first and only time I had ever feared for my life in New York City.

17) The first album I ever bought was Thriller by Michael Jackson.

18) I used to have a 30 gallon fish tank. After all my fish died, I asked my mom if I could keep a snake in it instead. She said no really really quickly.

19) I am flat footed. Between that and my extreme near-sightedness, I am guessing I will never be drafted should it ever be reinstated.

20) My current favorite ice cream flavor is Edy's Swiss Orange Sherbet.

21) I'm ranked in the 99th percentile at www.hsx.com.

22) The last time I went horseback riding was over 20 years ago; I lost my balance getting off the horse, fell off the saddle and landed butt first on what seemed like the biggest pile of horse manure known to man.

23) The first time I ever drove a car was on an island in Greece of all places, back in 1994. My friends and I rented scooters, and even though I did not have a license and had no idea how to drive, I decided why the hell not. I survived even though I fell off the scooter once while riding.

24) I don't like lettuce or tomatoes in my sandwiches, as they make the sandwich soggy. I have no problem eating lettuce or tomatoes otherwise.

25) The best concert I have ever gone to was Madonna at Madison Square Garden during her Drowned World Tour in July 2000.