First Running Memory: ‘In eighth grade when I ran my first cross-country race. And I asked my dad for tactical advice. And he said, ‘Just get out in front, don’t let anyone pass you.’ Pretty simple advice but it worked. (Did you win?) I took second that day actually.”

Running Inspirations: “Bernard Lagat, for sure. Prefontaine. Rich Kenah. Coach (Frank) Gagliano, who was my first professional coach, he coached Rich. He’s always asking me when I’m going to get Rich’s PR which is 1:43.3, so that’s inspiration.”

Last Book Read: “The Far Pavilions.”

Nicknames: “They called me Noogie when I was playing soccer, I don’t know why.”

Favorite Movies: “Zoolander, Forrest Gump.”

First Job: “Golf ball picker upper at a golf course.”

First Car: “Chevy Blazer.”

Current Car: “Nissan Frontier.”

Favorite Meal: “Pad Thai, Thai food.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Jamocha almond fudge.”

Pre-Race Feeling: “Anxiousness.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Probably the Olympic Trials in 2008. (Why?) Because I was the most nervous for that race and it was the biggest relief to have made the team.”

Most Painful Moment: “Worlds in 2011. Because I had a real high expectation going in. And I think that I was in shape to medal and tactically messed up.”

Childhood Dream: “Doctor.”

Funny Career Memory: “Too many to name. Hanging out with all the athletes here is great. (Who is the funniest?) Ryan Gregson, funny kid from Australia. And Will Lear from America. Gregson has so much energy. I just love hangin’ out with the guy. Will Lear and I go way back from our days in college, so a lot in common with Will.”

Strangest Race: “The semifinal at Berlin Konky went down and I had to take the lead from 500 out. That was a pretty weird race.”

Embarrassing Running Memory: “When I was in high school, a girl (Molly) I was really interested in, on the track team, pulled my shorts down while we were running our warm-up lap. And took my underwear with them [laughs]. So that was pretty embarrassing, in front of the whole track team.”

Favorite Sport Outside Running: “Ice hockey.”

Toughest Competitor Encountered: “Good question. Bernard Lagat is a pretty fierce competitor. I like watching Roger Federer quite a bit. I think he’s a tough competitor, for sure. I love watching tennis. I think those guys are probably the greatest overall athletes in the world, just given their stamina, power, durability. I love watching tennis players. (Do you play?) Not well, it’s pretty sloppy but I like to play [smiles].”

Last Vacation: “It was almost two years ago. I went to Mexico with my sister’s boyfriend’s family last New Year’s.”

Favorite Place To Compete: “Hayward Field. My home.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Outgoingness and friendliness. Confidence.”

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 240

DOB: November 9, 1979, in Houston, Texas

Childhood Heroes: “I really didn’t have any childhood heroes.”

Nicknames: “I want to skip that one, there’s a lot of them [smiles].”

Hobbies/Interests: “I like fishing, hunting and playing PlayStation.”

Early Baseball Memory: “I can remember when I was four-years-old, I was on the All-Star team in T-ball. I played catcher. If you know anything about T-ball and catching, the catcher does nothing except when they swing and miss, you put the ball back on the tee for them. That was me, the All-Star catcher [smiles].”

Favorite Movies: “‘Tombstone’, ‘Weekend At Bernie’s’, ‘Shawshank’.”

Musical Tastes: “Country, any kind of country. Pretty much anything.”

Favorite TV Shows: “‘Friends’, and ‘Simpsons’.”

Childhood Dream: “I was going to be a doctor all the way. But it didn’t work out.”

First Car: “A white Dodge truck.”

First Job: “This is it, baseball [smiles].”

Current Car: “Lamborhini.”

Favorite Meal: “Mexican food.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “I would have to go with Froot Loops.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “I’m just relaxed. I really don’t get nervous. Just wondering when the wait is going to be over. Another day. This is your job. You’ve got to go out there and take it seriously.”

Greatest Sports Moment(s): “So far, I’d say the greatest moment would have to be just making the big leagues. (Adam was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on July 20, 2001. He played that night in Florida and got his first hit in his second at-bat against Matt Clement.) And being an All-Star (in 2002).”

Most Painful Moment: “I haven’t had any really painful ones.”

Worst Injury: “I guess that would be in 2000. I broke my thumb and had 17 stitches taken over my eye. The third baseman ran into me on a pop-up.

Closest Baseball Friend: “I’ve got a bunch.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “I’m gonna have to go with someone like Kent Mercker — he’s funny. Do they have to be in baseball still? (No.) Pete Harnisch, he was the best. He was hilarious. Funniest human being on earth [smiles].”

Toughest Competitors: “You gotta go with people like Clemens. And I’ll tell you what — Jake Peavy is up there too.”

Funny Baseball Memory: “We were in A-ball. My buddy’s name was Randy Stegell and he had a pretty good game, so he had an interview on TV. He never had that before so he was really excited. So we kind of got him with shaving cream in the face [smiles]. And he kind of took it personal. So I get out of the shower and get dressed and go to put my shoes on and my freakin’ shoes are filled with shaving cream. He thought that was really funny.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “I like Tennessee … Gatlinsburg. It’s in old folks’ territory, but I like it.”

Favorite Uniforms: “I’m gonna have to say Toronto’s.”

Favorite Ballpark: “Houston.”

Embarrassing Baseball Moment: “I haven’t had any real embarrassing stuff. Just normal stuff, like droppin’ flyballs. Nothing really out of the ordinary.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “I liked watching Larry Walker. I liked Bo Jackson back in the day. (Basketball?) I’m not a big basketball guy … since Hakeem (Olajuwon) left Houston. (Boxing?) I like Bernard Hopkins. (Tennis?) Besides Anna Kournikova — she’s my all-time favorite — I like Andy Roddick. And Maria Sharapova (Golf?) Steve Elkington. Gotta go with my boy. We’re pretty good friends.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I think honesty … to me. And I don’t like selfish people. So you’ve got to be honest and not selfish.”

Early Career Memory: “I’m a sports reporter so it’s always nice and fun to be working and watching sports and also be a part of my job. To me, it’s been exciting to be able to see live, firsthand, which I love, sports. And I think the best memory is that, to be there, watching things that I used to watch on TV, now I’m watching them live and it’s great.”

Last Book Read: “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.”

Favorite Movie: “I like Pretty Woman [laughs].”

First Job: “I worked at a medical office, In California.”

Current Car: “I have an Xterra Nissan (black).”

Favorite Meal: “Mexican food, I think enchiladas and pozole.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “I love them all, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate.”

Childhood Dream: “I always said that I want to be a stewardess because I want to travel around the world.”

Greatest Career Moment: “Probably being at the World Series games and the Super Bowl when the Giants beat the New England Patriots. Being there live was like, Wow, you’re here. It’s something that’s not going to happen too often.”

Most Painful Career Moment: “I think it was an issue with my boss. When I did a story and he said we were late, he was trying to be upset with me, saying that story is not going to air. For me, it was very frustrating because, You’re not just hurting me, you’re hurting the news show. One of those sad moments I ended up crying. (What was the story about?) Opening day, baseball.”

Funny Career Memory: “Probably walking on the field, on a baseball field. And all the sudden my shoe got stuck and I couldn’t do a step over. So I’m just gonna wait for the players to come this way [laughs]. I can’t walk over. (Where?) Yankee Stadium.”

Favorite Sports To Cover: “Being Mexican I love soccer. I think the top three are soccer, baseball and boxing.”

Favorite Interview Subjects: “You know what? I think it’s always nice to interview people like Mariano Rivera, like people that you could learn from. Like they are just so nice on the field and also off the field. Like great people. It’s so nice to interview people who are so down to earth.”

Favorite Sports TV Reporters: “You know, I watch them all. I watch them all. I think it’s amazing how so many people have been in this business for such a long time. They have like a library of memories. And I always like to watch and try to learn something.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. And when they’re fun. They make you laugh.”

This is my first interview with Derek Jeter who at the time was playing AAA with the Columbus Clippers in 1994. We did this by phone…

Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180

DOB: June 26, 1974 In: Pequannock, NJ

Childhood Heroes: “Dave Winfield, Barry Larkin – shortstop, went to Michigan, always been a big fan of his.”

Nickname: “Jete.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Jalen Rose, Joe Montana, Tyrone Wheatley, Winfield, Larkin, Jennifer Capriati.”

Early Baseball Memory: “Playing for my dad (Charles) when he was coach. He was pretty lenient. When you’re growing up everyone wants to play for your dad. I played shortstop and second base (age 10-11).”

First Job: “Mowing lawns in Kalamazoo, Michigan (age 15).”

First Car: “1981 gray Datsun 310.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Sleep, watch movies, I don’t have too many hobbies.”

Childhood Dream: “Always wanted to be a baseball player. My dad played in college. I always wanted to play for the Yankees.”

Favorite Movie: “Major League.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Martin, Incredible Hulk.”

Musical Tastes: “Mariah Carey, Christopher Williams, R&B.”

Best Book Read: “Fab Five. It’s about some young people going to Michigan. Really interesting.”

Favorite Meal: “Spaghetti, meatball, and a Coke.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Frosted Flakes.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Being drafted. Getting the phone call at my house in Kalamazoo, right around noon. I was with my family. Felt happy. Relieved that it was over. Happy it was the Yankees, they were always my favorite team. We went out to eat.”

Little Known Fact: “I love to sleep. I don’t know if its little known. It keeps you out of trouble. I get a good 12 (hours) in every day. Sometimes all at once, sometimes I mix it up.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “Have fun. Try not to think about it too much. I usually just watch TV or listen to music.”

Toughest Competitor Encountered: “Mariano Rivera. Pretty confident, doesn’t back down to anyone.”

People Most Admired: “Drug and alcohol abuse counselors. Social workers. My dad does that. Pretty tough job – trying to help out other people. Worrying about yourself is hard enough.”

Memorable High School Achievement: “Named Player of the Year – USA Today in ‘92.”

Future Ambitions: “Play in the Major Leagues. Be the best I can. Win championships. And finish school (Michigan).”

—————-

Then we updated his Biofile several times over the years at Yankee Stadium…

Favorite Movies: “Seven – I’m a big Samuel L. Jackson and Morgan Freeman fan. Scarface and Gladiator. Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts movies.”

Musical Tastes: “R&B, hip-hop, Black Rob, 50 Cent In The Club, Jay-Z, Jodeci.”

Favorite TV Show: “SportsCenter.”

Favorite Meal: “Chicken parmigian.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the World Series, the very last out. I wanted to push Charlie (Hayes) who caught the last out [smiles] out of the way. A dream come true. I don’t know if I can describe it. It depends on what your dream is. My dream was always to win a World Series. So it was a dream come true. The celebration was great. I celebrated for a month [laughs].”

Most Painful Moment: “Getting sent down in ‘95. Got called up in the middle of the season for a couple of weeks. Getting sent down was the worst. I was in Columbus for most of the season till September.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “I just go out and play to be honest with you. I don’t sit around and think too much.”

Funny Baseball Memory: “To me it’s all funny. I have a good time in the locker room. I’m laughing the whole game. I don’t know if its too funny. It wasn’t too funny at the time. When I was in rookie ball, I hit .202. Terrible year, started off like 0-for-20-something with 14 strikeouts. Then I went back to my locker after one game and, do you remember those big red wiffle bats? They had it hanging from my locker, like, Maybe you should try using this. It wasn’t too funny at the time but now I look at it, it was funny.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Roger Clemens.”

Closest Baseball Friends: “Alex Rodriguez. Gerald Williams – he was like a big brother for me. Tino. Sojo. Tim Raines – one of the best teammates I ever had.”

Funniest Player: “Tim Raines, by far. Oh man, you’ve just got to be around him. Everything’s a joke with him. He laughs non-stop all day long. He’s great for the team.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Jordan. Barkley. Dave Winfield. Barry Larkin. Alex Rodriguez – I’m good friends with him so I like watching him. Peyton Manning. Michael Vick. Pete Sampras – he seems like he’s quiet and then he goes out and just wins. That’s what he does. Doesn’t talk too much or anything like that. Just goes about his business. Seems like he has no reason to talk about it, just go out and show them. I like that. I enjoy watching tennis. I like Serena. Tiger Woods. Larry Holmes. I was a Larry Holmes fan. Roy Jones – I’m his biggest fan. The Michael Jordan of boxing – the best.”

Early Baseball Memory: “My mom used to pitch wiffle balls to me in our backyard before my high school games. We lived right next to the high school.”

Major League Debut: “My first game was in Seattle (‘95). I went to Seattle, my dad came, my mom couldn’t because my sister had a softball game. I never played in a dome before, I went 0-for-5.”

Favorite Sport To Watch: “Basketball.” To Play: “Basketball.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Puerto Rico.”

Age: 33

Birthplace: New York

First Art Memory: “Probably in my room drawing. I used to copy comic books and I’d pull athletes out of magazines, Michael Jordan, and I stuck with that subject matter, interesting enough.”

Inspirations: “Athletes, music, art. It ranges.”

Last Book Read: “Well, I like Dan Brown. I was reading a lot of his books. I didn’t finish the last book. Then I started Pillars of the Earth. I got about 15 pages in and I haven’t had time to read. So I guess that’s a good thing, but…”

Favorite Movies: “Shawshank Redemption. I have a million but that’s probably top of the list.”

First Job: “I worked at a deli for a few months. Woodrow Deli in Hewlett.”

First Car: “Was a Honda.”

Current Car: “Is a Honda (black).”

Pre-Work Feeling/Mindset: “(Think about) When’s my deadline and how the hell am I gonna get it done?! And, I’m cursed with being a perfectionist.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I love playing sports. I love being outside. So any chance I get that’s what I’m doing. Soccer, basketball, baseball.”

Greatest Career Moment: “Oh. I’ve had a lot. I did Michael Jordan’s (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame) induction ceremony (in 2009), some art work for that. That was a pretty good highlight.”

Most Painful Moment: “No comment [smiles].”

Favorite Subjects: “Wow, that’s interesting. I like painting people.”

Funny Career Memory: “I’m sure I have but I can’t think of any!”

Favorite Artists: “I have many. Normal Rockwell. Drew Struzan. J. C. Leyendecker. Chuck Close.”

Embarrassing Career Memory: “Wow. Put me on the spot here [smiles]. I’m sure I do, I just can’t think of any. Maybe if you find me later I can come up with something [laughs].”

Musical Tastes: “All different types, rock, alternative, Dave Matthews Band, Ryan Adams, Zach Brown Band.”

Childhood Dream: “Professional athlete. I still do actually want to be one. There’s still hope, I’m only 33!”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “I’m a huge basketball fan. I’m really in awe of some of the things Kobe Bryant does. But then there’s players like Dwyane Wade, LeBron James – they’re pretty incredible. I was growing up a huge, huge Andre Agassi fan. I got to see him play an exhibition in New City, N.Y. That was really cool. We were close to the court and we could hear them chat on the court. I really admire him. (Baseball?) Growing up I was a big Mets fan, ‘86 Mets, Daryl Strawberry. (Boxing?) I watched part of the Floyd Mayweather boxing match (vs. Victor Ortiz) which was pretty interesting and bizarre. I love Mike Tyson – PRE-ear-biting [smiles]. (NFL?) I always watch the Giants and the Super Bowl – the commercials.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Good-natured.”

Career Accomplishments: Official artist for Elvis Presley Enterprises; Attended Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts (BA in Fine Art); Clients range from NBA, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, Ray Lewis, Justin Tuck, Sacramento Kings, jay-Z’s 40/40 Club; Michael Vick, The Topps Company, Allan Iverson, John Salley, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, among others. You can see more of his work at www.AdamPort.com

Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190

DOB: November 23, 1982 In: Spanish Town, Jamaica

Track Inspirations: “No.”

First Track & Field Memory: “I wasn’t really an athlete as a kid. Just used to play football back at school. Wasn’t really into track and field. My brother (Donovan) was an athlete but I wasn’t really following that. In high school, I was just, I just felt like doing it one day and I was pretty good.”

Last Book Read: “Was the Bible.”

Favorite Movies: “Like horror movies and action.”

Musical Tastes: “I love all music. Our music, hip-hop, dance hall, pop music, everything.”

First Job: “Never worked a day in my life [smiles].”

First Car: “Nissan Sunny.”

Current Car: “Mercedes (black).”

Pre-Race Feeling: “Just thinking about execution. I try to see myself running the actual race before.”

Favorite Meal: “Rice and peas and chicken.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Don’t really like ice cream that much but vanilla.”

Childhood Dream: “Mechanical engineer. (Why that?) I love cars.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Breaking the world record and crossing the finish line in the (2008 Olympics Beijing) 4 by 100 and getting that gold medal and the world record.”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing at the Olympic Games (fifth place). The last one (Beijing).”

Favorite Places To Compete: “Love competing in Brussels and Rieti, Italy. (Why Brussels?) That’s where I normally go to redeem myself after every championship and I normally run well there.”

Favorite Sports To Watch: “Soccer and basketball.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Christian Ronaldo, Kobe Bryant, Roger Federer, Nadal.”

Funniest Track & Field Athlete Encountered: “Usain. He’s just always playing around. Always playing around. Always.”

Embarrassing Career Memory: “When I had a bad start in Brussels and I crossed the finish line and I knocked the flowers out of the flower girl’s hand [smiles].”

Last Vacation: “Was Jamaica, went to the beach.”

Most Memorable Race: “The first time I broke the world record. I can really see everything from that race.”

Favorite Track & Field Athletes To Watch: “I love to watch the 400 meters, the distances races are a lot of fun to watch. I don’t know all the names. Sania Richards. Allyson Felix. For the men – just all of ‘em.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Well, first, I like people that are great. And people that are humble, not boasting. And not too much full of themselves.”

Career Accomplishments: Former world record holder in the 100 meters; Personal best time is 9.72 set in Lausanne, Switzerland; bronze medalist in 100 meters at 2007 & 2009 World Championships; Olympic gold medalist in 2008 Olympic 4×100 relay; Four-time gold medalist in the 100 at World Athletics Final.

DOB: January 5, 1953  In: Baltimore, MD

Boxing Inspiration:  ”Muhammad Ali. (Did you ever meet him?) Yeah I met him at a Riddick Bowe fight in Atlantic City. He kidded with me. He thought I looked like Joe Frazier [laughs].”

Nicknames:  ”Camden Buzzsaw, Super D, Instant Pro, The Philadelphia Iron Man.”

Childhood Dream:  ”I wanted to be educated. I knew as I grew older I wanted to be more socially interactive with people and helping people and that kind of thing. As a kid, it was nothing about fame. It was being of service to people. At one point, I even wanted to be a minister. My mom encouraged me. I just wanted to be a good citizen.”

Early Boxing Memory:  ”I was in Rahway State Prison watching Mike Rossman and Victor Galindez fight on TV (1978). And I looked at both of them and said to myself, I could beat both of them. I really did. I just could always fight. Just born to do it. Don’t want to glorify this. I just wouldn’t take no stuff.”

Favorite Movies:  ”Chevy Chase movies, Bill Murray in Stripes, comedies.”

Musical Tastes:  ”O’Jays, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, R&B, everything has spirit and it effects people. I never got into rap.”

First Job:  ”Library aide at Rutgers-Camden (University) library, summer job (age 15).”

First Car:  ”1976 something, I don’t know [laughs].”

Favorite Meal:  ”My wife has me eating healthy now. A lot of salads. She don’t even allow salt and sugar into the house [laughs].”

Pre-Fight Feeling:  ”Everybody’s nervous. The key is relaxation. Be cool. When everything is right, you can do it. I learned the formula for being right, for winning. It’s your whole lifestyle. Your life is together, your training, eating, living right, discipline. It’s all that. I learned how to stay above water, how to swim in life. My son said to teach him to fight. I said, I’ll teach you how to box. The fighting has to already be there.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  ”Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Crunch.”

Greatest Sports Moment:  ”When I won the (WBC) Light Heavyweight championship against Matthew Saad Muhammad (TKO 11 in 1981). I was numb, really, I was numb. Unreal. I came in so fast (became champ in less than four years as a pro). Just kept getting better and better. I was a big underdog. He was very dangerous. He hit me a few times in that fight. I always tell people, You really don’t get better in the gym so much. You learn in the gym. But you get better in the fights. I got better in each fight. I gained so much confidence in that fight. The guys who were prepared mentally for me gave me the toughest fights. Michael Spinks. Holyfield. That fear almost helped them. Got them more on top of their game.”

Most Painful Moment:  ”The second fight with Holyfield (KO by 4 in 1987). Just couldn’t put it together for a few years there. He really didn’t stop me, he had a flash knockdown. I didn’t come to go the distance. I came in there to knock him out, or, you know…just go in there and bang it out with him.”

Hardest Puncher Encountered:  ”Rick Jester. 1980, ESPN tournament. I knocked him out in the third. I could hear his punches going by. Seriously! He got me really anxious. I was sparring with Michael Spinks, eight  four-minute rounds a day in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. That got me ready.”

Toughest Opponent Encountered:  ”The toughest was Holyfield in the first fight (L 15 in 1986). This guy was unbelievable. I had him a couple of times. He wouldn’t break down. After the fight he went to the hospital. I always joke with him. And Saad, the first time. And a fight I had in South Africa (eighth pro fight – KO 10 Theunis Kok). He was tough, man. A southpaw. He had my eye blown up. I fought that fight and never knew where I was at. That’s how intense it was. I was only supposed to be an opponent. He was ranked up there. But I was not going to be denied. They called me a ringer. Where’d he come from? He was a tough kid. Tall. When he threw that left my eye  was closed.”

Family:  Wife, Aaliya; sons, Hassan, Ibn.

DOB: April 14, 1965  In: Middlesex, England

Hobbies/Interests:  ”Sports. Believe it or not – working out. Music is my interest and my job.”

Last Book Read:  ”I’m a magazine guy. Probably Behind Blue Eyes – Pete Townsend’s book. One of his many books.”

Favorite Movies:   “Exorcist, Jaws, Happy Gilmore. As of late I liked The Wrestler and Slum Dog Millionaire.”

Early Music Memory:  ”My dad (Aubrey) was a huge Rolling Stones fan and I was born in England. So he was over there during the British Invasion, basically he was a huge Stones fan. So I would listen, mom would go shopping, he’d turn on the stereo. I remember listening to the Stones when I was three or four.”

Favorite Meal:  ”Crawfish.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  ”Chocolate.”

Music Inspirations:  ”Thin Lizzy, KISS, Motorhead, Robin Trower.”

Childhood Dream:  ”A football player. And at 5-6 1/2 – on a good day – that wasn’t gonna happen. I got into music when I was 14. I changed from wanting to be an athlete – because I knew I wasn’t going to do anything – to wanting to be a musician.”

Pre-Performance Feeling:  ”Just trying to have a good show. Remember the ten million notes you’re playing. Just have a good show, really.”

Greatest Career Moment:  ”Difficult to say. Probably opening for Metallica in New Orleans at the Arena (with Down). Because it was hometown, it was Metallica, my dad was able to see me in the Arena. It was really personal to me. And James Hetfield got up and jammed ‘Bury Me In Smoke’ with us. 2008, November 24.”

Most Painful Moment:  ”Spain last year. Alcohol saturation. My motor skills gave out. Couldn’t play the guitar. Embarrassed in front of 25,000 people. And stopped cold turkey basically that day. I’m trying to even everything out. My eating habits got so terrible, gained 30 pounds, got away from working out. Went through a lot in the last eight-nine months. I’ve done 42 shows completely sober. (‘Which is incredible for a person that has never done that,’ interjects Philip Anselmo who is present in the Down dressing room.) Exactly. Since I was like 15. It’s very difficult. But I got comfortable with it. I’m doing a million times better than I was. I gave up bad stuff.”

Funny Career Memory:  ”Anything involving Dime Bag [laughs]. Seriously. The funniest shit I’ve ever done career-wise, Dime Bag was involved somehow. He was just a great jokester. I always said, you could be sitting in an empty white room with no power but he’ll make up something to have fun. Anything. Every day, it was never a dull moment. (Phil Anselmo adds:  ’One time we were in a hotel in bum **** I don’t know where. But everybody was out of their minds. And we had a bunch of **** books. He had like this toy sticky slime stuff. We hung the centerfolds from across the room and you had to drink a shot of beer and from a sitting position, toss the slime at the picture. And when you threw it, stuck to the wall, if you hit a (private part), you get something. If you hit the (private part) dead on, that’s definitely a shot of whiskey. And it became a rollicking good time.’)”

Embarrassing Career Memory:  ”That Spain show.”

Strangest Performance:  ”Probably Slovakia with Crowbar. Where they had literally like a ten channel PB head-mixer. It was a weird show. They had kid’s band class first and then Crowbar. They barely had electricity, it was like the worst PA I”ve ever played on in my life. And every kid that came on stage was like crying and hugging us. It was very…in a good way it was very weird.”

Most Memorable Shows:  ”That Metallica Show. Istanbul, Turkey was one with Metallica. And Donnington ‘09 – Download Fest. We really had a great show.”

People Qualities Most Admired:  ”Honesty. Just nice. I try every day, and don’t always succeed, to be the best person I can be. I try to be nice to everyone. I’m always holding the door for the ladies. Yes mam, yes sir. I just try to be as good a guy as I can be.”

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 241

DOB: March 25, 1976 In: Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan (is of Ukrainian descent)

Childhood Heroes: “I had very many heroes. Bruce Lee, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Muhammad Ali, my brother (Vitali). All the best boxers, so many people.”

Nickname: Dr. Steelhammer.

Hobbies/Interests: “Kite surfing is my passion. Computer, surfing the Internet. I like to wakeboard, snowboard … it’s so fun. I have a helicopter pilot’s license. Play soccer and golf. Work with UNESCO program ‘Education for Children In Need.’”

Childhood Dream: “I dreamed about everything as a boy … military man, doctor, spaceman. But not boxing.”

Early Boxing Memory: “We drove away to a tournament in Kazakhstan (age 14). About 40 boxers were there. I wait for my first fight. I wait, wait. I wonder, what happened? Where’s my opponent? (Tournament official) says, ‘You win. You don’t have an opponent. Only you here in heavyweight division.’ My first championship and I don’t have an opponent [smiles]. After that, my first amateur fight, I lost (on points). And after my first fight, I win everything that I can.”

Favorite Meal: “I like desserts. Every kind of dessert [smiles]. I like good food … Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Not cereal but cottage cheese and strawberries.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Funny Boxing Memory: “In Germany, we have two round card girls per fight. Before one of my fights, one of the round card girls started talking to me … ‘I love you, I’m really a big fan.’ A beautiful girl. But she was a little bit too forward. And she said, ‘I will give you the keys to my house when I come into the ring between rounds.’ I thought she was joking. But I was scared she would really do it. But I scored a knockout in round one and I never saw her again [smiles].”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “Concentrating and calming down. Caaalm. I think about my fight. And the very many people looking at my fight. I’ve been waiting for this moment. And I know only one can leave the ring as the champion. And I want to be the champion.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “All boxers. From every boxer, one can take the best from him. Having the best style needs the best styles to learn from.”

Favorite Fights: “My brother and (Lennox) Lewis. Those classic fights from Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Also the fight Thomas Hearns with Sugar Ray Leonard. There is many exciting fights, it’s difficult to say. I think I will be wrong if I mention some of the fights and some I will forget.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Olympic Games (won gold medal in ’96 in Atlanta).”

Most Painful Moment: “My fight with Brewster (loss by TKO 5 in 2004).”

Favorite Movies: “Midnight Express. I like action movies … The Matrix. The Mummy. Titanic is not so bad.Rocky‘s really interesting. The Terminator. The Running Man.”

Musical Tastes: “Classical, Mozart, Beethoven, jazz, pop, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tina Turner.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Difficult question. A part of Ali, a part of Holyfield, a part of Tyson. (Formula 1 racer) Michael Schumacher. Roger Federer — I know him personally. He’s a very down-to-earth guy. I love to watch tennis. (Do you play tennis?) When I tried to play with friends I had no talent, no talent at all. Ping-pong is my sport [smiles].”

First Job: “I was a school teacher and I taught biology and physical culture. But I have too much work in boxing now.”

Embarrassing Boxing Memory: “Everything done in boxing life I don’t think it’s so embarrassing, it’s just getting experience and this experience you can not buy in the shop. You have to gain it with your own skin and your own body, with your own mind and through time. And that’s why it’s impossible to say that something was embarrassing. It’s just everything about different experiences which people are making and they have to learn from those experiences. And they have to get better.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People who have good character, strong character. A will. And a wish.”

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 160

Born On: January 10, 1973 In: Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico

Childhood Heroes: “Ray Leonard. I like his style, the way he boxed, his movement. I met him at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the Yori Boy Campas fight. He told me, after him, the best welterweight he has seen in his life, is me. Coming from Sugar Ray Leonard, that was great. I shake his hand [smiles].”

Boxing Inspiration: “My father.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Raising cocks (fighting roosters), horses, horseback riding and cars. I always enjoy myself with what I’m doing. Listen to music, salsa music.”

Nicknames: Tito, El Cara Nene (means baby face.)

Childhood Dream: “Growing up, everybody told me I had the ability to be champion. I didn’t think too much of boxing in the beginning. Then, as I began winning all my fights, I began thinking I can become champion someday. It became my goal in life.”

Favorite Meal: “Rice, beans and chicken. Oranges.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Corn Flakes.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

First Boxing Memory: “Wow. My very first amateur fight – I lost [smiles].”

Early Boxing Memory: “The first time I fought a Cuba (Alexander Mesa) when I was 15. He was three years older, that’s the thing I remember clearly. I fought him in San Juan. He was a very tough fighter, he could move very fast. I won it by a decision. I always had confidence in myself, but that fight helped. Mesa and his people said I was very strong and a very capable boxer and that I had potential to become world champion.”

Favorite Movies: “Any cowboy movies or war movies. Mission Impossible.”

Musical Tastes: “Salsa, merengue, Little Grupo Mania.”

Last Book Read: “I don’t read books!”

First Job: “I never worked except for helping my father in his business of building swimming pools.”

First Car: “1985 Ford Mustang.”

Current Car: “I have different cars.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “Always come to win. Feel relaxed. Always have confidence in myself. Looking forward to getting in the ring. Go to the ring and give my best performance.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think it’s just been getting my goal to be be a world champion. All the hard work I’d done was crowned with the victory.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I have my first defeat (TKO 12 vs. Bernard Hopkins in 2001 Middleweight title unification fight in New York).”

Worst Injury: “None. Never badly injured or anything.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Long time ago – Sugar Ray Leonard. And in the present – Arturo Gatti. For the way he fights.”

Favorite Fights: “Leonard vs Hearns, Hagler, Duran and Kalule. All of Gatti’s fights.”

Interesting Fact: “I came from a poor family with very poor facilities and I reached the peak.”

Your Finest Performances: “William Joppy and Maurice Blocker. And Vargas.”

Toughest Opponent: “David Reid.”

Toughest Part Of Boxing: “The education that you need to have in order to be successful. Education with passion.”

What Would You Be If You Weren’t A Boxer: “I was studying accounting so probably an accountant.”

Last Vacation: “Orlando, Florida.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “No matter what happens to me, I admire people who are with me in the best of times and worst times.”

Funny Boxing Memory: “One of the funniest things was when the press conference in Las Vegas a couple of years ago (when I was retired), I didn’t expect Don King to…he came to the press conference and composed a song for me. And he sung the song…”(Tito sings) Tito you’re my shining star, please don’t go away!”