Mark was a good friend of mine growing up. We first met at age 12 when Rainbow Lanes (on Knapp Street) opened. We were in a junior league together. I was a pretty good bowler then, averaging 144 and I was third in the league. But Mark was head and shoulders above everyone even then (he was averaging 160).

We went to junior high and high school together (he never graduated high school) and I tease him now remembering when we cut classes one day to go into the City to see a bowling exhibition at the then new Madison Square Garden. Andy Varipapa was doing trick shots and we were watching when, all of a sudden, Dave Davis (then one of the top pros on the tour) came over and said 'hello' to Mark (who at that point was in a few pro-ams). I was really impressed and Mark never let it get to his head.

Anyway, he had a stroke a few years back and we joked that both of us now need canes.