The Tino chat isn’t an interview you’d listen to, it’s a way for ESPN.com visitors to submit their questions to someone hosting the chat (Rob Neyer, Jason Stark, Peter Gammons, Steve Phillips, Buster Olney, and now…Tino Martinez) and get real-time responses…just like a chat room.

Mike G, here is a link to the Tino chat.

I didn’t realize you were soft for Tino Mike G. I once met him at Mickey Mantle’s in Manahattan and had a conversation with him while peeing in the urinal next to his. Dad, Len, remember this one. It was July 1996 at Mantle’s for a charity event where the Yankees (and some of their spouses) were the waiters and bartenders.

Some of the friendly Yankees that we met:

Pettitte and wife (Andy and wife sat with Dad and I for a while as they were our waiters, very nice people).

Tino: Good guy. Spoke to me like he had met me before. Asked me where I went to school while we were in the men’s room and if I had a baseball for him to sign. Something about Tino that surprised me, he’s listed as 6′1″ or 6′2″…I’m just over 6′ and I towered over him.

Marino Duncan: nice guy, didn’t speak a lick of English, wore an ugly jean jumpsuit that made him look like a mechanic. Funny, I believe he works at a Midas in Elmsford now.

Jimmy Leyritz: Loved the guy. Worked behind the bar and kept feeding me beers when Len wasn’t looking. Think he was hammered. Wore a black cowboy hat and boots.

Jeff Nelson: He was hammered and had to bend down every time he moved. Leyritz kept popping open beers for him.

Andy Fox: The most athletic looking guy of the bunch. Very humble. Was buddies with Pettitte.

Bernie: Nice guy, quiet. Smiled a lot, but spoke very little.

Some of the unfriendly Yankees:

Wade Boggs: Not friendly in the least.

Jimmy Key: Didn’t even make eye contact with me when I asked him to sign my ball, I said, “Nice to meet you.” He said nothing. Jerk.

Michael Kay (not a Yankee but had to comment): On our way into Mantle’s we saw Kay coming out, I said “Hi Mr. Kay.” He said nothing and kept walking. I can’t stand Michael Kay.

Just thought I share some of the memories that Mike G. stirred up with his man-crush on Tino.