I was able to fool Bobby in one aspect of my contract negotiations. For years, Bobby thought it was my agent, Ralph Cindrich, who was the bad guy, holding out and needing Bobby for that extra little incentive of Bonus.

It was me the whole time. I always orchestrated it with Ralph on what I wanted, what I was and wasn’t going to do. Ralph accepted the bad-guy role. It was never, “Mark wants this or Mark wants that.” It was, “WE gotta have this, WE gotta ave that.”

Bobby used to get so ticked off at Ralph. He’d come up to me and say, “May Day, I love the way you play, and it’s great to have you around. But that SOB Cindrich is tough to deal with.”

Bobby, if you only knew.

As long as we’re on the subject of Ralph Cindrich, please allow me to make a quick plug; fully realizing it’s not popular to say nice things about agents and lawyers. Believe me, I don’t make a habit of it. I’m one of those guys who reaches for the remote when the Oscar winners start thanking their agents. But Ralph Cindrich was my first and only agent and will always be my legal representative as far as sports and entertainment are concerned.

Of much greater value, though, is the friendship I have with Ralph and his family. From day one, we’ve had a bond. Ralph, his wife, Mary, son Michael, and daughter, Christina are among my most cherished friends.