Q&A Howie Mandel

The 51-year-old actor and stand-up comic is the host of NBC's Deal or No Deal

SI: As a man who still works Las Vegas a lot, why is the city a good place for the NBA All-Star Game?

Mandel: You should always be able to step from the basketball court into the sports book without entering a vehicle.

SI: Did you enjoy lending your voice to the NHL's Stanley Cup ad campaign last year?

Mandel: One of the perks was that the Stanley Cup came to my house. What are the chances of a goofy, suburban Canadian boy holding the Stanley Cup in his home? That was the thrill of a lifetime.

SI: The Cup keeper always wears white gloves when handling the trophy. As a famous germaphobe, that must have pleased you.

Mandel: Anyone who comes to visit me has to wear white gloves [laughs]. So this was like a family member being invited into my home.

SI: What is your greatest athletic achievement?

Mandel: An athletic achievement for me is going an entire day without falling down and hurting myself. I wanted to play sports for the same reason I pick up the SI Swimsuit Issue: I like girls. But in high school I was 4'10" and 89 pounds. I joined the wrestling team. They needed somebody for the under-90 weight class. I figured if I had a uniform, I would meet the ladies. Wrong. The uniform looked like a lady's bathing suit. I met even fewer girls.

SI: Were you any good?

Mandel: No. I had a tendency to pass out a lot.

SI: If you could trade places with an athlete for a day, who would it be?

Mandel: I'm such a germaphobe, I don't want to be in anyone's shoes besides my own.

ONLY AT SI.COM For more from Howie Mandel, go to SI.com/scorecard.

PHOTO

JESSE GRANT/WIREIMAGE.COM (MANDEL)

PHOTO

MIKE BOLT/HHOF (MANDEL WITH CUP)