After I graduated from Syracuse University (Go Cuse!) and decided to try to make it in show business, I moved to Los Angeles. And like most people who move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business, my first job in L.A. had little to do with Hollywood. It was at the (now closed) FAO Schwarz toy store in the Beverly Center Mall. I worked there for a year or so before breaking into show biz and, for a minimum-wage paying job fresh out of college, it could have been much worse. I liked my co-workers, the store had a fun energy because of the toys and the kids running around and there was no shortage of interesting people walking through the door.

I remember one of my favorite moments came when the largest African-American man I have ever seen in my life walked in. He looked at least 7 feet tall, must have been 300 pounds, but not the kind of 300 pounds you get to be sitting on a couch all day snacking, you know what I mean? I was working the register with a sweet, but fairly dumb girl. The guy grabbed an expensive teddy bear and walked to the register, where he handed it to the girl.

The girl rings it up and turns to the man.

Girl: That'll be $54. Would you like to pay cash or credit?

Large Man: Credit.

The man hands her a credit card, which she looks at. She turns to the man and says, as was store policy:

"Do you have any identification, Mr. O'Neal?"

It was then that Shaquille O' Neal looked at me, puzzled. That's right. Shaq. I gave him a shrug as if to say, hey, I know who you are, dude.

Shaq just laughed and handed the girl his driver's license.

Girl: Thank you, Mr. O'Neal. Let's get that wrapped up for you!

After he left, I turned to her.

Me: How could you not know who that is??!

Girl: I don't know! I don't watch basketball!

Me: If a 300 pound, 7-foot black guy hands you a credit card that says Shaquille O'Neal on it, it's probably him!