:24 HOOP: Happy belated birthday! How did you celebrate?
Stern: I went to a meeting of the planning committee with the board of governors to discuss enhanced revenue sharing.

:23 HOOP: Exciting. Did they have a cake for you at least?
Stern: I’m embarrassed to say that a cake was presented and we immediately terminated the two employees that presented it [laughs].

:22 HOOP:Do players, coaches or owners send you birthday cards?
Stern:I get e-mails from around the country from different people in the NBA family and my response is always “bah humbug.”

:21 HOOP:Did you receive an e-mail from President Obama?
Stern:Hmm...I don’t remember [laughs]. No, I did not.

:20 HOOP: Did the hoop ever get installed in the White House?
Stern:Yes, the outdoor court was redone with a new backboard configuration. From what I understand they’re looking to enclose it for cold weather.

:19 HOOP:How would you evaluate his game?
Stern:He has a pretty decent shot. The fact that he’s a lefty would keep him from getting completely shut down in the NBA [laughs].

:18 HOOP:How neat is it to have the President of the United States be a basketball fan?
Stern:To hear that the President and his aides have stepped away from the arduous work of meeting with world leaders at the U.N. to shoot some hoops is pretty good. It sends a message about the benefits of basketball for exercise, fitness and relaxation.

:17 HOOP:When presidents get away for some relaxation they often go to Camp David. Where is Camp David Stern?
Stern:For me, that’s our home. That gives me the opportunity to unwind and recharge. But we also ski in Colorado, go hiking in Switzerland and I play a lot of tennis.

:16 HOOP:Do you have any basketball memorabilia in your home, or do you leave that at the office, so you can get away?
Stern:There are a few photos hanging on the basement wall. I have two that I can think of right now. One is the cover of Business Week after the first lottery with Patrick Ewing and me. The other one is a picture of me with Michael and Magic after the Dream Team won gold in the ’92 Olympics.br />

:15 HOOP: Do you ever take the subway or go on walks in New York, or is that too difficult?
Stern:Occasionally, like hopping down to the Garden, you can get on the subway quickly from the NBA office. But it’s not difficult to go for a walk in New York. I often choose to walk.

:14 HOOP:Do you wear a disguise? We’ve got to imagine you’re stopped by NBA fans everywhere you go.
Stern:A lot of people do, but usually they want to complain about one team or one referee [laughs].

:13HOOP:Maybe you should grow your beard again.
Stern:I’m thinking about one of those big noses with the dark glasses. But our fans are enormously good natured and loyal fans.

:12 HOOP:We see you shake hands a lot at different events. Do you keep a bottle of hand sanitizer4 in your pocket?
Stern:I don’t and I have thus far avoided H1N1 and any other plagues, so I don’t plan to alter my activities.

:11 HOOP:Do you find it difficult at all to not root during games?
Stern:It’s awful. I have to root for no injuries, no fights, and no calls that incorrectly determine the outcome of a game... Of course, behind closed doors and in front of a TV set, I am allowed to make a lot of noise when applauding good plays.

:10 HOOP:Do you remember the first NBA game you ever attended?
Stern:Oh, wow. It was something approaching 60 years ago at Madison Square Garden in New York. On Thursday nights, occasionally, my dad and I would walk up from 23rd Street or thereabouts to see a game. To a youngster, the Garden was an awe-inspiring place.

:09 HOOP:Who were your favorite Knicks?
Stern:For a while I was trying to be Carl Braun with my over-the-head set-shot, Jimmy Baechtold with my jumpshot… the Knicks had Ray Felix, Walter Dukes, [Paul] Hogue, Harry Gallatin, a succession of centers that were not Bill Russell [laughs]. Life as a Knicks fan was difficult, but it was fun.

:08 HOOP:When was the last time you took a shot?
Stern:I sneak a couple here or there when I walk around at a shootaround, but only if no one is looking. But the last serious one was when both of my boys beat me in the backyard and that was probably 20 years ago. I hung it up.

:07 HOOP:What lessons did you learn at Stern’s Deli that you carry through to today?
Stern:We opened at nine o’clock in the morning and closed at one in the morning and we did the same thing every day. Attention to detail and repetition can’t be emphasized too much. If you’ve got something going right, do it again and again, and keep your eyes open for how you can improve.

:06 HOOP:Who was your inspiration or role model?
Stern:My dad was someone I was always trying to please in the store. He and my mom really ran the business and were my inspiration there. In college, it was extraordinary to see the excitement that John F. Kennedy generated for ideas and progress.

:05 HOOP:Who’s had a bigger impact?
Stern:Oh, Michael Jordan. That’s easy. The world wanted to be like Mike. No one was interested in being like David.

:04 HOOP:Michael brought sponsorships and endorsements to a whole new level. Why doesn’t the Commissioner have any commercials?
Stern:Because he says “no” [laughs]. The emphasis is on the players.

:03 HOOP:We won’t ask for a brand, but what type of product would you be a good pitchman for?
Stern:Something very boring like a blue suit, a pair of black shoes and a white shirt. Nothing that anyone is really interested in.

:02 HOOP:How many ties does the commissioner have?
Stern:I haven’t counted, but they’re all different shades of red, purple and blue. Very un-imaginative.

:01 HOOP:Do you ever feel short standing next to these guys?
Stern:Always.