Oh, brother!

In those moments when I wish I could turn back the clock, very often I yearn for a one-way ticket to the Hampton Bays of Long Island during the summers of 1985-86-87.

It was during those years that the beach, women, alcohol and housemates including current Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay and ESPN/ABC NBA voice Mike Breen all added up to three summers of fun, sports talk and stories that will last till we're all gone.

As an early- to mid-20s guy who let loose with his friends, you can be sure I never did anything to embarrass myself on the East End of Long Island.

Well ... never is a strong word. :)

There was this one time I met a cute girl from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Even got her number.

I waited till midweek before calling her. When I did, her brother answered and told me she wasn't home.

Naturally, I did what any red-blooded, nervous young man would do. I left a number.

Unfortunately for me, I read the number that was written on the piece of paper in my hand. That's right, HER NUMBER! I read back the girl's home number to her younger brother, AND HE TOOK IT!

My excuse was being a bit nervous. But as for the brother, was he that dumb? Or was he making look and feel stupid?

I never will know. I was too embarrassed to call back and correct my mistake.

I did see the girl again, but we never went out. I can't blame her for not wanting to date a guy who couldn't even leave his number.