The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the Yankees’ ace lefty who is beginning his seven-year, $161 million contract.

Q: What did you weigh at birth?

A: Eight pounds, six ounces.

Q: Heaviest you’ve ever been?

A: 315.

Q: Weight now?

A: 309.

Q: What is your playing weight?

A: Anywhere from 300 to 305.

Q: Jersey size?

A: 56.

Q: Waist?

A: 44.

Q: Do you have a special diet?

A: I watch what I eat. My wife is a pretty good cook.

Q: Favorite item at Tao?

A: Kobe beef.

Q: Your mound temperament?

A: I like to think it’s pretty even-keeled. I’m usually a pretty laid-back guy. Once I get on the mound, I get a little revved-up. I try to keep my emotions under wraps . . . having fun.

Q: Tell me about a time when you couldn’t keep your emotions in check.

A: Ohmigod! Since I’ve been able to do that, I’ve been a better pitcher. All the way up to 2004, 2005, I’d get a bad call – I’d think a ball is a strike and they call it a ball – I’d get upset.

Q: Your most emotional moment?

A: It had to be 2004 in Chicago. I threw a curveball to Jose Valentin, and I thought it was a strike; he called it a ball. I threw my arms up, cussing . . . the umpire came from behind the plate. It was a big ordeal.

Q: You didn’t get thrown out?

A: I was close, though.

Q: You know LeBron (James)?

A: I got a chance to watch him when he was in high school.

Q: Knicks fans want to know if you’ll help them recruit LeBron.

A: I’ll do my best (chuckles).

Q: What kind of guy is he?

A: He’s a great dude, especially for as big a superstar as he is. . . . He’s real humble.

Q: Do you think LeBron would be a good fit for New York?

A: I do, I really do. The biggest city in the world . . . the biggest stage. It would be the perfect place for him.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: [President Barack] Obama; Jackie Robinson; Michael Jordan.

Q: Why Jackie Robinson?

A: Just to talk to him about what he went through.

Q: Why Obama?

A: Just to congratulate him and tell him what an inspiration he is.

Q: Why Jordan?

A: He’s the ultimate competitor, man. Just to talk to him about what he thought in big-game situations.

Q: He had that killer instinct.

A: Exactly.

Q: Do you?

A: I like to think that I have that.

Q: You’re driven to win a World Series?

A: Yeah. That’s why I’m here.

Q: What have you learned about pitching in the postseason?

A: Just do my job and not try to do too much. I felt like I had to throw eight innings of shutout ball.

Q: Your first All-Star Game in 2003?

A: I was just kinda in awe. I didn’t get a chance to play, which was good.

Q: Get any autographs?

A: I’m really an autograph hound, man.

Q: What autographs did you get?

A: I got A-Rod; I got Barry (Bonds); I got a Hank Blalock; I got Magglio [Ordonez].

Q: Never got (Derek) Jeter?

A: I got his jersey a couple of years ago. I go to our equipment manager and order different guys’ jerseys and then I’ll get (them) signed.

Q: The dwindling number of African-American baseball players concerns you?

A: Baseball’s a sport where you go out and play catch with your dad. There are not a lot of fathers in a lot of African-American communities; there are a lot of single parents. . . . Kids grow up with their grandmothers and grandfathers. . . . The easiest thing to do is grab a basketball, or throw a football in the street.

Q: First tattoo?

A: Double C up on my shoulder.

Q: Favorite tattoo?

A: I’ve got my (three) kids’ footprints from when they were born (on my forearm).

Q: Why do you wear your hat cocked?

A: It feels straight to me when I have it on.

Q: The time your mother (Margie) sent you home during a game when you were 10?

A: I had given up a home run. I was the first hitter up and I struck out.

I threw my bat and started crying. She went like this (come here motion).

I knew exactly what she meant. She told me to go home.

I hopped on my bike and packed up my stuff. She was all about sportsmanship and things.

Q: What did she tell you when she got home?

A: She was yelling. She was pretty upset. If I ever did anything like that, she’d take me completely out of sports.

Q: Getting robbed at gunpoint seven years ago?

A: I put myself in a bad situation. Wrong place, wrong time.

Q: Was it scary?

A: It was definitely scary having a gun pointed in your face and you’re laying on the ground (with) my cousin sitting right next to me.

Q: Pitchers you liked watching?

A: Tom Glavine when I was young . . . A.J. (Burnett) . . . Randy Johnson.

Q: Starting your sixth Opening Day . . . as a Yankee?

A: If I am the guy, I’ll definitely be honored to be able to start for this organization – especially with the pitching staff we have.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Ken Griffey Jr. I was a left-handed hitter.

Q: UCLA recruited you out of high school as a tight end?

A: UCLA wanted me to play just football only. Cal wanted me to play football only.

A couple of schools wanted me to play basketball only.

Q: Favorite tight end?

A: Keith Jackson.

Q: You played power forward in high school?

A: I averaged 10 rebounds. I was that guy who did all the dirty work.

Q: You’ve met John Cena?

A: My son loves him, We watch wrestling all the time.

Q: Your son Carsten Charles III is a huge baseball fan?

A: He kept saying, “When are you playing for the Yankees?” He wanted me to play for the Yankees so bad.

Q: Why?

A: He plays Power Pros on Wii. The Yankees are his favorite team on that game.

Q: His favorite Yankee?

A: Derek Jeter, of course.

Q: Does your son remind you of you growing up?

A: Everybody says I was like that. My dad used to tell me I’d watch Raider games with him.

Q: It’s tough being a Raiders fan right now?

A: It is, right now, but hopefully they’ll turn it around. They got JaMarcus (Russell). . . . Maybe they’ll draft (WR Michael) Crabtree and see how it goes.

Q: The Seahawks will grab him (at No. 4; the Raiders pick seventh).

A: I like (Missouri WR Jeremy) Maclin though.

Q: Your one-hitter (Aug. 31, 2008 at Pittsburgh) some thought should have been a no-hitter.

A: I thought it was a one-hitter. If I make the play, it would have been a no-hitter, but I didn’t make the play. It was my own fault. It falls on my shoulders.

Q: You had planned on having your marriage proposal videotaped on Christmas morning?

A: It was supposed to be a big production. I got nervous about what I was gonna say. I got on my knees privately up in our bedroom the night before. Everybody was upset with me.

Q: You used to have a Rottweiler named Halle?

A: We’re in the process of getting

a German Shepherd.

Q: Favorite NYC things?

A: My wife (Amber) likes to shop.

I like to shop.

Q: Favorite childhood memory?

A: Going to Disneyland with my parents when I was 7.

Q: How did your parents splitting when you were 13 affect you?

A: It really didn’t. My mom did a great job never bad-mouthing my father. She always pushed for us to get closer.

Q: And you did?

A: When he came out to Cleveland and lived with me for a year and a half before he passed away.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Thanksgiving at my aunt’s house.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Coming to America.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Halle Berry.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Jay-Z.

Q: Strikeouts For Troops?

A: Barry Zito called me up and asked me if I wanted to be part of it. I was definitely all in for that.