The Post’s Steve Serby chatted this week with Giants running back Tiki Barber.
Q: Would you like to retire as a Giant?
A: I will retire as a Giant, no like-to about it.
Q: How can you be sure?
A: If they don’t want me, I won’t be playing.
Q: Why not go to another team?
A: This is me. New York is me. Playing for New York is like playing for no other place in the world.
Q: What might you do after football?
A: Broadcasting … running a hedge fund.
Q: What is it about Eli Manning that makes you believe you’ll capture that elusive Super Bowl ring?
A: He’s a perfectionist. His family prides themselves on doing what they’re supposed to do. They don’t try to do too much; they just let the game happen.
Q: What would you have done if Lawrence Taylor sent a hooker to your room?
A: I’d sit her down and say, “Why do you do this for a living?” (Laughs).
Q: No, really?
A: I’d be nice to her and kindly send her on her way.
Q: One person in history you’d like to meet and why?
A: Dwight D. Eisenhower, because he was one of the greatest generals and presidents.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Colin Powell, Bill Gates, Harvey Weinstein.
Q: Who would you want to play you in The Tiki Barber Story?
A: My (twin) brother (Ronde) of course. He knows me better than anyone. His R&D would be short.
Q: Who are the best dressers on the Giants?
A: A tossup between myself and Jesse Palmer. I would give it to Jesse Palmer.
Q: Describe your style of dress.
A: Somewhat Italian, but conservative with subtle flashes of flair.
Q: Who cuts your hair?
A: I do it myself. I have male pattern baldness. But I’m lucky because I look good with a shaved head.
Q: You were one of People magazine’s 50 most beautiful people.
A: Novelty. Successful twins in the NFL.
Q: Do you think you’re one of the 50 most beautiful people?
A: My wife (Ginny) does, that’s all I care about (laughs).
Q: What drives you?
A: I can’t say the fear of failure, because I never fear failure. I think it’s more of the satisfaction of success. The reason I say that is because I’ve been doubted a lot in my life. To succeed at something justifies what I’m doing.
Q: Describe the transformation you undergo when you put on No. 21.
A: I’m an easygoing guy. I don’t get rattled. I don’t let things bother me. But when I get ready to play football, I get real nervous, and the only way I can combat that is to get aggressive. My real name is Atiim Kiambu, which means fiery-tempered king. I’m not really like that, but on Sundays I am.
Q: The one guy you don’t want to see on the other side of the line of scrimmage?
A: Ray Lewis is probably the toughest competitor I have to play against.
Q: The craziest thing you did as a kid?
A: Debbie Reynolds used to live in Roanoke (Va.) on this enormous mountain. I knew Carrie Fisher was her daughter. We used to ride our bikes up to her house and see if we could get into the grounds.
Q: If you had a time machine and could travel back in time, where would you go?
A: I’d like to go back to the creation of our democracy and our fight for independence and all the things that happened after that; the battles that went on in Congress about where the capitol’s gonna be and states’ rights, etc.
Q: Three wishes?
A: Continued health for my family; financial security; world peace.
Q: What happened to the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV?
A: We went into our two-minute offense in the second half which we hadn’t run because we’d been so good the last seven games. Baltimore’s defense did a good job of confusing Kerry (Collins). He’d call the play, he would look down to get the snap, he’d look up again and the defense was different.
Q: Pet peeve?
A: Entitlement.
Q: Best piece of advice your mother gave you?
A: Be proud in anything you do.
Q: If I were president, I would …
A: Try to unify the political arena. It’s too partisan.
Q: If I were NFL commissioner, I would …
A: Allow some room for individuality amongst the players.
Q: How long will you play?
A: ‘Til my body tells me to quit. Three-to-five years.
Q: Does your experience growing up without a father change the way you approach fatherhood?
A: Absolutely. Only because I know how hard it was for my mother to raise me and my brother by herself. I know it’s important to have someone teach you the values of manhood.
Q: You have two sons (A.J. and Chason); would you want them to be football players?
A: If they have a passion for it, yes. If they ask me if they should, I’d say no. It’s a brutal sport. There are great rewards in it, but it’s brutal. My sons are going to be musicians; at least I think the older one (A.J., 2) is. He loves music.
Q: Describe your wife.
A: My wife is a beautiful multi-ethnic Vietnamese and Korean woman who is very stern when she needs to be, but loving and a great mother.
Q: How did you propose?
A: At an Easter egg hunt; I told her I’d never been on an Easter egg hunt. So we painted the eggs the night before. Ginny’s sister hid the eggs, Ginny and I went on the Easter egg hunt and I made sure she found the one with the ring in it.
Q: Your worst fear?
A: Falling from a high altitude.
Q: The running back you like watching and why?
A: Marshall Faulk, because I try to emulate him.
Q: Favorite athlete outside football?
A: Kevin Garnett. My wife likes the way he plays. He carries himself the right way.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Gene Kelly.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Annette Bening.
Q: Favorite singer?
A: Lenny Kravitz.
Q: Favorite book?
A: “By My Brother’s Side.”
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Macaroni and cheese.
