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Because people have seen me compete on the court, they automatically think that I play hard in my down time as well. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I relax, I truly like to relax. It's not about doing a lot of activities. When my wife and I entertain, we keep it simple. It's the best way. We try to create a laid back atmosphere where friends and family can take it easy and just talk.

Most of the time, we do the informal thing. You know, a barbeque with some steaks and wings. Some people like to pan fry and steak but, to me, there's nothing like grilling outdoors after a good day at the golf course. It doesn't get any better than steaks hot off the grill with Portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, and a baked potato. I suppose that, deep down, I'm still a meat and potatoes man.

I'm not anything close to an expert wine taster or connoisseur, but I truly love a good bottle of wine. My wife is better at choosing wine than I am and so I usually let her choose what goes best with a meal. But years ago, I fell in love with Bordeaux and there's always some around when we entertain.

As the sun goes down and the night gets cooler, I go with a good cigar to top off the evening. It's important that you take a moment when everything is coming at you. For me, a good cigar is a way to relax. Everything fades after that. I forget about the aggravation of business and sitting in traffic. Sometimes it's good to just have a few laughs with close friends and get back in tune with where everyone's at in their lives.

Anyway, that's how I approach entertaining. Good wine, good steaks, good friends. I feel that entertaining should be a laid back respite from the world where friends and family can truly enjoy themselves. It's not about playing hard, it's about kicking off and relaxing.

Learn more about this author, Neal Acito.
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