Skander Yalaoui

Birthday:  April 13, 1981

Skander at the Ski Lodge - March 2000

play basketball, watch basketball, play card and board games, watch "Babylon 5," play computer games, discuss (argue) politics

Funny story

"Skander" is Arabic for Alexander, but it makes for a lot of confusion as far as a name goes. Travis Acton, a fellow basketball player and friend, nicknamed a young Skander "Scamper," in reference to how he played basketball at the time. 

Chad Montplaisir once asked Skander his name. Skander replied, "Skander." 

Chad returned, "No, your NAME." 

Skander again replied, "Skander." 

Chad turned to me, "Is this kid stupid, or what?" 

"It's Skander," says Skander. 

"No," says Chad, "that's your NICKNAME. What's your NAME?" 

It took a little bit of convincing, and definitely some explaining, but somehow, Skander always gets to explain his name.

Why Skander and I are friends

Since 1996, Skander has been my best friend - or as a picture he gave me said, my "bestest" friend.  Over the past few years, we've had some really awful fights, but we've remained friends.  No, things aren't as good between us as they once were, but Skander is still my best friend.

If there's a friend worth sticking with through all the problems, then this is the friend.  If there's a friend who I believe the best in, this is the one.  If there's a friend who understands me, it's Skander, and I believe he's always in my corner, even if sometimes, he doesn't realize it.  He's the greatest.

He's my best friend.