As most of you know my name is Tom and I am Richie’s brother and as you see the best man. I just want to get all of the thank you’s out of the way early. First of all I thank every single on of you for coming. I know there is a good amount of you who don’t know me, but that’s cool we’ll all party later. I also want to thank Richie and Kristin for bringing us all together. They’re both two of the most wonderful, caring and loving people I have had in my life. You both mean the world to me and they don’t make better brothers than Rich.

I just want to stop the speech really quick to inform everyone that there is an illness going around. So if anyone is feeling nauseas, nervous or depressed chances are you married a young man named Richie Grossman at around 3 this afternoon.  

Gentleman I’m sure you will all agree with me that it is a sad day for single men, because yet another Beauty leaves the available list. And Ladies I’m sure you will agree with me that…. It’s probably not that sad of a day at all.

I was always jealous of Rich. He got most of the attention at home especially with my father. I think Rich’s personality and sense of humor resulted from the games dad played with him as a kid. My father really helped mold the boy we know and love. I’ll never forget it. They played this game where Dad used to throw Rich in the air – and walk away.

I know what you’re all waiting for. You want me to say an obnoxious joke about an ex girl friend or how many girls my brother has been with, but today is supposed to be a happy day and I refuse to conform to your wishes.. But, suffice to say Rich, 31 was always your lucky number.

I spoke to Kristin’s dad earlier and he was reminiscing about how fast children grow up. He told me how he used to take Kristin to the church events where they have a bunch of animals roaming around. He told me he could never get her away from the donkeys. I guess it’s no coincidence fifteen years later; here she is getting married to a jackass.

He also told me how Rich asked him for Kristens hand in marriage. He said that it was fine by him, providing Rich took the hand that for the last 20 years had spent most of it's time in his wallet!

I wanna throw a big thanks to the Bridesmaids. Now I know what you're thinking, but you'd be surprised. It is apparently quite difficult to pout, look pretty, and hold flowers all at the same time, especially for an hour. Try holding your hands up like a Christmas caroler all night long. I promise you it’s not fun. I'm sure you'll all agree they've performed such a role fantastically. And that was in spite of some of the inevitable rivalry and competition that will naturally exist between them. Indeed, prior to the service I witnessed an angry looking argument about who was to get the first dance with the Best Man - Understandable, I thought - until I got closer and heard them saying, 'You!', 'no, you!'

I think its important to have something you can truly love in life, something that no one else can understand but you. Something that will always be there and that no matter how much you want to give up on that something deep down you know you love it more than anything in the world. For Rich that something is the New York Mets, but don’t be offended Kristin, My brother always told me that you were his silver medal.

Rich I was with you during the worst moment of your life when Mike Piazza popped out to deep deep DEEP center where Bernie Williams made the play while you stood on the coffee table in our living room. Now I am glad I can be with you here today on the best day of your life. You’re an awesome brother. I wish I were half as good of a brother as you are to me than I am to you; it has truly been an honor to be your best man. Kristin is a lovely person, she deserves a great husband, and she has found one in you. I started planning this speech six months ago, and you all must feel like I have been delivering it equally as long, but now it gives me immense pleasure, not to mention relief, to invite you all to stand and raise your glasses in a toast to Richie and Kristin.