BSN 10: Ten questions with Mark Barberio

First off, when I sat down with Mark Barberio yesterday, I thought I was talking to the reincarnation of Freddie Mercury. Barberio’s new Movember mustache has made him look like a dead ringer for the late Queen singer (I haven’t seen “Bohemian Rhapsody” yet, but it’s on my list).

Barberio is not Freddie Mercury, though. He’s a kid from Montreal who grew up loving the Canadiens and everything that comes with living there. As you’ll see in this BSN 10, he has some good advice for potential diners in Montreal.

Here are the questions:

1. What’s the one food visitors to Montreal should not miss out on?

“Schwartz’s smoked meat sandwiches. It’s a Montreal staple. Everybody has to try that, with the mustard, with the dill pickle, with the rye bread.”

2. Who was your idol as a kid?

When I was young, my favorite player was Al MacInnis. I just loved that slap shot from the point. And as I got older, I started really looking up a lot to, because I was watching the Canadiens so much, looking up to Andrei Markov. I just loved the way he played, and then I got to end up playing with him, which was really cool.”

3. What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever worn?

“Well, for me, every November since I’ve been 17, it’s my mustache. I really get a lot of funny looks. But, look funny for a good cause – it’s worth it.”

4. If you could sing one song on “American Idol”, what would it be?

“I would do a rap song. I would do any Eminem song that I know by heart. I think it’d be “Lose Yourself.”

5. You’re stranded on an island and you can only bring three things (food and water is taken care of, along with shelter). What would those three things be?

“I would need my Playstation 4 , so then I’d need a television. And, assuming we have Internet connection (we’ll allow it), I’d bring a guitar and start to try to learn on YouTube or something.

6. What’s your favorite smell?

Long pause…”Honestly, I like the smell of a fresh hot pot of coffee. Just the smell of it makes me feel good.”

7. Would you rather have one life lasting 1,000 years, or live 10 lives at 100 years each?

“I’d do the 10 lives at 100 each. I just think that…I don’t want to be around for 1,000 years. Too much baggage (laughs).”

8. How do you wind down after a game?

“I probably do the worst thing you can do at home, is play video games.”

9. What are your favorite video games?

I play three games right now – NHL 19, the NBA2k 19 and Fifa 19. I only play sports video games.”

10. What person, living or dead, would you most want to have dinner and talk with?

“I think a guy like Elon Musk would be cool to have dinner with. Just to pick his brain. He’s such a futurist. It would cool to pick his brain on where we’re all going.”