Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen Mad About the iPhone

NBA player Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a real down-to-earth guy who's mad about his high-tech gear. In a recent interview, he told me the iPhone is the one gadget he can't live without, and despite his celebrity status in the sports world, the 6-foot-9 basketball player stood in line just like everyone else to get one! Find out what other gadgets he'd love to see under the Christmas tree.

What are your three favorite gadgets?

iPhone: I definitely cannot live without my iPhone. I've lost so many phone numbers over the years because my phone didn't sync up right. My new iPhone always syncs up with Apple's Address Book, and so far I haven't lost important contact info.

YouMail: I used to hate going through old voicemails trying to figure out who I had to call back. Now I get all of my voicemails online through YouMail.com. I have different greetings for different people. For example, my greeting for my mom is different than my greeting for my buddies. YouMail actually reads the caller ID of who's calling, then plays the voicemail greeting I specified for them. It really freaks people out.

NetGear Router: My wireless router is finally foolproof! I used a Linksys for a long time and had major problems, so I went to Best Buy and asked them what the very best router was and they suggested NetGear. I've used NetGear ever since and it has worked great!

What's the most expensive gadget you've ever owned?

Probably the iPhone. Look, when I heard the iPhone was coming out, I was ready to hire someone off of Craigslist to wait in line for me. I asked the AT&T people if this was OK, and initially they told me no. So I waited in line for the iPhone myself in Eden Prairie, Minn., where I think I was about number 21 in line. Luckily, I got one! I absolutely love it, even though it cost me $600!

Where do you spend most of your online time?

I look at the Wall Street Journal, Foxnews.com, CNN.com, the New York Times, and then I spend a little bit of time on Facebook. I like staying in touch with people and seeing what's going on in friends' lives too.

How do you geek?

I am up-to-date on all of the latest technologies. I have a Facebook.com account that I use to communicate with friends from Minnesota, California, and Stanford. I think I use Facebook more than I use regular email to communicate with people. I also use my iPhone to connect to the Internet and check my Facebook account when I'm on the road traveling. I don't ever play any online games, and the only TV show that I watch without fail is "Lost." I guess you could say that I am a "Lost" junkie.

Do you download music or buy CDs?

I don't think I've bought a CD in a very long time. I buy most of my music through iTunes and download the songs to my computer. But I still can't figure out some parts of iTunes, like how to re-download a song I've already bought but doesn't show up on my playlist.

Mac or PC?

I bought a Mac three months ago, and I don't think I will ever go back to a PC. First of all, my MacBook Pro seems to be faster and easier to use than any PC I've ever had. I really like the way I can sync my iPhone contacts with my online address book! I don't want to ever lose another phone number again.

Do you prefer to send text messages or make phone calls?

I do a little bit of both, but if I have to communicate something simple, I send a text message. Now, when it comes to a family member or close friends, I prefer a phone call. I'm still really happy cell phones exist so that we can actually break it down in conversation.

What gadgets are on your Christmas list?

This year, I have just a few gadgets on my Christmas list. If they come out with a new iPhone, one with a better touchpad keyboard for texting, I might have to get it. If they come out with a new Apple computer, I'm going to seriously consider looking at that one too. But that's pretty much it. Oh yeah, at some point, it would be nice to have the fingerprint sensor on my computer so that I don't have to worry about security as much.