Nearly ten years ago, long-time Regular Guys playboy "Southside" Steve Rickman got "married" as a stunt for 96rock to someone he had never met.

Over the weekend, he got closer to what may be his very first real marriage. The 48 year old metro Atlanta native gave an engagement ring to nutritionist and weight-loss consultant Amanda Bakalar, his 25-year-old fiance.

"I knew I loved her right off the bat," Rickman said on air on Rock 100.5 this morning. "I posted on Facebook like a chick."

"She looks up to him like a father," Eric Von Haessler cracked.

"It's a soulmate deal, bro!" Rickman said.

He compared his relationship to that of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, which features a quarter-century gap.

Over the years, Rickman has created a playboy persona, proudly tracking the number of women he has slept with, which is more than 400.

I'll update this item after I talk to Steve later this morning.

This is what I wrote about Rickman's first "marriage" in April, 2003 for Peach Buzz:

In a touching matrimonial moment Thursday night at Dave & Busters in Duluth that aired Friday morning, 96rock's tortured Regular Guys sidekick "Southside" Steve Rickman hitched a woman he had never met before, the fetching 22-year-old Buford blond Tiffany Dunsha.

Nearly 50 percent of 96rock online voters picked Dunsha over six other contestants, a takeoff on the Fox TV show "Married by America." Presided over by puppeteer and talk-show host Lucky Yates (an ordained minister courtesy of Universal Life Church), the pair gazed into each other's eyes and exchanged hurried "I do's." They (French) kissed.

The couple then danced to a moving rendition of Journey's "Open Arms" sung by "American Idol 2" finalist Vanessa Olivarez as the audience swayed.

"I hope this marriage lasts --- at least for a couple of months, " cracked ringbearer and best man Emmanuel Lewis, the chipper "Webster" and "Surreal Life" actor.

Before the moment of truth, the ponytailed Rickman spent four hours imbibing countless Jack Daniel's and Cokes. "Don't print in the AJC how drunk I am, " he protested. Pause. "Ah, well, go ahead."

Brian Dunsha, Tiffany's dad and big 96rock fan, convinced her to enter the contest. "If he doesn't behave, I'll take his ponytail off, " warned Dunsha, a retired Marine, on the air. He later told Buzz he had doubts that this union would work: "I don't think they've got a lot in common." But he admitted, "She likes to party and dance, and he's a professional partyer."

96rock officials insisted this was the real deal, though they still need blood tests. Rickman promised to stay with Dunsha for at least a month. "He's really a fun guy, " Dunsha said afterward.

"It's good to be married, " Rickman added. He even seemed sincere. But it might have been the Jack Daniel's talking.