Matthew D. Masiero, 33, a friend from St. Joseph High School, said he calls Montesanti "Mr. Luck." He pointed to Montesanti's prize winnings on the "Price Is Right" when he was a college student, and his recent winnings from the Superbowl pool at his job.

Matthew Stracuzzi, Montesanti's former coach from Little League and St. Joseph High School's basketball team, said he was thrilled to see a "local boy from Pittsfield" win big on a national television show.

Stracuzzi and other coaches at the Boys & Girls Club of Pittsfield, including William McGovern, said they watched the show at the club Monday. Some of Montesanti's childhood friends had alerted them that he would appear on the show.

"You're looking at the show and thinking, 'There's Peter with Donald Trump,' " said Matthew Stracuzzi, also the assistant probation chief at Central Berkshire District Court. "I was just so happy for him. He was always an expressive, outgoing kid, and that's just what he was like on the show. He was a great kid to coach. You couldn't not like him."

According to NBC's Web site, "Deal or No Deal," is played by contestants choosing one of dozens of briefcases, which contain sums of money ranging from one cent to $1 million. They then open remaining briefcases, hoping to narrow down the amount of money inside their case. During each round, contestants may choose either to stay with their original briefcase or accept a deal from the banker.

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