That's how Bob Newhart said Rickles introduced him the first time he took his wife to see Rickles' show.
I had never heard that before but found the story here.
http://rebrn.com/re/happy-birthday-to-this-comedic-genius-849895/
Perhaps some context would have helped. Nevertheless, Rickles and Newhart remained best friends even to vacationing together all around the world.
The quip you quoted would be something I could well imagine Rickles saying. His night club acts were not a brand of humor I appreciated which is why the friendship always struck me as somewhat strange and worthy of note on this thread.