I had been out there long enough. I had not seen my family for four years.
I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game.
But I'll tell you this, it started with my mother. I have to give her. God bless her and rest her soul. I had a good foundation at home, so when I was able to go off and do these things in baseball there was always support.
Prior to that I testified before the Senate subcommittee addressing mountaintop removal.
Some moments it feels longer, other moments it feels like it's flown by; you can't believe you've done it all that time... Overall, you have a strong sense for the full spectrum that you've sort of traveled.
Venus hasn't been to the semis for a couple of years in a Grand Slam - she's been coming back from injury.
I might go on discussing this subject at great length, but after all is said, done, and written, my own book of experiences will best show what these obstacles are, and how I managed to overcome them to some extent.
But I want you to know that what I'm doing here I'm doing as a ballplayer, a major league ballplayer.
Individuals and nations owe it to themselves and the world to become informed.
I believe that good things come to those who work.
They are always telling us that Carolina Blue is not a color, that it is really Columbia blue or sky blue. But there is no bad blood amongst the teammates. All of our kidding is in good fun.
I'll talk to kids afterward and somebody will always say, 'I'll leave my bedroom window open for you.
First of all, I really never imagined myself being a professional athlete.
When your team drops out, you make the ABA look bad.
And I tell you that's one of the reasons why I didn't have the friendships with the media, maybe like I could have. But I had to do what I had to do to make myself successful.
We were very fortunate that the carriers weren't in the harbor.
So if people will pay attention to what I say because of our success as a group, I am going to use that.
The team has come along slow but fast.
One half-conscious thought was burned in my mind: stay on your feet.
It's a challenge between me and the hurdle, and the hurdle has always won.
I could never be a manager. All I have is natural ability.
I have my gold forever and no one can ever take it away from me.
I bet I made close to 20 tackles because nobody on either side knew what they were doing.
I love to be in front of big galleries.
I always felt good about myself. I was just an average person. I always felt I could do anything anyone else could. If an average person makes up their mind to do something, they can.
It was so difficult for the fans to understand my problems with baseball.
In the clashes between ignorance and intelligence, ignorance is generally the aggressor.
Eddie Haas talked a lot about not hitting the ball in the air.
Being the 8th out of 10 kids, and being the one that stayed in trouble, I sort of became a momma's boy.
Everybody looks at his clothes to see what he's wearing.
It's rare that scenes last more than 2 or 3 minutes, so sound helps segue from one scene to another.
When that bell rang, I wanted to go out there and do my thing.
Instead of me telling them what they need to work on, I wanted to hear from them what they needed to work on.
I wasn't originally taking drama, but the drama teacher asked me to audition for Bye, Bye Birdie. I did and got the lead role. Initially I was kind of scared, but once I did it I got bitten by the bug and loved it.
And for the first time in a long time, I'm playing along somebody that has that same energy and fire and plays pretty much the same way I do. So, that was just nice to say.
I'm human and I've played my butt off for ten years. I'm not a loafer, I'm not a jerk, I'm a baseball player.
I never slept when I lost. I'd see the sun come up without ever having closed my eyes. I'd see those base hits over and over and they would drive me crazy.
We weren't built to fly. We can do it, but we shouldn't be surprised if it feels a little unnatural.
Many athletes competing in Atlanta wouldn't be here if it weren't for corporate support.
I played with Annika today. I love being paired with her. She does not make many mental mistakes, and she has the ability to repeat her swing over and over and wears people down.
To attempt to superimpose its views through the exercise of force, is seldom the part of intelligence; it is frequently the part of ignorance.
Win it, or it's start all over around here.
I don't know if you could take a whole 90 minutes and say that was the best game we ever played.
Gee I don't know, I just want to get home.
It is not sacrifice if you love what you're doing.
I did everything I could to establish myself, but it just didn't work that way. I'm not angry about that.
We decided to go the way of trading and getting younger players.
Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but it was the man who invented the meter who made the money.
If it were easy, it would have no value.
If we can get kids talking about conservation and doing it, they can have a great influence on their parents by lecturing them and pointing the finger.
I'd like to be able to light the fire a little bit.
There is no doubt that someone who tries to throw a curve or pitch at any early age before he's developed, before his hand is big enough to grip the ball correctly, will damage his arm.
The owners have the right to pay you whatever they want to. They don't have to pay you if they don't want to.
Everyone is coming after me now. Fine, let them keep on coming. I'm the fastest man in the world, no doubt.
That's because the International Olympic Committee has a policy of never replacing medals.
Clemens and Maddux have defined our era, I believe. And Randy Johnson is right behind them and still going.
Those guys were made for me and Muhammad because they come straight in and don't back up but you had to watch out for his punching power but if we could have neutralized that then we would have been fine.
I think UNC and Lorrie Fair is a perfect match.
My family has always been there to support me along the way. My coach, John Nicks, is a great influence.
There is, therefore, no solution possible other than an economy directed by the workers through their organisations of control-through the workers' syndicates.
Really, I think that going out and playing with your friends is kind of becoming a lost art, with the kids in the neighborhood.
It wasn't about the X's and the O's and the strategy; it was more about keeping 12 guys focused and committed to a task. That group dynamic, and then helping them to grow as people and basketball players.
In musical theater you have to be very big and very animated, while film and television are more toned down.
You argue with the umpire because there is nothing else you can do about it.
Tony knew me both as an athlete and as a person. He cared for me like a father.
I was leaving probably one of the greatest organizations in hte world at that time for what was probably one of the least like, and, by God, this is America.
In the cold, shivering twilight, preceding the daybreak of civilization, the dominating emotion of man was fear.
We use a lot of source music on some shows and none on others.
The underlying message of the Lancet article is that if you want to understand aggressive behaviour in children, look to the social and emotional environment in which they are growing up, and the values they bring to the viewing experience.
My thought has always been completion. Maybe you have to rebound better, shoot better, hit free throws, handle the ball, defend better. You have to do all those things in the course of a game.
This is just another man, another fight, another payday.
When I went to college, we had a very good local following, but stations only televised two or three NCAA games a season. And when I went to Europe, once in a while we had a good crowd, but usually not.
I did Chicago on Broadway the year before last. That was a great opportunity and I had a blast.
Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common.
I know just one thing is those guys, KG and everyone, they're hungry. They want it bad. Sam's the only one that's had that, has the ring. Other than him, everybody else over there, we want it bad.
You can't get any pictures from way back there.
Well, everybody is trying to make this a money thing. If you send me to another team, let's see what I ask for. I won't ask for nothing. I'll play under the same terms. So it is not Gary wants more money. Gary has money. What else do I need?
And when I retired, trust me, not only did Nolan Ryan, but the entire Ryan family had withdrawals from baseball. And it was tough.
I am still quick at 250 to 260 lbs and I am smarter.
Motherhood is at its best when the tender chords of sympathy have been touched.
You have to look at how chemistry develops.
When I was thinking of casting this, I thought, What roles would Sellers be playing now?
I believe in the players and what I've put together and we'll make it work.
I am truly sorry that a fowl of Canada is no longer with us.
I have been reading scripts, going to auditions and looking for the right opportunities.
I think it'll be an emotional day. It'll be exciting for me, mostly it'll be exciting for them. I'm not going to get to come here a lot, so, it'll be a special day, hopefully.
Pressure is when you play for five dollars a hole with only two in your pocket.
I made every single piece myself, each individual component, so it was quite time consuming.
Among the world elite there are a handful of athletes who are physically capable of winning it.
I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.
You don't have to worry about whether the car is set up right or not, you know it is, and it's down to you. Ultimately, that's what every driver wants.
I take my son to school and then I drive 45 minutes to practice with my ABA team, the Florida Pit Bulls, from 10 to 1. In the afternoon, I have meetings.
Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates.
I was a little different. I still say I'm a little different, because success to me is not having the most money, or having the biggest car or the biggest house.
Most players in this league say they want consistency.
Now it's on to May, and you know about me and May.
When I go out there, I have no pity on my brother. I'm out there to win.
I was surprised I won the award because I've always been a very aggressive player and I earn my share of fouls on the court. I play rough, and because I'm an older player, of course I use tricks on the younger players.
My grandfather was in a barbershop quartet and my grandmother was in a gospel quartet with her sisters.
There are times everyone needs to be together for me and we all just work together; making sure that my energy is good and right when I go do what I'm going to do. That means the family needs to spend time together.