and I thought the people who voted against him were nuts.

When I was first elected I got 50% of the vote in '77 in the general election. In '81 I got 75%. In '85, I got 78%. No mayor has ever gotten that high a vote. So it was not an issue. Except for people who were very hostile to me. They thought they would injure me.

Twelve years ago, if someone attacked me, I wouldn't let them get away with it. I'd take them on. I now perceive my job to include allowing people to vent their rage.

We knew before the year we had a good team. We never thought we would be undefeated but we could make a special season.

We didn't want to share it. We thought that would put a damper on the end of the season.

That was one of our goals, to surprise people. Everyone thought that we'd be down, but we want to show we still have something special.