I knew being accepted was going to be hard, but I knew I was involved in a situation that was going to bring opportunities to other blacks.

Kids are our future, and we hope baseball has given them some idea of what it is to live together and how we can get along, whether you be black or white.

I would come to his defense if I knew what he had said, and if he had said blacks have an inherent predisposition to criminality, I would not defend him, but I don't, I'm not sure that's what he said.

It's very hard for governors to say they're on their own. Inevitably, there's going to be taxpayer funds involved in their social life because they're being guarded, they don't drive themselves, there's someone driving a limousine. Taxpayer funds are always used in one way or another, and that gives the press an opportunity to cover it.

Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players.

I knew even if I'm a cowboy, I'm going to be involved in jazz in some way.