Initially, we were told that the Israelis escaped and the terrorists were captured. We didn't learn about the disaster at the helicopters (where the hostages were killed) until much later.

There was such a camaraderie. We gave each other Olympic 1972 pins from our countries. It made you feel really good, like it was the whole point of (the Olympics), not just what you see on TV.

It would be easy to be bitter about the experience, but in life that was only a breath.

He had a way of making you feel like you were the most important guy on the team. I think a lot of the team actually thought of him as a father figure, so we were all trying very hard to live up to his expectations and gain his praise.

It can be a disaster if you don't achieve that.

Today I have 870 days, over two years, without gambling, and I'm a dollar away from disaster. That's how I look at my life.