The sophistication of Californians on this issue is growing. We're getting closer to that point when the death penalty can no longer drive political decisions as it has in the past.

The true face of smoking is disease, death and horror -- not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray.

I think the public is becoming more sophisticated and intelligent about this issue.

It's a very odd time for us. It will be very bipolar, because we have this momentum with the commission and public support in the polls for the death penalty falling, and then we have a Texas-style execution process.

We're actually very encouraged by the numbers being in the low 60s in terms of general support and with almost 40 percent saying that they think the death penalty is not being applied fairly. Historically those are great numbers.

If you consider my situation: a guy who comes back from arguably, you know, a death sentence, why would I then enter into a sport and dope myself up and risk my life again? That's crazy. I would never do that. No. No way.