When you can't read or write at 14 or 15, in most cases you're headed for trouble, and trouble was finding me.

Whatever you do, don't do it halfway.

I think track is still one of the most exciting participant sports, but we haven't been able to capitalize on that excitement through television and the print media.

Most of my teachers probably found I made less trouble if they let me read.

In Jamaica High School in New York, my coach was Larry Ellis, and he said I could probably make the Olympic team. He gave me something to shoot for.

Basketball is big stuff in New York. If you're good in it, everybody respects you. Nobody would want to ruin your shooting eye or your shooting arm.