J. D. Martinez Quotes

Most of my career, I've always kind of been off the bench, so, for me, it's not about if I start or not.

I was a third string guy for a couple of years.

Coming off the bench behind a fine young center like Alonzo Mourning fits my style.

For me, being a starter doesn't matter. Of course, I'd like to be in at the end of the game, to be a big part of the team, and to play as many minutes as I can play. But starting and coming off the bench are two different challenges.

It's hard to come off the bench and be ready all the time.

Guys get... benched, replaced. They get injured; another guy comes in and becomes the starter. That happens all the time.

I was a goalkeeper, but through my career, I spent almost as much time sitting on the bench as I did playing.

It's not a ton of fun being a backup quarterback.

In a normal season, the sixth man always seems to get the most minutes on my team.

When Coach Belichick comes up to you during a game and says something to you, that's great.

Sometimes I had bad behaviour with managers that I loved at Sampdoria, like Vujadin Boskov and Sven-Goran Eriksson. I understand that this can happen during the game or when you are substituted.

Actually I think it's better for me to come off the bench, because for them first couple of minutes when that first five is in there, you can see the little things and what you need to do when you get in there.

I will never be a super sub. I want to play.

Like all players, I do not like being a substitute.

Coming off the bench was an adjustment for me.

I don't want to be known as a super sub. But you have got to be ready to come off the bench and make an impact if you're not in the starting team.

If you come in this league, and you're comfortable with being a backup, something's wrong.

It's the older girls I seem to get on with. I think it's just because they kind of respect me as a player, I suppose.

Ray Evernham and Jeff Gordon and people in the garage area always put so much stake into me.

Some people get on better with some than others but what is absolutely crucial is that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities and trust that your team-mate is going to do their best for the team.

We're here for one reason, and that's to win ballgames. You're going to have your feuding in there. But that is not going to carry over to the field. That's just the way it is.

I think it is rare that one player really hates another player on a team.

I find it very difficult to work with people I don't like; I can't do that.

Other players do not rib me for being the coach's son. They rib me more for living at home with my mum and dad.

It was a big-time change, coming off the bench.