Willie Mays Quotes

It is impossible to play 60 games all season and be in good form all the time.

You play 162 days, and you play every day, or you try to play every day, and it's going to take a toll on your body. But that's what we're out here for. We're out here to play.

When I was playing week-in week-out, I was playing 46 games a season, and there's nothing better than playing every week.

A major final to a tennis player is sacred ground. Short of any type of serious injury - soft-tissue tears, serious orthopedic injuries or a major illness like throwing up, dehydration or cramping - you keep going, especially in the final of a Slam.

The workload with Test cricket was too much as I want to extend my career for as long as I can.

Eighty-two games, it's a long season.

There's so much that goes into being a pro athlete that people have no idea about.

And then when I went to stay in '68, I can honestly say that I was not focused on my career and on what it took to be a major league pitcher and to be a starting pitcher.

These days baseball is different. You come to spring training, you get your legs ready, you arms loose, your agents ready, your lawyer lined up.

I'm quite used to playing with few injuries, whether it is back, fingers, elbow, or something else. You have to be tough and get on with the game.

Now that sports science is more advanced, we know that there are so many off-pitch factors that can affect how good you can become. If people are telling you to sleep a certain number of hours, eat specific foods, and drink a certain volume of fluids, then you have to be prepared to listen and learn.

What I'm doing with my body and with my golf game, I'm trying to extend the longevity of my career.

I've played in Test matches before after injury without first playing a county game or warm-up of some sort.

In Grand Slam, you play every two days, five-set match. You have a little bit more time to make mistake.

I will say this: when you take any substance, especially in baseball, it's half mental and half physical. If you take this glass of water and you say, 'I'm going to be a better baseball player,' then you probably will be.

When it comes to sports, it requires a lot mentally and physically.

People turn professional and they are not running as fast as they did in college because it is a lot different, but I wanted to make sure that I didn't have that kind of transition and always stayed on top.

Little injuries are always happening, so you've just got to train through those. You've also got to have the right training partners, people you trust.

Our job as pros is to walk a very fine line: be the best but stay healthy so you can continue to progress and be at the top. You can't push the sport and yourself if you're always hurt.

You want to have a great pre-season, you want to play games.

Playing until I'm 40 is definitely a possibility.

I want to play until I'm 38.

I've been through Strikeforce, UFC now, but I never leave fights busted up.

You have to deal with a lot of things when you are a professional football player, and that is not so easy.

Anytime you think about ring rust and travel and camps back-to-back, it helps not having any bad injuries and being able to train consistently.