I always prided myself on trying to break the stigma of the 'dumb jock.'
Always being champion, always being at the top every three days, playing great football - it's not that easy.
It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve, and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness the athletic dedication.
To be among the world's greatest athletes and compete for Team U.S.A. while knowing that the entire world is watching is something that athletes dream about. To be able to experience that was truly special.
I never gave up as a player, and I won't give up as someone who wants to go to the Hall of Fame, because it's the ultimate goal for a baseball player or a football player or a basketball player.
I wanted to go somewhere and make a name for myself. I wanted to go somewhere and establish a winning culture because everybody knows about the football team. So I wanted to change the culture and make it both basketball as well as football and just give the fans what they want in Tuscaloosa.
The Breakfast of Champions isn't cereal, it's the competition!
The difference between the good players and the great is how long they stay in their prime.
There was never a day when I was as good as Joe DiMaggio at his best. Joe was the best, the very best I ever saw.
I always wanted to play against the best.
My goal had been to win a championship, work toward the Hall of Fame, have my jersey retired by the team and I'd go in as a lifelong New York Giant, but I'm now resigned to the fact that this won't happen.
I'm no slouch, but when comparing LeBron's game, I'm usually left out.
I don't know how you keep the world record holder off your team.
I'm a fan of Kobe and LeBron. People always try to make me pick one or the other, but I think they're both great. They both deliver.
When I think of a world class wrestler, I think of Mo Lawal.
It was an honor to be invited to visit Real Madrid's training ground and meet Raul, Ronaldo, Kaka, and all the other footballers that play for such a successful team.
I think I have just as much talent as anybody when it comes to the 100 or 200.
The best player I ever coached was Gary Payton.
It has always been a dream to win either the Olympic gold medal or the World Cup.
I was a two-star athlete. I got looked over.
I feel like a lot of my fans hold high expectations of me when it comes to inside the Octagon - not so much outside of the Octagon - but I feel like most of my performances are pretty dominant, so I don't feel like I have the luxury to not perform in an extremely impressive fashion.
I was so used to going out and winning state championships and playing in the postseason.
The Olympics is an imperfect interregnum, the parade of nations a fantasy about a peace never won. It offers little relief from strife and no harbor from terror.
There are a lot of great players that never got a chance to play for a national championship. And I got a chance to play for two.
I wasn't really expecting me to win the gold in this race. To get another medal for myself and for the U.S. was a pretty good thing to happen, I'd say.
