Sports idols Quotes

My biggest hero was Roman Gabriel, who was the QB of the Rams, and Roger Staubach. Those were the two guys I tired to emulate when I was little.

Depending on who we're playing, it's just kind of, like, a little starstruck. You know, because these are guys that... I'm playing against Tom Brady or Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, guys like that that I've been watching since high school, that's been doing crazy things.

Wives of ballplayers, when they teach their children their prayers, should instruct them to say: God bless mommy, God bless daddy, and God bless Babe Ruth! He's upped daddy's paycheck by 15 to 40 percent!

As a kid, you'd look at all these guys in the NFL and almost idolize them.

A lot of players will tell you, 'When I was a kid, I watched Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron, Magic, and I wanted to be just like them.' For me, it wasn't like that at all.

I really love the Olympics: Daley Thompson's back-flip, Derek Redmond's father helping him finish the 400m after his hamstring snapped at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Sir Steve Redgrave - childhood memories are flooded with these moments and idols.

The ways in which I was obsessed with Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp 20 years ago is completely replicated by my daughters' and my crush on Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman now.

For soccer, it was Diego Maradona, and then another idol for me was Michael Jordan. To see them play and how that they could impact the game was pretty special.

So much has been said about Michael Jordan as a basketball player, but when I played with him, the Michael I knew was just Michael. I guess more than anything is that I got to experience the human side of the so-called gladiators, warriors and heroes that we worship.

I don't recognize myself in the players I see today. There's only one who excites me, and that is Thierry Henry. He's not just a great footballer, he's a showman, an entertainer.

I've never really had a favorite player, past or present.

Now you have kids that say, 'I wanna be Torii Hunter one day.' Man, I love that.

I don't see many people as heroes and, though I love sport, I believe athletes rarely deserve that praise.

You see guys in the NFL when you're younger, and you try to model your game after that.

I've never had an idol, but I watched Ronaldinho and then players like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi. They are so good, it's impossible not to notice them.

While we glorify football players for their accomplishments on the field, they are not heroes.

I looked up to Don Quarrie and Michael Johnson when I was younger. They were the best in the 200m which was my main event growing up.

I dreamt of being like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho.

When I was around the ages of 9, 10, and 11, I loved watching Marat Safin because I found his game exciting. Since he retired, I would say that my idol has been Andy Murray.

These athletes can be considered the gods in certain ways and the fans can be considered parishioners.