When we were together, I loved you deeply and you gave me so much happiness I can never repay you.

I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way, I am something of a loner.

I strongly believe the black culture spends too much time, energy and effort raising, praising, and teasing our black children about the dubious glories of professional sports.

Drummed into me, above all, by my dad, by the whole family, was that without your good name, you would be nothing.

Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.

If you're paid before you walk on the court, what's the point in playing as if your life depended on it?

If I don't ask "Why me?" after my victories, I cannot ask "Why me?" after my setbacks and disasters.