It caused more problems as a young kid, because the simple process of perceiving words on a piece of paper was hard for me. Many people think dyslexic people see things backwards. They don't see things backwards.

Have an open mind and an open heart. I'm not this bad person. I'm just doing what I have to do.

I didn't only have a perceptual problem, I was also so nervous and so upset. The process just didn't work. I lost enthusiasm for school and I flunked second grade. The teachers said I was lazy.

I was afraid the teacher was going to make me read in front of class and I was going to look bad. [But] if I wasn't dyslexic, I probably wouldn't have won the Games. If I had been a better reader, then that would have come easily, sports would have come easily. And I never would have realized that the way you get ahead in life is hard work.

If you are a kid, reading is really important stuff.

I was growing up in the 50's and 60's. Back then they didn't even know what dyslexia was.

I spent twelve years training for a career that was over in a week. Joe Namath spent one week training for a career that lasted twelve years.