I think what my parents did was perfect. They were strict, concerned about my safety and held me back just a little.

You have to be able to be a good loser. You have to be okay knowing you're going to fail every day in something without getting mad and upset.

And there is such a thing as a decathlon high. It's like a rock rolling down hill, picking up momentum. You get better and better.

There is nothing better than having a personal-best day, being in shape and pushing myself beyond my own limits.

I was a good decathlete until I got with a coach that really knew how to train specifically for the event... I'd really describe it as like being a juggler; you have ten balls and you're trying to get them all in the air at the same time.

As a young athlete, it was first about having fun; then it was about winning.

We'll probably only consider a handful of individuals. We'll bring up people who can accumulate either innings or at-bats, so we can hopefully gauge where they stand as a prospective Major Leaguer.