It's kind of ironic that the two sports with the greatest characters, boxing and horse racing, have both been on the decline. In both cases it's for the lack of a suitable hero.

My top three were Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain and Bo Jackson.

Also, I am driven by a wonderful muse called alimony.

I worked with Rocky Graziano and Rocky was certainly a character.

I was also in love with the English language.

I wanted to be a sportswriter because I loved sports and I could not hit the curve ball, the jump shot, or the opposing ball carrier.

If I got paid, it was no more than five dollars a column, and I still think I was overpaid.