We live in a niche world.

When it came to football there was a certain age where I realized that my future in football was being a grease spot on the side of some bigger player.

Forty years ago the chances of journalists reporting - or the authorities even prosecuting - a pro athlete were practically nil.

It's learning how to negotiate to keep both sides happy - whether it's for a multi-million dollar contract or just which show to watch on TV, that determines the quality and enjoyment of our lives.

Never underestimate the capacity of another human being to have exactly the same shortcomings you have.

I love the values football can teach. It gives young people a sense of how to defer present gratification for future success, it teaches self-discipline, it teaches teamwork, it gives them a bonding experience that can be hard to find somewhere else, it teaches the ability to process large amounts of information and apply it in real time.

I'd like to add that negotiating is not something to be avoided or feared - it's an everyday part of life.