Matt Kemp

We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich.

I've been a Lakers fan since growing up in Oklahoma. My hometown's finally got the Thunder, which is really exciting, but I've still got to stick with the Lakers.

More money gives me the chance to help more people, to give something back.

I don't think people understand what microfracture surgery is. It's pretty serious. A lot of basketball players get it in their knees, and if they do bounce back, it takes a while.

L.A. kinda raised me a little bit as a 21-year-old kid from Oklahoma.

I don't do stuff to be a star. I do it because I feel it's important for kids, African American kids, to see an African American face that plays baseball.

Everything is repetition in baseball. When you get all out of whack and do something different, you feel weird.

When I spend money on myself, it's almost always on shoes and clothes. I'm addicted to shoes. I always have been, since I was a kid. When I was young, I could never get the shoes I really wanted.

Somebody had asked me how it was to be in Atlanta, and I said that Atlanta had always been known as a Braves city, a baseball town.

That's just never been me - 'Oh, this is hurt; that's why I'm playing like this.' That's just not the type of person I am.

I don't go out with the plan, 'Let me find a celebrity to go date.' That's just not something you do. I'm just looking for a good person, someone who can be my friend, and someone I can have fun with. She doesn't have to be a celebrity; she can be a regular chick. She's got to be smart, though. I like smart women.

I love L.A., but you can get into a lot of trouble out here.