It seems like when I was growing up there was more compromise, wanting to work with each other, and I think all of them - all of the lawmakers - have hearts to do what's right, and they all are passionate about it.

God always wants us to be growing.

You know, there is always times where you feel discouraged and things coming against you, but I don't know if I ever wanted to throw in the towel.

In difficult times, we're not supposed to quit believing; we're not supposed to quit growing.

I'd had 35 professional fights and mentally I was tired of it. I'd sort ot fallen out of love with the sport.

The typical baseball play is a pitcher throwing a ball and the batter not swinging at it, while the other players watch. Even a home run, the sport's defining big blast, is only metaphorically exciting; a fly ball that leaves the yard changes the score but may offer no more compelling view than an outfielder staring up.

I've always been able to play for the love of the sport.

I was writing very early, like I was involved in our high school literary magazine, which was called 'Pariah.' The football team was the Bears, and the literary magazine was 'Pariah.' It was great. It was definitely a real sub-culture. But I wrote stories for them.