“When I was playing, it would be whatever role I wanted. Now it’s whatever they ask me to do, which I kind of like better.”

I have a chef who makes sure that I’m getting the right amounts of carbs, proteins and fats throughout the day to keep me at my max performance level.

I think everyone needs to be a role model, period.

If you want to be on top, you’ve got to have broad shoulders, because as fast as you get there, the faster they try to knock you down.

I think some of the pressure comes from the expectations of other people. Like if your father played baseball, they expect you to be the big lifesaver or something when you play a sport.

I’d like to help educate kids about the Major Leagues – what to anticipate, what to expect, what they’ll need to do to prepare themselves.

I like to be against the odds.

I never stop looking for things to try and make myself better.

Those boos really motivate me to make something happen.

Baseball is just my job.

I know when I’m off alignment. I know when my body is out of adjustment. If your body is there, then mentally, you’ll be there. If your body feels good, then your mind feels good and your are going to feel better about your game.

It’s a relief now to be able to stand next to my godfather and finally feel like I’ve accomplished something in the game of baseball.

I don’t know what you guys say, but at home, life is way different from baseball.

There’s not too many rich black people in this world.

I don’t ever remember having any bad times here in Pittsburgh.

I feel my time in baseball has come and gone. I feel like I had a great career. I had a lot of fun and have a lot of great memories. At one point in time, I’ll be able to tell it all. Right now that’s in the past. I see things differently. I more want to help.

I think of myself as ‘catching’ the ball with my bat and letting the pitcher supply the power.

I don’t act in the way other actresses act, in terms of building or creating a character. I don’t transform myself into the role, I invest myself in the role.

I’d like to quit the supernatural roles and play just an interesting, down-to-earth person.

It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.

some actors seek parts similar to their personalities. But, I prefer undergoing a metamorphosis that depends on the role .

Of all the roles I’ve done on the stage, I’m partial to Cyrano de Bergerac.

Every actor’s greatest ambition is to create his own, definite and original role, a character with which he will always be identified. In my case, that role was Dracula.

My favorite roles usually have to do with the story, if it’s a good story I usually enjoy doing the character.

In New York I was always offered the hot, sexy roles. But in L.A. I was offered the plain, dowdy roles. It says a lot about the difference between the coasts