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In every school, more boys wanted to be remembered as a star athlete than as a brilliant student.

I know many people who are actually queasy about the idea that their kids may harbour sporting ambitions.

A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. I know all these parents are out there driving their children to be professionals, but so many pros will tell you, 'No, you don't want to do this.'

Growing up where I grew up, we looked to athletes. They were our first heroes. They came from the same places we came from. I mean, you can't watch TV and see someone who is successful that you can really relate to. That person isn't real; he doesn't exist. But athletes traveled the world, had these big houses and gave their families a better life.

If you look at any superior athlete, you will find a strong parental influence. Parents introduce their children to a sport, and then they support them.

Athletes tend to have less of a sense of humor than most people. They are heroes to so many. That might be part of it.

There are many kids in and out of baseball who think that just because they have some natural talent, they have the world by the tail.

A lot of athletes have star quality, but they just can't perform in front of a camera. So no matter how good-looking you are, no matter what kind of presence you have, you still have to be able to be a convincing performer to become a star.