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I've been on enough sports teams in my life to have experienced the magic of what can happen when a group of people care for and love each other.

I've always just tried to treat people with respect, build relationships with players and coaches... build a trust.

The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.

The most heroic thing you can do is tell someone that you love them.

I play knowing that there is somebody watching me out there in the crowd that has never had the opportunity to watch a game before and it might be the only chance they ever to see one, live in person. Michael Jordan once said that in an interview, and I really took it to heart; whenever I step on the floor, I play for that person.

I try to encourage all my teammates, and I sure hope that some day all athletes - my kids, high school kids - get the same level of care I get. Because you can play for a long period of time without having knee replacements, without having all the major head trauma that people are dealing with.

It's always important to stay in contact with the fans, because ultimately, if they weren't there, I wouldn't be here. It's very, very important to spread the love.

For my part, I confess I seldom listen to the players: one has so much to do, in looking about and finding out one's acquaintance, that, really, one has no time to mind the stage. One merely comes to meet one's friends, and show that one's alive.

Being away from the game you love so much, it will mess with your mind.

When I'm playing a team sport, it's not about one individual, it's about everyone, from me to the other 23 people who were there, to all the support staff who've worked very hard behind the scenes.