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In Spain and Italy I would not have a life among the fans. Everyone wants to touch you, own you and approach you. I try to be as kind as possible to all my fans, but in those countries I could not do it. There they ask too much from you.

I'm very touchy feely with my fandom, in part because they've never done me wrong or hurt me in any way. This is an awesome balance. I hope it stays that way forever.

The fan is the one who suffers. He cheers a guy to a .350 season then watches that player sign with another team. When you destroy fan loyalties, you destroy everything.

Fans will treat something preciously if they're given the opportunity to do so.

But one thing that's constant is we've always appreciated fans. They put us on the map and they keep us on the map. I always put myself in their position. If I loved someone and had their posters all over my wall and met them and they were rude it would be very hurtful.

I'm a fan myself, so when a fan does something that might be strange, I understand it.

I devoted my career to building an affinity with my fans who have supported me unflinchingly and no barbed wire fence or prison wall will stop that.

I've been around so long and no matter if I've done good things or bad things, or my personal life has been good or bad, the fans have always stuck with me.

There are always going to be encounters that you kind of wish went differently. But the average fan really isn't fanatical.

I wouldn't be where I am without my fans, and I am very thankful for them.