Through the years I have received my share of recognition for efforts in the fields of sports, the arts, the struggle for full citizenship for the Negro people, labor's rights and the fight for peace.

I'm a sports guy. Football, God, I flip out.

I wanted to play sports my whole life. That's all I really wanted to do.

Major sports are major parts of society. It's not anomalous to have people who love sports come from other parts of that society.

One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get an answer from someone until 5 o'clock tomorrow. There is always an excuse. Living 40 or 50 years like that doesn't get too exciting after a while.