War is by no means something glamorous, and I don't think that should ever be forgotten.
Trust me, I have never written a speech in my life, and if I have my way, I never will.
There's not a long track record of people leaving professional sports to become a software developer.
In this I-me society, my job is to get people to buy into something bigger than themselves.
I think I've earned a certain level of respect, based on my accomplishments and my consistency.
I had the perfect job for a gamer. From February to October, I'd get up at 7 in the morning with nothing to do but play games until I had to be at the park around 1 or 2 o'clock. When I got back after the game, I played until 3 or 4 in the morning.
The only thing I hope I did was never put in question my love for the game, or my passion to be counted on when it mattered most.
I don't have any problem with government helping entrepreneurs and businesses.
Every dollar I can't commit to my company that's paid in taxes is paying a government that I believe is too big and doing way too much that I don't want done.
Short of baseball and my family, it was gaming. And gaming is a $20-million to $200-million multi-year effort. It's an insane, stupid and utterly irresponsible act. But I did it.
I don't hide my feelings, but when it comes to illness, I guess I don't panic. My father was the same way. I'm the provider for the family and the caretaker. If I panic, who is anybody going to run to?
The things I was allowed to experience, the people I was able to call friends, teammates, mentors, coaches and opponents, the travel, all of it, are far more than anything I ever thought possible in my lifetime.
Before I pitch any game, from spring training to Game 7 of the World Series, I'm scared to death.
I've helped create over 400 jobs in the worst economy of my lifetime. That's cool.
I've always wanted to be the best in the world as a baseball player, so when I started to think about opening a business, it was with that mindset.
I've got a wife, four kids, a business, and a baseball career.