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March 28, 2008

Sports quotes of the week, from the AP

Compiled by MARK WIEDENHEFT
By The Associated Press

"The timing's not right. Let's see how Alex reacts. Let's see if they all call me a liar again. How's that for you? Let's see if all of a sudden they're going to call me a liar again." - Jose Canseco, according to excerpts released by ABC, on producing evidence to back his claim that he introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroids dealer named "Max."

"It's over as far as I'm concerned. No further comment on the matter. I'm just excited to be playing baseball." - Alex Rodriguez, refusing to address allegations by Jose Canseco, who claims he introduced the three-time MVP to a steroids dealer.

"When we told him about a month ago, in the past he would have resisted it, we told him it was something the city wanted to do, and he got very emotional." - Hank Steinbrenner, on Legends Field being renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field in honor of his father.

"Coffee and breakfast instead of beer, kind of unusual." - Baseball fan Tony Massarotti, on bars around Fenway Park and elsewhere catering to big breakfast crowds as the season officially started in Japan at about 6:05 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.

"I've been riding for 22 years and have never been a part of anything like this. This is something special, a once-in-a-career type of thing." - G.R. Carter, jockey for Got Country Grip, before his 5-year-old paint horse matched the modern North American all-breeds record of 16 straight wins.

"It's fun to score goals, especially when you break some records." - Alexander Ovechkin, after breaking Washington's mark with his league-leading 61st of the season in Tuesday night's 3-2 shootout win at Carolina.

"I know that when you hit something like that, you really think about all the good things that happen to you. I have been really fortunate to have three different teams that are very, very good and that's why you get wins like that." - Rick Adelman, who became the 13th coach in NBA history to reach 800 wins when Houston beat Sacramento 108-100 Monday.

"WWE has the right machine, and we proved I'm the hottest thing on the market right now. If you can't sell nothing else, you can sell Floyd Mayweather." - Floyd Mayweather Jr., the 39-0 welterweight champion, who will wrestle in the "Big Show" at WWE's WrestleMania 24 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Sunday.

"As you're coming in your agents tell you what you can do after you play out your first contract. So getting to this day is a dream come true. It kind of just seems like everything is working out like a storybook in my life. I played ball here. I grew up here. I got to play college ball here, NFL ball here. I'm getting married in Seattle. Things just all come together." - Marcus Trufant, when asked if the anticipation of signing a new contract motivated him last season. The Pro Bowl cornerback and his hometown Seahawks agreed to a $50.2 million, six-year contract.

"Now it's one voice; it's mine. Pressure is pressure. I've dealt with it in the past, and I'm looking forward to it." - Hall of Famer Larry Bird, after Donnie Walsh announced his 24th year with the Pacers would be his last. Walsh, the team's CEO and president since 1988, hired Bird as coach in 1997 and groomed him as his eventual successor.

"He wanted to go to a contender and we sent him there. We sent him to Utopia and we're left here with the carnage and I don't know why he's not happy." - Heat coach Pat Riley, responding to disparaging remarks Shaquille O'Neal made about some of his old teammates and trainers in a Boston Globe story. Riley dealt O'Neal to Phoenix before the trade deadline, allowing the 36-year-old center the chance to compete for another title.

"I was happy to start the game, but it was more about getting on the pitch, getting that 100th cap." - David Beckham, after playing in his 100th international game for England. Beckham was taken off in the 62nd minute of his team's 1-0 loss at France.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:44 PM | Permalink

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