First of all, I really never imagined myself being a professional athlete.

I hate to blow my own horn, but I gave a lot of people fits.

I am a firm believer in if you can't get it the old fashioned way, you don't need it.

I also tell them that your education can take you way farther than a football, baseball, track, or basketball will - that's just the bottom line.

Don't sell yourself short because without that you can't go far in life because after sports the only thing you know is sports and you can't do anything else with that.

But now in this day and age, people are more prone to go out to try new things to enhance their performance on the field - to enhance their physical appearance.

Being the 8th out of 10 kids, and being the one that stayed in trouble, I sort of became a momma's boy.

Back before I injured my hip, I thought going to the gym was for wimps.

As a 9th grader, I competed with the high school kids and out of 600 people, I finished 10th.

I guarantee you that's what Jeff Gordon does. He uses everything the fans throw at him to stoke his fire and it drives him to be better at what he does.

I would say my greatest achievement in life right now - my greatest achievement period is - and I'm still trying to achieve it - is to be a wonderful father to my kids.

I was a pitcher, shortstop and outfielder, and the Yankees tried to sign me out of high school as a first-round draft pick in 1981. I turned them down to go to college.

I have been a fan all my life, but now I have been out of football for over 10 years, and out of baseball for a little over six years and I don't go to games.

I love going out and doing new things.

My favorite driver is always either the bad guy or the underdog.