I like to dance and sing when there's no one around, but, if I'm out, I'm really shy about it. So it takes a lot to get me going, but I enjoy being around music.

I always have tried to treat people with respect, the way I want to be treated.

I don't listen to opinions.

I'm a New Yorker now, and believe me, there's no comparison between the Big Apple and Kalamazoo, no similarity at all. New York City's hectic, always in fast-forward, and Kalamazoo's more laid-back, smaller, slower.

I always take criticism as a challenge. It's the way I've always looked at it.

I try to sign for as many kids as possible. Kids come first, and I'll always sign for a kid before an adult. It's funny, because I was never big into autographs as a kid. The only player who I ever wanted an autograph from was Dave Winfield.

I can see how people work out to feel better.

You're playing a game, whether it's Little League or Game 7 of the Word Series. It's impossible to do well unless you're having a good time. People talk about pressure. Yeah, there's pressure. But I just look at it as fun.

My dreams do not end with playing Major League Baseball.

I think sometimes people need to get used to an idea.

You can't quantify everything a player does to win games.

If you're going to win games, you're going to have to come up with the big hits. That's the bottom line.

If I put my name on something, I'm going to be involved. I'm not just going to put my name on it and not pay attention.

The big difference for me is that, as I get older, I find it's a lot easier to stay in shape than it is to get back in shape.

I've found that it's easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape.

The number one priority is playing baseball. There are so many people in New York trying to get you to do this and get you to do that, which is fine, but you have to take care of yourself.

There's feelings there, but I think I've just been pretty good at trying to hide my emotions throughout the years. I try to have the same demeanor each and every day.

So many people are insanely busy nowadays, and it's easy to say, 'Ah, I'll workout tomorrow.' But you have to set aside a time and stick to that schedule.

Athletics keeps us healthy, gets us up and running around. It also gives you an opportunity to meet a lot of different people, which is very important.

My dad had been shortstop when he was in college, and you know, when you're a kid, you want to be just like your dad.

You gotta have fun.

Not everybody's a baseball fan.

You're a person a lot longer before and after you're a professional athlete. People always say to me, 'Your image is this, your image is that.' Your image isn't your character. Character is what you are as a person. That's what I worry about.

You tell me you want to race down the street, I'm going to try to beat you. My grandmother asks me to race down the street, I'm going to try to beat her. And I'll probably enjoy it. Competitive to a fault, sometimes.

I'd like to get a degree. You ever see the movie 'Back to School?' I'll go back with my kids.

Through time you learn from your experiences. I think I've learned to deal with people a little bit better over time. That in particular has developed a little bit.

The draft is a crapshoot, so I've been very fortunate to be drafted by the Yankees, and to have spent my whole career here.

You can't be sensitive, because you're going to get criticized. I don't care who you are, you're going to get criticized.

When it was time for parent-teacher conferences, I remember that I was always embarrassed about what my parents would hear about me!

For me, when I was a kid, volunteering was the last thing I was thinking about. When I see kids doing it now, it amazes me. It's very impressive, it gives them something productive to do as opposed to getting in trouble. For them to take time out at such a young age is remarkable. I think all kids should take a little time out to volunteer.

I've always been very aware of what I'm saying, but I'm also aware of what you're saying. I always want to make sure that my point is clear.

The first thing to know about playing baseball in Michigan is, Michigan's really cold.

I always appreciated the ex-players. Being a Yankee, you get spoiled. Old-Timers Day, all these guys coming back, spring training, being around them, you get a chance to get to know them. So I always think you learn a lot by listening.

During the off-season, I go to the movies almost every day.

You hear about women buying shoes? I buy DVDs. I definitely have a problem.

I get asked enough questions, I try not to ask too many questions.

I try to stay as private as possible; I know that's difficult, especially playing here in New York, but I make an attempt at it.

I think, a lot of times, players get in trouble when they're asked questions and they think they have to find a way to answer it. If you ask me a question and I say, 'I don't know,' there's really no follow-up.

I voted for Obama.

No former player has owned a team in baseball.

I want to have a family.

I have feelings. I'm not emotionally stunted.

I've never been an actor on Broadway, but it feels like you're on a stage when you play at Yankee Stadium. And that's the feeling I've always had.

I don't really see myself getting a Twitter account. Nothing against it. I get it. I especially get it for businesses.

Kids are our future.

Any player that says they don't want to go to an All-Star Game is lying to you. It's something everyone wants to be a part of.

I've always been uncomfortable, so to speak, when the focus is on me.