Eric Davis Quotations

If you're feeling pressure, then you shouldn't be here.

We are here to compete every second of every game.

Nevada shot well for her first match as a freshman. They were very good scores for the first match and the conditions.

If we had given up, he'd still be in jail. It's by the grace of God.

Bush was in trouble even before Katrina. He was losing support on Iraq , people were worried about the economy -- even if the objective data don't necessarily support that -- and Katrina exacerbated all of that.

Bush has not too much time to turn things around before he becomes an ever-lamer lame duck.

If Bush really wanted to make a statement that he's making changes and bringing in new blood, there is some other people who have to leave, (Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld most particularly, but maybe some others also.

He is in difficulty now, there is no denying that.

We've got to think about everything possible that there is to think about. We have got to turn over every stone, and look into the future to find out what's waiting for us. What can physics do ... where should physics be going?

He just won't admit that the only solution in Iraq is internationalizing the effort. The more we involve groups like the United Nations, European Union and Arab League, the more we take the burden off of American troops.

I think the overwhelming majority of Iraqis wants some kind of justice. Everybody wants him to brought to trial.

Right now the district tournament comes through Ellensburg. We have as good a shot as any team to win the tournament.

Matt is a very confident basketball player. He wants to be great.

It feels great. We had a goal at the beginning of the year we'd like to win a league title.

Mike guards the best post on the other team. I know he can shut that player down.

Mike got his turn (on Thursday). He hadn't played much lately but he went out there and defended the heck out of people.

We just couldn't break that four, five, six point barrier.

We came out and played with a lot more energy in the second half.

We were still able to spread the ball around. We just didn't shoot the ball that well.

Tyler has been blocking a lot of shots for us this season. He not only blocks shots but he changes shots.

Those are the two most competitive kids I've ever coached. They will do anything to help out the team.

We were just sluggish in the first four minutes. We weren't ready mentally or physically.

We think the district can afford it. They have a large budget surplus sitting in the bank; we think we're worth it and for us it's a matter of respect after the pay raises they handed out to administrators over the last few years.

We missed some one-and-ones late in the game. Then they made some big baskets.

Every game in this league is a hard fought battle. We wanted to play physical and take it to them. Selah wanted to play physical and take it to us. I say let's go at it.

There was a five-point swing at the end of the third that gave them momentum.

It was very short on specifics, and lacked any new initiatives. It just seemed like an effort to rally the country.

Our defense has kept us in every game we've played this year. I knew we'd come out and play hard.

This group of seniors are extremely special to me. I have a soft place for them and I probably always will. I appreciate everything they've done for Bulldog basketball.

They get that from their families at home, a little from me and a little just from themselves.

They are a scrappy team that likes to penetrate. We'll have to box out and rebound better.

At halftime, I challenged the guys to play harder, especially the seniors. We wanted to attack the baseline and that is where Mike Gray plays.

It's just getting the ball in the basket for us. But we're getting there. The signs are there.

It was a total team effort. These kids got everything they deserve.

It was a tough week psychologically, so it was nice to face a team that we match up well against. But from now on, it's going to be a dogfight each week. This league is awfully tough again.

It's more laid back. It's more a sports bar than a dance club.

Talk about a Matt Gray coming-out party. A career-high and perfect from the field.

Sunnyside played a great game. Our kids played hard too.

They wanted to win a game for Greg. We talked about trying to scrap, defend hard and contest every shot.

At .08 (blood alcohol level), you can't drive a car. But at three times that, (the prosecution) thinks you know what you're doing with a knife? That's ridiculous.

The kids really started scrapping in the second half. They really wanted this game.

The kids perform at their highest level when their backs are against the wall.

In a way it was heartbreaking, but I talked to my Dad (Steve) and he talked me through it. I left it all on the mat. I did my best. He just wrestled a better match tonight. Now I will do the best I can to go out with a win.

I don't know if I've ever coached a better competitor than Mike Gray. He battles out there and will do whatever it takes.

If he spends $10 million, and that's not unlikely, and let's say he gets 100,000 votes, that's $100 per vote.

The kids competed all game. They never quit in this game. They just kept battling.

The kids can see that hard work is paying off. They didn't care what people in other towns thought. They believed in the 12 guys in the locker room.

The kids competed for a full 32 minutes. We want the kids to compete on every possession.

I could've played basketball, but my mind was on baseball. I didn't know what I was in for. In high school it was a matter of talent. No one told you what to do.

I'd never heard of colon cancer. Baseball wasn't even important to me. I have a wife and two girls. That's what was important. The doctors told me and all I could say was, 'When are we going to get this thing out?'

If you don't believe in something, you'll fall for anything. I believe everything happens for a reason. If you are strong from within, you can will anything. I'm a firm believer that where there's a will, there's a way.

I ate while I was taking chemo. The doctors didn't know. I really didn't get any nausea. I didn't have side effects. I would be drained for a day and a half.

I love the game, it's the greatest game on earth, that's why I can't understand all of this talk about trying to make the game better. People talk about the high strike zone and changing this and that. Why? To speed up the game? That's the beauty of baseball. There is no time element.

Blessings can come in a number of ways. The Lord doesn't give you what you want, the Lord gives you what you need.

I tell you, revenge plays a big part in momentum down here.

Nothing I did contributed to me having cancer, so I can't sit back and say, 'Oh why me.' Why not me? Why does tragedy always have to hit someone else?

I want to establish myself as the first Eric Davis, not the next Willie Mays.

The last two times I went to spring training, I had to win a job, and if I didn't get off to a blazing start, I'm on the bench. Now, I've proven myself, so it's not essential that I get off to a real good start.

People saw me as being heroic, but I was no more heroic than I was with other injuries I had, like the lacerated kidney I suffered during the 1990 World Series. It's just that people haven't known anyone with a lacerated kidney, but everyone can relate to someone with cancer.

I've been hearing this since I first joined the Reds organization, that I'm going to be the next this or that. It's tough on a young player coming up. You show some positive things and everybody jumps on that and says you should be the next Willie Mays.

Everyone would like to play in their hometown, but right now I like Cincinnati, I like the way it's going. I'm happy.

For me to become the highest paid player in the franchise, it was something I didn't anticipate. But I'm glad. I like playing for Cincinnati.

I don't even take aspirin.

I don't want to be famous. I want to be secure. I don't want the world. I just want a piece of it. I want people to remember Eric Davis.

Life is too short to worry about anything

Socially, it is funny. People are annoyed because, really who is a clown?.

I'll have a stamp on me forever. There will always be questions. I brought new fans to the Orioles' organization, and that's good.

When you get back on the field and do things, any doubts you've developed leave. The more consistent you become, the fewer doubts you have.

Baseball is not what I love. It's my job.

I have figured out it's not what you do on the field, it's how many games you play in.

I'm no different than others with cancer. I just happen to play professional baseball. I'm part of those statistics that cancer has touched as well.

I remember in 1990, there were five of us making $3 million a year. When guys passed us, we didn't cry. Why would we cry? You didn't get mad when someone got $6 million. Or $8 million.

Not being re-signed in Baltimore was probably the lowest point, mentally, of my career. That city was the only place where I wanted to be at the time, based on everything that had transpired.

I've been operated on 13 times.

Most of the places I've been, I've been a main piece of the puzzle.

Never give up and don't ask why because every situation does not need an answer. I'm a firm believer that I don't worry about anything I can't control.

I don't listen to what people say about me and I don't read what they write about me. People can compare me to anyone they want to, but I'm not going to worry about it.

I will be a role model for cancer patients for the rest of my life. But you know what? When I was getting chemo, those people inspired me.

It's easy to see why pitchers respect McGwire. If you hit behind him, they're saying that they don't respect you. You have to change their thinking.

Just putting my uniform on keeps me going. Being able to get out there keeps me going. That's the best therapy.

My only goal is to play 162 games and help this team win. If I can do that, everything will take care of itself.

You can't shelter it. You can't hide it. You have to let people know what you're going through, what you're feeling, what you think you have that's a problem.

You don't protect Mark McGwire. The only way to protect him is hit 70 homers yourself.

People always ask me how I can hit the ball so far, and I say, 'I just swing.' It's the coaches who first told me I had good bat speed. I was just swinging, and I guess it was fast. I'm pretty fast at everything.

I was disappointed in everything - my start and the team's start. People got down on me, but I never got down on myself. I still believed I could be the type of player everyone, including me, thought I was going to be.

Come on, when does it come to the point where your name can't come up in trade talks? Willie Mays got traded. Pedro Martinez got traded. So what? That's part of the game.

Circulating through the children's ward and seeing terminally ill kids, heads shaved, smiling and having a ball despite the tubes and needles sticking into them, I thought: What do I have to worry about? If God takes me, at least I've lived for 35 years.

I think we now come to the park expecting to win instead of playing not to lose.

I'm not head-strong, and I'm not egotistical. I understand certain things better now. I won't be trying to be play everyday. There's only one Cal Ripken, one Lou Gehrig and one Joe DiMaggio. What is good for them isn't necessarily good for Eric Davis.

I'm being compared to the impossible. I never saw Mays, Aaron or Clemente play. What about the people I face every day? Tim Raines is the best? Mattingly is the best? Why not compare me to my peers?

I was fortunate to play for Pete Rose and have teammates like Ken Griffey Sr., Tony Perez and Dave Concepcion. I grew up in the game with a mature attitude. I've always known it was better to be seen and not heard.

I was able to get operated on four days after I was diagnosed. It was just a matter of getting this baseball-sized tumor out of me. I reflect now on how lucky I was to be in the situation where I could get the best possible help and treatment.

I know people are pretty well embarrassed just at the mention of colon cancer. Sticking a tube in you to find out what's wrong is not a nice thing. But I can tell them, a 30- or 40-minute test is worth it. We have to make them feel more comfortable about getting screened.

That's just my family's mentality. We are a very loving, hugging and kissing kind of family. And we grew up in a church atmosphere and still have that atmosphere. There is no negativity.

There's only one Mark McGwire. The man walked over 160 times. Just think. If he walks 60 times, he might hit 100 homers.

You can't get more appreciation than that, to be elected by the fans. That's the ultimate, really.

I don't think any player lives up to his potential, because people out there put you so high on a pedestal, you'll never be as good as they expect.

People spend time worrying about things they think they have to have and lose perception of what they do have. You can have all the money and material things you want. If you aren't here to enjoy them, what good do they do?

I was hitting .360 when I was diagnosed. I didn't forget how to play while I was recovering. I don't know if the cancer is gone for good. I don't think anyone ever knows, but no one is going to steal my joy for as along as I'm able to play baseball.

Life is too short to worry about anything. You had better enjoy it because the next day promises nothing.