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 helped create over 400 jobs in the worst economy of my lifetime. That's cool.
Before I pitch any game, from spring training to Game 7 of the World Series, I'm scared to death.
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.
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?
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.
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.
I don't have any problem with government helping entrepreneurs and businesses.
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 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.