I can identify many different experiences that I've had over the course of my life and things that I've witnessed where it seemed that black men, specifically me or someone else may have got the, you know, different treatment than somebody else would in that same situation.

When someone mistreats you, the correct reaction is not to go out and do something to destroy somebody else's property.

I think God does a lot of things in different ways.

We all have the same problem as human beings. And it's something that we are born with, and we just see it manifest in different ways. And in this situation, it's racial. It's brutality. It's people breaking the law. It's the smoke, but the underlying fire is something that we all have to deal with, and that's our sin.

Sin is the reason we are racist, prejudiced, and lie to cover for our own.

Sin is the reason we abuse our authority.

Sin is the reason we rebel against authority.

The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It's the gospel.

People are hurting and looking for answers. The Gospel gives us hope.

Conflict, when mismanaged, destroys.

Conflict, when handled correctly, strengthens.

Before competition, as I stand in shoulder pads and cleats, my helmet in my left hand, adrenaline flowing and my heart raging under my right, I never forget the ills of America, but for a moment I envision its potential, remember its prosperity, and give thanks to God for the land He has placed me in and the people I love who live in it.

Sometimes listening is of greater value than speaking.

I sometimes think they should have said 'Black Lives Matter Too,' because that is really what is being said. The outcry is that historically and presently, the feeling is that black lives don't matter as much as white lives because we don't see the same type of things happening to them.

The police officer's job is to respect the citizens that they are in control of.

I respect the police officers, but something you learn as a young black man in this country is that... life is a little bit different for you even though, on the surface, it seems to be the same.

I have been pulled over, and I have actually worried, 'Is something going to happen to me even though I am a law abiding citizen?' That is a real fear and is something that we have to come to grips with.

I can tell there are times when my body's getting tired and I just need to take a day here or there and make sure I'm healthy.

You just keep working and try to have quality at-bats.

I love baseball history, and Wrigley Field is as good as it gets when it comes to that.

When I left Tampa Bay, I felt like if my career ended at that point, I'd be okay.

We don't even think about it out there. We just focus on doing our job. The ball is the same baseball, the game is the same game. We're going to just keep trying to do our jobs.

At the end of the day, you can't control the results; you can only control your effort level and your focus.

Occasionally, you have to make adjustments and try different things.