Everybody kind of perceives me as being angry. It`s not anger, it`s motivation.

My only day off is the day I pitch.

You know in 1982, the year we came in tied for 3rd, we probably had a better team - I mean as far as talent. When we came back the following year and won it, our pitching staff was a little more experienced and it was such a thrill.

I still remember my team at UT jumping on me after getting that final out against Alabama to win the National Championship in `83.

I`ve lost a little bit of my fire... I don`t want to say I`ve lost my passion.

I don`t bat an eye at stuff like that. I`ve had my share of wins. If I worried about the games I should have won, it would probably drive me crazy. It was a fun game to pitch in.

Every time I toe the rubber, it`s no different for me than it was in the World Series.

I`d be cheating everyone here, the staff and rest of my teammates, if I wasn`t able to stay on top of my work. It was almost like therapy, to come back and get in an environment I`m comfortable with.

When I look back at the tapes, your first everything, your first All-Star Game, your first playoff experience, it just seems like it went by really fast.

It was an exciting time for me personally because the number of times I`ve been to the playoffs, that was the opportunity to obtain the first ring. That was special, that`s for sure.

Even though I play a professional sport now, I love college baseball.

I love to work with the younger kids who are trying to live out their dreams, if in fact that`s what they plan on doing after college to take the next step. A very select few have that opportunity so when you do have the opportunity you know, those guys take advantage of it.

Going to Omaha for the College World Series - the people there are tremendous - huge crowds and a lot of excitement. I still remember those days - you make a lot of friends that you never forget when you win a championship like that.

The tradition you have at the University of Texas is like no other. It helped me in the future where I got to play in 2 cities that were rich in tradition.

But I`m not looking forward to trying to strike out a lot of guys.

I love this, this is why you get off the couch to play this game. I`ve been fortunate to have played in a lot of big games, but it`s still exciting.

That might be somebody`s only chance to see me pitch. They might have driven four hours to get there. I`m going to be out there if I can help it.

We were like two tired old men walking out of the tunnel, and then we were like two kids having a good time. We were holding each other up.

Some of my finest memories are from my time at the University of Texas. College baseball, I love it.

I wish there was a bar I could send opposing teams to and get them hammered or something - I could tell my buddies in New York to leave their places open or something. Playing for the Yankees, guys come at you extremely hard. I have to be ready or I`ll be embarrassed.

My main concern is when it`s 2-0, I`ve got to keep it at 2-0. It gives us a little more of a chance. To give up four more runs, that isn`t going to get it done. I don`t care who you`re facing or who you`re playing, it`s not going to get it done.

But I got a guy on third, I was in a jam the other day in a game, all those situations, when you need a strikeout there, in big spots. But we are very aware of that fact, that these guys put the ball in play.

The student body was huge at UT and you had to mature pretty quick, very quick actually. I enjoyed it and it helped me a lot in my life in general - not only in the classroom but on the baseball field as well.

If I get two strikes, I`ll go to a pitch maybe that will help induce that a little bit.

I`ve been very fortunate. I feel very thankful. I`ve been able to come home and do some fun things and make it exciting for people here at home.