As a kid I was fascinated with sports and I loved sports more than anything else. The first books I read were about sports like books about Baseball Joe as one baseball hero was called.

In fact there's a lot to legitimately hate about pro sports and the way they are conducted.

I think Bob Costas is terrific. He's so knowledgeable. He can talk about any subject not just sports.

Cheerleading gave me a love of sports which I brought to the Senate. I can talk to the good ol' boys about college sports because I follow it like they do.

I don't read a lot of the sports because I think people sometimes either build it up or you have this guy that hates sports that is going to write bad about it so I figure I'm not going to read it. Because I'm not going to let him put an idea into my head.

Sports broadcasting is very open now. In the beginning you did encounter more traditional attitudes and get comments. But I'm talking about 12 years ago.

I think team sports probably teach you more about giving - about being unselfish and being flexible.

I like people who are enthused about things they do like travel sports work. I like being with people who have things they're excited about.

I don't really like politics that much. And I like the order and simplicity of sports. They have an ending. You can argue with your friends about it but in the end you still like sports. I almost love the fantasy world of sports more than the real world.

I think life is sort of like a competition whether it's in sports or it's achieving in school or it's achieving good relationships with people. And competition is a little bit of what it's all about.

That's what Major League Baseball's steroid scandal was all about the hidden harm in competitive sports that sends the wrong message to the young.

I like to feel that I understand little things about sports.

My tastes in all things lean towards the arty and boring. I like sports documentaries about Scrabble players bands that play quiet unassuming music and TV shows that win awards. In that way I am an elitist snob.

I think having a vision can make someone an influential man. I'm not talking about acting or anything like that I'm talking about people I admire whether it's a writer or a musician or a sports figure or a politician whatever.

Louie and Seabiscuit were both Californians and both on the sports pages in the 1930s. I was fascinated. When I learned about his World War II experiences I thought 'If this guy is still alive I want to meet him.'

As you know the thing that I know the least about is the topic of sports.

I never really was that passionate about playing sports. But when I was at this Mt. Herman school I did have the ability to throw the frisbee. So when this sport evolved it was fun because I was good at it.