From Their Lips...

One of the amazing things going on in sports today is the number of athletes who are being candid with the media. Gone are the Bull Durham-esque cliches of the past quarter century that "we take it one day at a time" and that "we are just happy to be here." Today, athletes are speaking their minds. Here are some of the interesting comments they had to say:

Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles: "Black quarterbacks have to deal with different things than white quarterbacks. If you don't think that's true than you are naïve. Peyton, Tom and Carson to name a few, have never been asked what it's like to be a white quarterback. They probably have not been told that they should have scrambled more. I bet Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Jake Plummer, and Doug Flutie have never been told by a member of any racial consciousness organization that they don't play the quarterback position white enough."

Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers: "A lot of people know about teams hazing their rookies and younger players. The vets had us do a little costume party after we finished the Chicago series. I was Robin Hood...no tights...got lucky. Other guys had it way worse, like Snow White, Popeye, a barely dressed fat woman, and others. When we got to San Fran. that night, the bus dropped us off about 6 blocks from the hotel, so we could show off our lovely outfits. It was quite entertaining."

Isaac Bruce, St. Louis Rams: "I sit here 0-2 smart enough to go back in NFL history to focus on the many teams that started 0-2 and finished in the playoffs. That's my focus. You may be reading this piece and your job, marriage, finances, or some other relationship is under attack. Take a stand. There is hope and when faith is added to that hope, "No one can stop you but you." We have to be active participants in our own rescue. Continue to call things which be not as though they were! Remember, PS 34:19, "many are the affliction (test, trials, and storms) of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Ending, give praise where it is due, to all of the defensive coordinators in the NFL, Randy Moss is still explosive!!! P.S. This is my MVP season."

Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants: "I would have loved nothing more than to retire as a Giant in the place where I call home and have shared so many momentous moments with all of you, but there is more baseball in me and I plan on continuing my career. My quest for a World Series ring continues."