Iconic Player Quotes

I'm a big fan of Barry Sanders and I respect him a lot. He's a guy that a lot of people talk about. He retired early and fans would have loved to see him, like myself, play three or four more years.

Carl Yastrzemski was the best all-around player. He could run, throw and hit. He had the ability to play a number of different positions. He signed as a shortstop. He could play the outfield, of course, and third base and first, too. He was a tremendous athlete. Mickey Mantle was unbelievable, too.

People like Paul Scholes were in my way at United - what are you going to do with that? You just look at him as an idol. I have watched him since I was a little kid. I couldn't have had a much better teacher.

MS Dhoni is an asset in any team he plays for.

If Tim Duncan had Knicks on his jersey, he'd be a god.

Before seeing 'The Pride of the Yankees,' you may or may not know that the Yankees referred to are the ones who win the World Series each year. After seeing it you will find that the reference is indirect.

Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some of the reasons kids would always say they want to grow up to be just like Derek Jeter.

A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really play that good?' I said, 'Larry Bird is so good it's frightening.'

When I was working on the unauthorized biography 'Stan Musial: An American Life,' which came out in 2011, old opponents recalled how Musial knew their names after they had been in the majors only a few days.

Sachin Tendulkar is in my time the best player without doubt - daylight second, Brian Lara third.

I think anybody who saw him will tell you that Willie Mays was the greatest player who ever lived.

Kobe is part of the Laker family and he always will be. There's not many players who play 18-19 years with the same franchise, and it's important to us that he has a chance to play his entire career with the Lakers.

Ronaldinho is the biggest idol in football for me. I like him a lot.

My first hero to wear the number 10 shirt was Ronaldinho.

When people see me as Gavaskar on screen, I want them to feel that they are looking at the person that they have known and when I play on screen, it should remind them of how he played.

Figo is as important to England as Beckham is.

Kobe Bryant, to me, is still the best basketball player in my mind. He played with me and he was in my era. I still love him to death. He's a little brother to me.

Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players to ever play... he's the best point guard to ever play, so I can learn a lot of things from him.

Ian Callaghan is everything good that a man can be. No praise is too high for him. Words cannot do justice to the amount he has contributed to the game. Ian Callaghan will go down as one of the game's truly great players.

Kobe Bryant is a walking stat himself. He doesn't have to explain what he brings to the table.

George Gervin was my childhood idol since I was little. In Oakland I had all his posters on my wall.

Sachin has been an integral part of Mumbai Indians and a source of inspiration for the team ever since the inception.

You can't have a greater person to emulate your game around than Scottie Pippen.

Kobe Bryant was the reason I started playing basketball - always was and will be my favorite player of all time. I love the way he could get his shot off, his footwork down in the post, just his determination to be the best player.

I think there is so many elements of the culture of basketball that Jordan leads in and has been a leader over the years - from Michael's on court legacy to his work ethic, competitiveness, passion, and leadership.