Joe Maddon

My dad was actually my first mentor. Decent man, hard-working man, never missed a day of work plumber.

I'll never forget the first time I rode a bike with pedal straps. I stopped at a traffic light and fell over like Arte Johnson in 'Laugh-In.'

A day off is not a day off if you find out at 4 o'clock you're not playing.

I think part of being a good leader is listening skills, and I think a big part of leadership is the ability to delegate.

I was never a protestor, don't get me wrong, I was never like a vocal... what was the line I used to repeat to myself?... I was a nonconformist in a conforming society, that's what I thought about myself back in the '70s.

I'm a product of the '60s and the '70s - slightly rebellious back then in college, not so much in high school, when I got to college I think I was. And I think a lot of where I'm at right now is rooted in a lot of hypocrisy that I recognized back then that I never wanted to be personally.

You can talk about Phil Jackson for years when he was with the Lakers and the Bulls, I used to read a lot of his stuff.

I really hope that you all understand that social media doesn't count at all. Twitter doesn't count at all.

I get in so many tough spots when I demonstrate my feelings on certain things.

I loved 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'

I think I've had some of my better ideas on a bicycle.

People who say spring training's too long, I absolutely disagree. I think it's the perfect length of time.

I fall asleep in theaters, so I try to stay away from them.

When I look back, my journey isn't about a small-town kid from Hazleton traveling around the country, but about the years I put in to get to this place in my life. Playing and finding out you're not good enough, managing in the minors, working in player development, coaching and learning from the best minds in baseball.

My father was a plumber and I'm from the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, and I promise you, I've been to Birmingham and Montgomery and when the plane lands, it's really reminiscent, topography wise, to northeastern Pennsylvania and I feel that same vibe.

Baseball is not an emotional game, we have to get your brain working. Baseball, you have to have your wits about you when you go out there so you have to be not emotional.

Bob Clear, nobody's ever heard about except for some people who have been in the game, was probably my main mentor in the game of baseball.

When you permit yourself to lose for more than 30 minutes then it can carry over to the next day. I think it's important to understand that. I think that mindset is contributing.

Hitting coach John Mallee, he comes to the ballpark way too early for me, man. He drives me nuts.

Going into the past, I've always thought Mark Twain would be cool to hang out with for a little bit.

First of all, Marty Foster is a really good fellow. No. 2, Google or YouTube the time he called Ben Zobrist out on a strike three against Joe Nathan couple years ago that gave Joe Nathan his 300th save.

Cincinnati beats you up for three days, and all of a sudden it's doom and gloom. I cannot live my life that way.

You need to be crazy to be great.

I want crazy in the clubhouse every day.

It's not easy to play a guy in the field after he's just pitched. There's a time for arm recovery too that you have to be cognizant of.

If I were to come to the plate what would I play? 'Start Me Up'... maybe... by the Stones. Definitely wouldn't mind that. Something by Springsteen. Just a bit or a piece of 'Kitty's Back in Town.' Or something from Led Zeppelin like 'Ramble On.' That's a tough question. For anybody who can nail it down to one song, God bless them.

The one thing I've always felt - and I might be naive - is that if you nurture a particular situation regarding relationships at a very young age, that you may have a better chance to keep a group of players together.

I'm hoping to be recognized in Europe, because that would truly indicate that the Tampa Bay Rays have arrived on the continent.

I work through Kaenon with my sunglasses because they're prescription.

I love Ray Charles.

People don't realize how many of the homeless are single moms, and a lot of veterans, and people with mental illness.

When I was living in California, I would ride my bike and see homeless people pushing their grocery carts with all their belongings, and it really upset me. I always said if I had a bigger soapbox, I would do something. And I thought the best way was to cook food - I'm Italian.

If you want to see how good your team is, look at your bench.

I've always liked a guy who can really power the ball in the 2-hole.

I'm all for, almost like, a general amnesty program.

I want more of an opportunity to do nothing, and I mean that in a positive way.

When you go through a full season, some guys are going to get into some bad spots, and you have to stick with them because that's what they are there for, and I think part of it is building confidence.

For me, what do I do to look hot? T-shirts and jeans.

If a stolen base is there based on a pitcher's time to the plate, then steal a bag.

Mazzaro's is absolutely one of the finest shopping experiences anywhere and I wish I got there more often.

I am into my routine and I believe in the following: exercise, adequate amount of sleep and a good diet.

I get flooded with nostalgia, I do. And it's okay. It's a good thing.

You do connect with people, regardless of their age. And how do you do that? By taking an interest in what they do, where they're coming from.

You've got to go with what you think is the right thing in the moment, based on everything that's presented to you.

Sometimes we all gain this elitist status mentally that inhibits us from being the kid that got you there in the first place, and I never want to inhibit that youthful demeanor. I think it's a very big part of success.

I get up every morning, and walk down to the Starbucks, sip my coffee and do some business with my iPad.

I've always loved the Belmont Shore area because I've always thought it had a kind of European vibe to it. This to me is the best area in Southern California.

When you are working with a highly professional, motivated group that is accountable, the more freedom you give that group, the more discipline you're going to get in return.

I believe this: There is a lot of discipline to be derived from freedom.

I have no interest at all in the success of the Seattle Mariners.