- “The trendy shops along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills sell the rarest and most expensive baubles imaginable. South Beach plastic surgeons can turn a toad into a prince (or at least a shiny-faced likeness of one). But boutiques don’t sell character, and plastic surgery can’t remove our hidden insecurities with the touch of a scalpel. We are, each of us, the product of a lifetime of experience that no amount of cash falling on our heads from heaven can alter. The sudden receipt of ‘money without meaning’ only magnifies the personal weaknesses with which each of us live, no matter our station in life.” Beating the Midas Curse, by Perry L. Cochell and Rodney C. Zeeb, Page 49
- “Seems I always wanted to be something other than what I was. I think it’s called insecurity. If anyone should have been secure, I should have been. After all, I had a long, successful career that took me to the Hall of Fame. But I wasn’t what I projected on the outside—a cool, cocky guy who was in control, who accepted the spotlight, and who was happy to bear the responsibilities of stardom. Not so. Not nearly so. Inside the clubhouse, I was comfortable with leadership; on the field, I preferred blending in. I played a “quiet” game. Intense and super-competitive, but quiet. I played with blinders on, like a racehorse, without looking to the right or left. I tried to lead the league in everything and stay under the radar at the same time. That’s hard to do, but I knew it was the best fit for my personality, even though it isolated me from fans. I wish I could have had the whole package—like, say, Reggie Jackson. Reggie thrived on being the star attraction. He wasn’t afraid to bring attention to himself following a home run, or play to the crowd during a game. He was hated in visiting parks; I was cheered in visiting parks. The only place I occasionally felt hated was in Philadelphia during a bad slump.” Clearing the Bases (Schmidt, Mike;Waggoner, Glen) Kindle Location 1115-1124