Mariano Rivera Quotes

Ever since I was a little kid, I was competitive.

I don't just think regular season. I think playoffs. World Series. That's how I think.

If you don't control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that's not good.

I learned early in my life that sometimes I'm going to lose. I don't like it, but I accept it, meaning that I understand it's going to happen. But I don't see it like defeat; I see it like a learning process. Then if there's nothing to learn, I move on.

I never give up. If you beat me, you have to beat me one, three, four, five times, and I still don't give up.

Don't worry about what the people say; be yourself, say what you want to say WITH respect.

I get over bad games right away. Sometimes I've let it go even before I've left the mound. That quick. Why? Because it's over. What can you do about it? Nothing. The only thing you can do is fight if you're still in the game. After that you can do nothing.

I have nothing to ask for, thanks to God. Everything I have, God has given me.

I see the hitter when he's moved in the box, like when he's moved closer to the plate or changed his stance. I see when the batter has moved his feet, and then I make my own adjustment.

Baseball was just the avenue that the Lord used so I can provide for my family.

I think the good Lord is a Yankee.

Every time before I throw my first pitch, I am praying. And not only that, in the bullpen I am praying.

I'm a simple guy, you know? If I do something, it's not going to be, 'Look at this, look at that.' It just happens.

I'm not used to seeing the ball go wherever she wants. As a pitcher, I like to be - I don't want to say perfect, but I want to know what the ball is going to do.

I know who I am, I know what I am capable of, I know who I trust.

I demand my kids be respectful, responsible and grateful. And they have to love the Lord with all their hearts.

I don't have control over everything; God has control over everything and I trust him, so I don't worry.

I don't feel invincible because I'm human.

New York has been a blessing for me and my family.

I know what kind of pitcher Whitey was, and I know what kind of person Whitey is. It makes me feel proud to be a Yankee. We're keeping this in the family.

I know there are millions of people praying for me, and I strongly believe in prayers.

I don't wait for people to give me respect. I always give them respect.

God is good for everybody. The sun shines on good people and bad people, and it rains on both, too. God doesn't choose rain only for bad people.

There's a lot of things more than baseball that I want to do.

I miss everything that makes up Panama. I don't have a preference. I love my country.

That's the game of baseball - amazing things happen.

I think God gave talent to different people in different areas.

I always take time for somebody who wants to talk to me.

I want to give my respect, glory and time to the Bible - to the word of God - just as I want to give my respect and time to my work.

I don't think any professional accepts defeat.

Because I have a little bit more, that means I'm better than you? No. Unacceptable.

I know, it's amazing, but I never feel like I have done anything. When people say that, it makes me uncomfortable because I'm not that kind of person. I just go out there and try to do my job.

Fishing is a hard job. Fishing at night. Rain. Day, night. You have to be wise and smart. And quick.

From my father's side I got the strength, the mental toughness, the heart, the courage.

My father was strict and always taught me, no matter who it is, everybody is an uncle. To me, everybody was someone I respect like family. I grew up with that.

I don't want to pitch forever.

I am not a father who wants to give his kids everything. They have to earn it.

I'm telling you, God loves a lot of people.

You can’t second-guess baseballyou can’t second-guess yourself.

If I have to win one game, I’d have a hard time taking anybody over Dustin Pedroia as my second baseman.

You're just trying to throw the best pitch you can and make sure you hit your spots. I don't have to force nobody.

I'm human -- all I do is try to do my job. When I don't do it, the way it happened today, it's out of my control. He put the ball in play and it happened to find a hole. I wish I could take it back, but I can't. You move on.

I like a calm life where nobody bothers me.