1.
Ever since I was a little kid, I was competitive.
Mariano Rivera
2.
I don't just think regular season. I think playoffs. World Series. That's how I think.
Mariano Rivera
3.
If you don't control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that's not good.
Mariano Rivera
4.
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.
Mariano Rivera
5.
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.
Mariano Rivera
6.
Don't worry about what the people say; be yourself, say what you want to say WITH respect.
Mariano Rivera
7.
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.
Mariano Rivera
8.
I have nothing to ask for, thanks to God. Everything I have, God has given me.
Mariano Rivera
9.
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.
Mariano Rivera
10.
Baseball was just the avenue that the Lord used so I can provide for my family.
Mariano Rivera
11.
I think the good Lord is a Yankee.
Mariano Rivera
12.
Every time before I throw my first pitch, I am praying. And not only that, in the bullpen I am praying.
Mariano Rivera
13.
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.
Mariano Rivera
14.
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.
Mariano Rivera
15.
I know who I am, I know what I am capable of, I know who I trust.
Mariano Rivera
16.
I demand my kids be respectful, responsible and grateful. And they have to love the Lord with all their hearts.
Mariano Rivera
17.
I don't have control over everything; God has control over everything and I trust him, so I don't worry.
Mariano Rivera
18.
I don't feel invincible because I'm human.
Mariano Rivera
19.
New York has been a blessing for me and my family.
Mariano Rivera
20.
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.
Mariano Rivera
21.
I know there are millions of people praying for me, and I strongly believe in prayers.
Mariano Rivera
22.
I don't wait for people to give me respect. I always give them respect.
Mariano Rivera
23.
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.
Mariano Rivera
24.
There's a lot of things more than baseball that I want to do.
Mariano Rivera
25.
I miss everything that makes up Panama. I don't have a preference. I love my country.
Mariano Rivera
26.
That's the game of baseball - amazing things happen.
Mariano Rivera
27.
I think God gave talent to different people in different areas.
Mariano Rivera
28.
I always take time for somebody who wants to talk to me.
Mariano Rivera
29.
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.
Mariano Rivera
30.
I don't think any professional accepts defeat.
Mariano Rivera
31.
Because I have a little bit more, that means I'm better than you? No. Unacceptable.
Mariano Rivera
32.
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.
Mariano Rivera
33.
Fishing is a hard job. Fishing at night. Rain. Day, night. You have to be wise and smart. And quick.
Mariano Rivera
34.
From my father's side I got the strength, the mental toughness, the heart, the courage.
Mariano Rivera
35.
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.
Mariano Rivera
36.
I don't want to pitch forever.
Mariano Rivera
37.
I am not a father who wants to give his kids everything. They have to earn it.
Mariano Rivera
38.
I'm telling you, God loves a lot of people.
Mariano Rivera
39.
You can’t second-guess baseballyou can’t second-guess yourself.
Mariano Rivera
40.
If I have to win one game, I’d have a hard time taking anybody over Dustin Pedroia as my second baseman.
Mariano Rivera
41.
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.
Mariano Rivera
42.
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.
Mariano Rivera
43.
I like a calm life where nobody bothers me.
Mariano Rivera
