Words To Live By: Quotes Of The Year, Part One Of Three

“I mean, you don't go buy a Ferrari and expect to get a Volkswagen price."
-- Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael Jordan, on the $190 price of his Air Jordan 2009 sneakers.

“I have one goal today and that’s just to make certain that my first press conference isn’t immortalized as one of those beer commercials.”
-- New Colts coach Jim Caldwell, during his introduction to the media.

“The key question is, can Michael Phelps have it both ways? Can he be a 23-year-old and can he also be a multi-million dollar pitchman to America’s children?”
-- USA Today columnist Christine Brennan, on Phelps admitting pictures showing him smoking marijuana were real.

“If this is Humpty Dumpty, we’ve got to put him back together again.”
-- Yankees GM Brian Cashman, on Alex Rodriguez after he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs from ’01-03.

“Bob Knight in underwear is funny?”
-- Author John Feinstein, on the “Guitar Hero” commercial featuring four college basketball coaches in their boxer shorts.

"Citi just called and said I better get their name right. Citi Field that is. Rookie move I guess."
-- Jets QB Mark Sanchez, before throwing out the first pitch at a Marlins-Mets game after calling the ballpark "City Field."

“Only the Yankees would think a $1,200 ticket is affordable and a $2,500 ticket isn’t.”
-- N.Y. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, on the Yankees cutting the price of some premium tickets.

"I guess it's better than Pro Player and being named after an underwear company."
-- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Harvey Fialkov, on Dolphin Stadium being renamed Land Shark Stadium after the A-B beer brand.

“Does it mean we have to get up at 3:17 in the morning and watch film with you?”
-- "MNF" play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico, noting new analyst Jon Gruden's schedule when he was an NFL coach.

"No, I never drink Gatorade. Just Vitaminwater."
-- Cavaliers F LeBron James, a Vitaminwater endorser, on whether he drank Gatorade after cramping during Game One of the Magic-Cavs series.