"We have a vibrant Dominican community who look at Big Papi, David Ortiz, swinging his bat for the Red Sox, and wonder why you said, ‘Almost no one coming from the Dominican Republic to the US is coming here because they have a provable skill that would benefit us" – U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), during the confirmation hearing for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who has been tapped as Attorney General (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/11).
"I actually have not seen it. But I have seen the real-life version with some of my dad’s former teammates and guys that I have played against, so it’s definitely something that makes you think about what you are doing and what some of the long-term effects will be" – Patriots WR Matthew Slater, on whether he has seen the movie "Concussion" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/10).
"It would be terrible. How terrible? Are there different levels of terrible?" – U.S. men's national team coach Bruce Arena, on the possibility of the team not qualifying for the World Cup (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/10).
"I've been on a lot of committees – government, corporate, university – and I've said many times, I think it's the best committee I've ever served on" – Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on the CFP selection committee (ESPN.com, 1/10).
"We plan to have Manny fight four times this year – we have an offer in Russia in July, another offer in Europe for September and in the U.S. against (unbeaten two-belt junior-welterweight champion) Terence Crawford in November or December. That will be Manny’s last fight" – Boxing promoter Bob Arum, on the four-fight farewell tour he has planned for Manny Pacquiao (L.A. TIMES, 1/11).
