It took me a couple of years to get back to playing at the level I was playing prior to the knee injury.

You can't make the club in the tub. A team is going to have 25 healthy bodies. At that point in time, when I sprained my ankle, I couldn't get out there and compete. It cost me as far as making the Opening Day roster. But better late than never.

It's not easy. It's definitely not easy. But if you want to play, and play up to the level you're expected to play at and want to play at, you have to get about your business.

We were able to knock a little rust off from the last couple tournaments.

If I'd lived prior to the 1980s, it would have been different, because I would have been playing to prove African Americans are equal. Now, I don't necessarily feel I have to play for black people, because obviously they're doing everything in all sports. If I can go out there and play for myself and not feel I have to stand for something other than what I want to do, that's good.

That was smoothed over when they took the prior ownership out.