It's really tough that I have to always explain myself.

I was born in the States and I want people to know I'm American, and I want people here to understand that I'm like anyone in New York. For me, it's home.

Everyone relates me to that man, and I have nothing to do with him.

Everyone relates me to that man [Osama Bin Laden], and I have nothing to do with him. There are 400 other people related to him, but they are all in Saudi Arabia, so nobody's going to get tarred with it. I'm the only one here.

I understand that when people hear my last name, they have preconceived notions, but I was born an American and I love my country. I was born in the States, and I want people to know I'm American, and I want people to understand that I'm like anyone in New York. For me, it's home.

It's tough to explain to them. Guys from out of state may have an idea of what it's about, but once you get here it's completely different. I know once I got here I realized how different it was - and I grew up an hour away from Columbus.