The reason for doing this would be that the Qwest merger would take a shorter time period to close from a regulatory approval process standpoint.

This is a superior merger because it makes more sense strategically. Qwest is also a more substantial company -- larger in terms of size, employees, revenues and fixed assets.

Bell Atlantic gains, first, and foremost, a national footprint for wireless, and this will enable it to match up against AT&T and Sprint PCS, which are the two other national wireless players. That would make really three companies that could offer their subscribers the ability to use the wireless network anywhere in the country.

The reason we're going into Iraq is because this is a very significant time and ... the president (George W. Bush) asked us to go in to show support for this new government.

The third period has always been our best period. This is the reason why we do all the conditioning and all the hard work. We have a lot of leaders in our dressing room and they all know what it takes to win. We were able to get it done.

I didn't achieve my goal (state championship), so for that reason, I'm not happy with myself. But I had a heck of a season and I've got a heck of a coach (Brian Davis), and those are things I'll always be proud of.