They Said It

“When I was down on the ice, there was only one question I couldn’t answer and that made [trainer Greg Smith] a little nervous. When he asked me, ‘Do you know who you are?’ I said, ‘Batman.’ ”

GUY HEBERT,

Duck goalie, after being hit in the head in Game 1 of the playoffs against Detroit.

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“I forechecked him and maybe bumped him a little. I didn’t hit him. Then he hit me and I hit him. Then he said something about Duke winning the national title and I said it would be UConn, and it escalated from there.”

JIM McKENZIE,

Duck wing, after he tangled with Dallas goalie Ed Belfour on March 12. (McKenzie received two minutes for slashing, two minutes for cross-checking and a 10-minute misconduct penalty. Belfour received no penalties. But, UConn won the national title.)

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“When the bus drove up here the first time last week, I got the chills.”

RYAN OWENS,

Cal State Fullerton third baseman, at the College World Series in Omaha.

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“This is one of the biggest victories of my life. It means the students allowed UCI intercollegiate athletics to rise from the ashes.”

DAN GUERRERO,

UC Irvine athletic director, after students voted an increase in fees.

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“If we can’t sell this package, my name is Gustaf.”

DAN GURNEY,

All-American Racing team owner, before failing to secure sponsorship for the 2000 CART champ car season.

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“He was emotional, yes, fiery. He was trying, he never dogged it and it was wonderful to see.”

TIGER WOODS,

after he held off Sergio Garcia at the PGA Championship to win his second major.

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“I don’t care about the bell, I just want to ring somebody’s bell.”

STEVEN FIFITA,

Fountain Valley defensive lineman, after the Barons defeated Edison, 35-21, in the annual “Battle for the Bell” football game.

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“I’m glad we played. Maybe it was to get a little bit of closure. Maybe not. But, we played for Scotty.”

MATT MEHDIZADEH,

Fountain Valley football player, after a playoff loss to Long Beach Poly four days after the death of teammate Scotty Lang.

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“I was tired.”

SKYLER CHAMPION,

Foothill High running back, after rushing for a county-record 527 yards versus Orange.

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“My goal is to come here and win, and to do it the right way.”

SHAWN GREEN,

former Tustin High star, after being traded to the Dodgers and signing a long-term contract.

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“Shawn . . . said the Angels were not a club he was interested in going to. I don’t know why.”

GORD ASH,

Toronto Blue Jay general manager.

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“I don’t think I deserve a suspension. He got hurt, but not because of me. He lost his balance.”

RUSLAN SALEI,

Duck defenseman, who was suspended 10 games after he nudged Dallas Star Mike Modano into a ferocious fall into the boards.

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“[Salei] should be out of the league.”

BRETT HULL,

Dallas wing.

“We worked hard, and got rewarded. The ‘Dirty Ducks’ winning in this building, imagine that.”

CRAIG HARTSBURG,

Duck coach, after his team won at Dallas Nov. 26 in its first game in Reunion Arena since the opening-night game in which three Duck players drew suspensions.

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“We passed out fliers with discounts to the bookstore. I think that helps. Either that or we can throw in a free organic chemistry book to any student who comes to the game.”

MAREK ONDERA,

basketball player, on promoting games to UC Irvine’s academic-minded student body.

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“You give me 30 of those opportunities and I’ll get you 10 goals.”

McKENZIE,

after chipping the puck into a wide-open net against Detroit on Dec. 19.