“I’ve had times in my career when I’ve made a great play and I’ve thought, ‘Yeah, man, look at me.’ I’d think it would be good for my career. It was self-interest. But this was truly creating joy for other people, which in turn created joy for myself. It seemed limitless, infinite.”

– Professional football player Steve Gleason, a Spokane native and Washington State University graduate, describing his experience as a member of the New Orleans Saints when fans welcomed professional football’s return to that hurricane-racked city.

“I wouldn’t say I delivered him; I caught him.”

– Registered nurse Todd Miller, whose son was born alongside Interstate 5 in Shoreline, Wash., after his wife went into labor as they were in the carpool lane headed to the hospital during rush hour traffic.

“At this point, I don’t have nearly enough information to make a value judgment of this magnitude. In particular, that concerns any player in the Steroids Era, which I consider to be the 1993-2004 period, give or take a season.”

– Suburban Chicago sportswriter Paul Ladewski, of the Daily Southtown, saying he cast a blank ballot in this year’s baseball Hall of Fame voting because of doubts related to some athletes’ use of performance-enhancing drugs.

“Every Army leader is just sick that this happened. This is an inexcusable mistake. Five years into this war, the Army can do better than this – and we will.”

– Gen. Richard Cody, the Army’s vice chief of staff, blaming a computer problem for sending recruitment letters urging 275 officers who have been killed or wounded in Iraq to return to active duty.

“This is going to be an amazing admission for a public official in Washington: We actually listen to people.”

– Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, explaining that his department will make sure that New York City and Washington, D.C., get adequate funding from the urban security program that has been criticized for failing to direct funds to the places most at risk of terrorism.

“I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it’s carried out.”

– U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican and possible 2008 presidential candidate, commenting after President Bush spoke to the nation about his plans to increase American troop levels in Iraq.

“My real problem is downshifting and setup for gears in the lower range – with the range lever up.”

– From the Web site of lawyer and former Spokane City Councilman Steve Eugster, now training to become a long-haul truck driver.