Do you consider yourself the best quoter on the team?
Polsky: "When you ask that question you must ask, "Do wolves regurgitate their food for their young, or does a rabbit eat its own droppings? The answer to the question is a reluctant, but unequivocal, yes."
Do you think about quotes during a match?
Polsky: "Just like all things in the world, Mike, my quotes have their time and place. One can't afford to be distracted by a Chaucer limerick or by a Byron verse when match point comes around. In a nutshell, Mike, let's leave those quotes for the tank."
Who is the real George Polsky?
Polsky: "Really, Mike, I'm your average guy who likes to experiment with words. Winning the Pulitizer Prize hasn't really changed who I am. Drop shots and Carmen and a stanza that sings, these are a few of my favorite things."
What about the steroid rumors?
Polsky: "Of course, as in all professional sports, there's a growing demand for getting ahead. In the North American tour, all of the quoters are using steroids. But I figure why mess with a good thing. Does Superman need to lift weights? Does Ronald McDonald need to come up with a new formula for the hamburger? As you can clearly see, there's been no reason to tamper with a gift I've been given."
What do you think about your teammates?
Polsky: "My teammates are a great bunch of guys. There's been no sign of bitterness with my growing success as a quoter. Actually, they're kind of my groupies as it were, and there hasn't been a day when at least one of the players hasn't come to practice with a tape recorder or a pad and pencil in hand begging for a sentence or two.
What about Coach Fish?
Polsky: "Fish, on the other hand, has been as much as a guiding light to me as Richie Rich is to Pee Wee and freckles. At first, quoting was just a hobby. But it was really Dave who encouraged me to take it to a higher level. Actually, he paid out of his own pocket for more than half of my think tank. In a nutshell, thanks Dave."
What about your large following of fans?
Polsky: "When the first letters arrived I chalked it up as beginners luck. But when Mr. Gorbachev called to ask for a few of my words on President Bush's recent lectures, I knew I had something special. The recent success has taken me aghast and the fan mail has been darn overwhelming. Work for a new mini-series starts in May and I really couldn't be more excited. Most great thinkers are only recognized posthumously. But just like a pebble dropped into a pond, my words have spread out in ever increasing concentric circles to touch all intelligent life in the universe. In a nutshell, it's not easy being George Polsky, but I do my darn best."