"The ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story, we’re so past that. I have a very deep respect for art, but I also think we have a lot to learn from pop culture. And that is the future. Either you can ignore it and be stuck in the past, or you can learn from it."

"Book/Play1 (Book/Play1)"

"Book/Play2 (Book/Play2)"

"He just walked away like he was God's gift to the world."

"You dance as if you've already won the competition."

"I think you're talking crap."

"I don’t even know if I’ll ever feel what I did when he finished dancing his solo on Wednesday night’s [2007-08-15] show. When he left the ballet world, he was losing his love of dance, and to me, watching that solo, he came full circle. He came back.”"

"I think Sabra should have won."

"I know very well that I'm not the dancer that Danny is. He's on a completely different level. For the last four years, I've known who he is, and I just wanted to talk to him. So standing there with him tonight [as the final two] was the craziest thing."

"In my opinion Danny was far and away the best."

"This latest skirmish in the high art/low art war has played out most fiercely over Mr. Tidwell, who shocked balletomanes when he left American Ballet Theater in 2005, then added insult to injury by joining the third season of “So You Think You Can Dance.”"

"Jumps and turns aren't hard; artistry is. To create a whole new world for the audience, that's the fantasy of ballet."

"I want to be a Met my whole career."

"As soon as baseball becomes a job, as soon as I stop caring, as soon as the smile goes away, I'll hang up my spikes and do something else."

"I think I still have something to give. There is still that passion, that fire in me that says, ‘Let’s feel sorry for yourself for a day or so and let’s get back at it. Let’s get back on the horse.'"

"Throughout this entire rehab process, I have been driven to get back on the field as quickly as I can. That's why I had the shoulder surgery and that's why I underwent back surgery to reduce the risk of further issues going forward. With these two surgeries behind me, I hope to be able to put on a Mets uniform again as soon as possible. My desire to play is as strong as ever."

"When I first got to the majors in 2004, female fans held up signs asking me to marry them. Those girls today were what, 13, 14? I'm 23, but that's a little young even for me."