I've been a very lucky guy. I played on championship teams. I played for Canada. I've won some awards and I'm very proud of those accomplishments. But I don't think there's anything greater than to come home and to be recognized at home. This is the pinnacle.

When the Nobel award came my way it also gave me an opportunity to do something immediate and practical about my old obsessions including literacy basic health care and gender equity aimed specifically at India and Bangladesh.

I can only point out a curious fact. Year after year the Nobel Awards bring a moment of happiness not only to the recipients not only to colleagues and friends of the recipients but even to strangers.

I always had a larger view. I'm interested in real life - my family my friends. I have tried never to define myself by my success whatever that is. My happiness is way beyond roles and awards.

Happiness does not come from football awards. It's terrible to correlate happiness with football. Happiness comes from a good job being able to feed your wife and kids. I don't dream football I dream the American dream - two cars in a garage be a happy father.

My mother used to tell me man gives the award God gives the reward. I don't need another plaque.

I liked getting the best villain award. I thought that was funny.

It's funny that it all becomes about clothes. It's bizarre. You work your butt off and then you win an award and it's all about your dress. You can't get away from it.

Great big serious novels always get awards. If it's a battle between a great big serious novel and a funny novel the funny novel is doomed.

No matter how popular you are as a stand-up - you can go out and fill a 10 000-seat arena and be smart and funny - it's delicate to host an awards show and know where your place is and know that it's not about you that it's about the people who are nominated and respect that but at the same time have your moment to show them who you are.