Ramon Rodriguez

“To be honest, a lot of ride-alongs are not that great. There might be one or two calls on the radio - not a lot - depending on what time you go.”

“A friend told me about a Nike competition, where they give you one minute to do tricks with a basketball. I wasn't going to go, but they were giving away free sneakers. I ended up coming in second place.”

“I played college basketball in West Virginia for two years, and then I graduated from NYU with a sports management degree because I realized the NBA's not going to happen.”

“On the streets, hanging out with the fellows, there are things you learn that no book can teach you.”

“I spent a lot of time with the LAPD. I spent six weeks training, weapons training, ride-alongs, surveillance, interviewing them, in all different departments and divisions.”

“I don't really know much about cars.”

“Basketball paid for four years of my education, and I am so proud of that.”

“I interned for the Knicks for one year doing community relations, but I absolutely hated it. It was a desk job, and the team was not good at all, and I didn't realize how much that correlated to the office. It was just gray, gloomy days.”

“My first celebrity crush... I had a huge crush on 'Cheetara' from 'ThunderCats.'”

“I like new challenges and new experiences.”

“I grew up on Avenue C, and Tompkins Square Park was my park. That was where I played ball every day. I lived in that park.”

“You don't make it anywhere without someone helping you out.”

“I love 'I Love Lucy,' and I have the DVD set of 'I Love Lucy.'”

“Growing up in New York City, my car culture is minimal. I rode on the train, the bus. I walked; I rode my bike, and when I was younger, I rode my skateboard.”

“I wasn't really excited about doing television, to be quite honest.”

“The camera never lies, man. I've learned that. If you allow it, it will see right through you, which is kind of cool.”

“Westerns are cool, man. I'm big on Westerns. I just love the grittiness.”