Ahem, legalese 101: The "Hearsay Rule" has approximately 17 exceptions-excited utterance, declaration against one's own interest, admissions, business records, etc.; Most exceptions are rooted in the notion that there's something present to give the evidence an aura of credibility sufficient to allow it in. As a practical matter, an awful lot of "hearsay" evidence gets admitted into evidence because it fits into one of the myriad exceptions.
If a player said something contrary to his own best interests, it would likely be considered as "declaration against interests", an exception to the rule. The reasoning is he wouldn't shoot himself in the foot if it weren't true.
H-1