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- 03/21/2013, 04:54PM ET
Better way for athletes to retire.. On the top? Or.. When the big world falls apart..
HighwayCrossingFrog said 03/21, 04:54 PM
I'm going with the big world falls apart..
Yes..
I mean you have nothing left in the tank..
It's an Agassi vs Sampras debate..
Sampras retired on top after winning the US OPEN..
Agassi retired with the bottom feeders losing to Benjamin freaking Becker..
A total embarrassment..
Agassi with a bummed back..
Agassi who could barely walk..
Agassi who lost to a dude, he could sleep walk through a match against Bennie in his prime..
Why?
Cause if you go out on top..
Everyone will wonder if maybe you could have won one more big trophy..
Besides..
What does Sampras do now?
He wakes up..
And plays a couple of sets of tennis..
Tennis is his life..
What did schilling do?
Lose all his money in a video game company..
Guess what?
The real world suk--cs!
Stay in the dream world for as long as possible..
Yeah.. Staying in the game till the big world falls apart hurts..
It's humiliating..
It's embarrassing..
You have to swallow a lot of pride..
BUT..
It's better than not knowing if you could have won one more..
If you could have made that champagne taste a little sweeter..
If you could have avoided sleepless nights of wondering..
J-Business said 03/21, 07:00 PM
Go out on top. If you're a professional athlete and going out on top, you've made enough money to last you a lifetime.
Staying in the game longer, only means that you are most likely set to fail.
Also, depending on the sport, as you get older, you're also more likely to suffer far more injuries.
Football, hockey and boxing are all sports that cause a lot of wear and tear on an athletes body.
Why stay around if you have nothing left to prove?
Look at Jordan, Ali, Gretzky, Tyson and numerous other athletes.
What did they accomplish? Nothing except for more bumps, bruises and extra medical costs
If an athlete is lucky enough to be at the end of his career and he wins a championship (ie, on top), then he should ride of into the sunset and spend the rest of the time he missed with his loved ones
Either that or be a broadcaster and get paid big bucks for their "insight" to the game
HighwayCrossingFrog said 03/22, 01:39 PM
The people who have all tried going out on top get 2nd guessed like crazy..
It's not worth the speculation..
Even in Jordan's hall of fame speech..
You got the sense that he retired too soon..
Jordan went on and on about how at the age of 50.. He could still compete against the best..
And when he retired from the bulls in 98..
Everyone laughed at him when Jordan said he would accomplish more off the court..
I don't really view his comeback with the wizards as a full comeback..
It felt to me like it was more of a semi-retirement move to escape boredom..
As for medical costs?
1. I think they can afford it..
2. They have decades to heal their bodies..
Unless if you have some concussion issues..
I say it's more honorable to keep going till the tank runs dry..
J-Business said 03/22, 02:50 PM
Let's look at by sport
Basketball
Most old NBA players spend their twilight at the end of the bench trying to hang on for a ring w/ a contender
Hockey
Old players lace up the skates and hope not to get smashed against the boards by a young defensemen
Baseball
If they are past they are well past their prime and looking to stay in the game, one word...steroids
Football
This is the saddest of all because more than likely, these guys will end up with more concussions on top of the ones they had throughout the yrs
Last but not least, Boxing
This is always sad, and with the exception, the exception of Bernard Hopkins, the majority of them stayed on too long
Ali losing to Holmes and Spinks
Tyson getting knocked out numerous times
Sugar Ray Leonard getting mauled by Camacho
Evander Holyfield is still an active fighter!
And yes, medical costs can be a serious issue. Did you read the recent story about Adrian Dantley working as a crossing guard for the med benefits?
In fact, this was one of the major issues for retired NFL vets
If a player had the privilege to be at the top at the end of his career, best to ride off into the sunset
HighwayCrossingFrog said 03/22, 05:24 PM
When Agassi retired he gave one of the most emotional speeches..
"The scoreboard says I lost today..
But it doesn't say what I found.."
Brilliant brilliant stuff..
I will never forget Agassi crying match point down..
He knew that was his last point.. And he just couldn't take it..
Yeah it was sad to see him hobbling around with a bad back.. Being a shadow of his former self..
Losing to a Dwayne dweebly..
But compare that to a Jordan or a Sampras..
Where they wait 3 months to announce their official retirement..
Not to mention the break up of the bulls was EXTREMELY depressing to see..
We all know Jordan could have stuck around in Chicago for 2 or 3 more years..
Damn you Jordan!!!
J-Business said 03/22, 07:06 PM
Guys retire for a reason, it's because they can feel their body giving out. If you've won a title, what's the point in staying on and your knees start to creek and younger guys push you to the side
It's a reality.
Since they are no longer young and healing faster, they will definitely feel the wear and tear.
If Jordan had stuck around a few more years, it's possible he would have lost a championship series. Also, he did come back and played for the Wizards which is something most would like to forget.
What's really sad is that when most of these greats at the top contemplate retirement, it becomes overly dramatic and a sob story.
Will he or won't he? Of course the media will play it up because it's a story
Brett Favre is the perfect example of someone who should have left. He had a great season in Green Bay and came very close to the Super Bowl. Instead of hanging it up, he turned it into a soap opera and soon found himself w/ the Jets and Vikings
The perfect examples are Jordan (2nd official retirement)
Elway (2 rings)
Marciano - Left the ring on top
Leave your family and kids with the best memories
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Comments (24) Add A Comment
Yeah, Gretzky accomplished "nothing" near the end of his career except for leading the league in assists for 2 of the last 3 years he played.
YODA
Edmonton, AB
Total Comments (7422)
...although I do agree with you, Biz and I like it when athletes walk away on top - especially in combat sports where losing that step can often result in permanent brain damage.
YODA
Edmonton, AB
Total Comments (7422)
This TD is dedicated to the Nature Boy, Ric Flair.
Can I get a __________?
YODA
Edmonton, AB
Total Comments (7422)
I would have preferred MJ staying away from competition after the Utah series, Sugar Ray retiring after the Hagler fight, Magic not returning after announcing he has AIDs or Hulk Hogan staying retired after the WCW/NWO years.... but worse of all, coming back after retirement time and again and finally getting your arse handed to you like Brett Favre did on his last ride with the Vikings is not a good way to end your career. Stay on Top and leave on Top as my Babi would say, now that's more pleasantly memorable than reliving a nightmare and letting the world fall apart.
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Total Comments (3797)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6009)
HCF went with 100% fruity Euro-trash.
That is well over the limit of 20%.
BM.
Total Comments (61500)
Gretzky wasn't a good example and I was merely just referring to his only have 9 goals in his final season. However, his assists and contribution to the team means I shouldn't have included him on this list. Actually, I wanted to say Gordie Howe, but maybe he also doesn't fit here. It was good to see him out there.
J-Business
Total Comments (892)
I have to disagree with you on this one, BM.
HCF picked two american tennis players. That's not HFC's usual Euro soccer players and teams picks.
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6009)
*American
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6009)
That said I'm sure HFC will make up for his Euro slight in arguments 2 & 3.
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6009)
YEAH!
YODA
Edmonton, AB
Total Comments (7422)
In this case, the athletes may be American, but the sport is still Euro-trash.
BM.
Total Comments (61500)
H E L L YEAH!
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6009)
I don't consider tennis Euro-trash like soccer is but you can think what ya want.
Formerly from Ewa…
Sand Patch, PA
Total Comments (6009)
This is hard for me. I agree with J-Biz' overall stance but I feel like Frogger argued this one well. But then again perhaps the most poignant counterpoint brought up was Business' injury angle, and that might be enough to sway me.
The injury factor is a HUGE reason to go out on top, at least if I were the one making the call. Especially for NFL players, of course. Why stick around for a couple more tackles/receptions or whatever when you're potentially putting your ability to stay out of a wheelchair at risk?
This was a good TD. Exceeded expectations. Congrats, HCF and J Business. I still don't know how to vote, although I think I'm leaning right. Maybe.
Marlins Fan
Albuquerque, NM
Total Comments (13154)
I agree with Biz on this. Better to go out on top the way John Elway did as opposed to the three time retirement epitaph that Brett Favre is remembered for.
HOOTZ
Hooterville, PA
Total Comments (1397)
Agreed, good argument by both parties. But IMO leaving on top is the only way to go.
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I wanted to add the video of Sugar Ray Leonard getting destroyed by Camacho but didn't have time to find the link on how to post a youtube video. It was horrible to watch.
J-Business
Total Comments (892)
Right said: "Yeah it was sad to see him hobbling around with a bad back.. Being a shadow of his former self.. Losing to a Dwayne dweebly.."
That right there is enough of a reason to retire on top.
LoveItHateIt
Portland, OR
Total Comments (11675)
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