Athletes who retire then come out of retirement

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

Should athletes be able to do that?

Is it simply a ploy for more money {retirement memorabilia}?

Is it ego/id?

Should we worship and adore them if they do?

What of athletes who come out of retirement who obviously should stay retired{outof shape}?

 

[StondTmplPilot]

Should athletes be able to do that?

Is it simply a ploy for more money {retirement memorabilia}?

Is it ego/id?

Should we worship and adore them if they do?

What of athletes who come out of retirement who obviously should stay retired{outof shape}?

If they feel that they can still play at a high enough level to make a squad, then more power to them. I think for most of them, they miss the camaraderie of playing on a close knit team. Some may come back for money, but for most, they already have enough. Ego comes in to play for some, I think, but all in all, I think it's just that they miss the atmosphere of playing pro sports.

I don't think any athlete should be worshipped or adored for any reason, but to admire them is acceptable, and they should be admired if they can come back and play at a high level.

Of all the athletes that have retired, only to come back, I have seen very few return with the same skills that they left the game with. If I could see one athlete who has retired, return to play, I would like to see Barry Sanders come back. I have never seen anyone who could excite a crowd like this man. He was and remains in great shape, I think he could pick up where he left off.

 

[Starblayde]

I know if i was 38 and still able to play sport professionally I'd want to do it, for a reason you haven't suggested

the love of the game

So what if there's money to be made, the adrenaline rush alone of playing sport is good enough. Being a part of a close knit team too.

In yanksville the players make millions for doing not very much. In Britain they make a helluva lot less for doing slightly more i think. Money my be the driving force in north america, but in England its enjoyment and glory. In that order.

 

[JennyOmanHill]

Should athletes be able to do that?
Is it simply a ploy for more money {retirement memorabilia}?
Is it ego/id?
Should we worship and adore them if they do?
What of athletes who come out of retirement who obviously should stay retired{outof shape}?

If the athlete is still in shape, why not? Sometimes a sport or team needs a boost, and a returning athlete definitely brings back the fans that remember.

Michael Jordon returning was a surprise to me. However, Mario Lemieux originally "retired" because of his health, and amazingly has returned as a true team leader for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

 

[SINthysist]

From Personal Experience

When you retire, you do so for all the right reasons. But after being a player, it's hard to sit and watch. You miss the camaraderie the action, the adreneline.

I had to go back and play the game. At 40 I was still good, good enough to win several events. The Japanese believe a man reaches his peak at 42.

I am inclined to agree.

 

[GuyJD]

It's been done almost too often.
Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes have retired numerous times only to return to wrestling.

But I admire George Foreman who came out of retirement, won the World Championship, and then went back into retirement as a champion.

Most athletes do it more for the greed of money and popularity than for the sport itself. Despite all of the contracts that he has with Gatorade, Hanes, and MCI Communications, Michael Jordon decided to come out of retirement. That's pure greed.

 

[SINthysist]

I like that. Good.

 

[StondTmplPilot]

I know if i was 38 and still able to play sport professionally I'd want to do it, for a reason you haven't suggested

the love of the game

So what if there's money to be made, the adrenaline rush alone of playing sport is good enough. Being a part of a close knit team too.

In yanksville the players make millions for doing not very much. In Britain they make a helluva lot less for doing slightly more i think. Money my be the driving force in north america, but in England its enjoyment and glory. In that order.

All athletes have a love for the game they play, otherwise they would not have gotten involved in it in the first place. And I disagree that players over here do less than players over there. What exactly do you mean by that? They don't play as hard? They don't practice as hard? Social contributions? I can make points in all categories that "our guys" do just as much as yours.

At 36, I would love to be able to play a sport professionally. Unfortunately for me, I was never good enough to follow that path. I do play pickup (american) football games on Saturdays still, when I don't have to work. I am still driven to play as hard, and as well as I can, but I think I've lost a step or ten in the last few years. The youngsters are now running circles around me, whereas five years ago, I was pretty competitive with everyone. My buddy Paul, who is 37, can still out play just about everyone out there. Not that any of us are, ever could be, or ever could have been professionals. We do it for fun, and it IS a lot of fun.

 

[Starblayde]

And I disagree that players over here do less than players over there. What exactly do you mean by that? They don't play as hard? They don't practice as hard? Social contributions? I can make points in all categories that "our guys" do just as much as yours.

i mean the actual sports... like Football (soccer) that is primarily running for 90+ minutes... in American Football you have short bursts of high energy play for about 6 seconds (if that) on every play. Soccer players make a maximum of about 3M a year.... a third string quarterback who just has to turn up makes more than that..

a few more examples i have but i understand your point... it was a bit off the mark

 

[Weird Harold]

Despite all of the contracts that he has with Gatorade, Hanes, and MCI Communications, Michael Jordon decided to come out of retirement. That's pure greed.

I guess you missed the reports that MJ is playing for minimum wage this year, and donating THAT to charity!

[sarc] Sure sounds like greed to me. [/sarc]

 

[WriterDom]

I guess you missed the reports that MJ is playing for minimum wage this year, and donating THAT to charity!

[sarc] Sure sounds like greed to me. [/sarc]

Really? How in hell does he make ends meet when he only makes $40 million or more a year on advertising endorsements? He's only playing to bang beaver and he got caught doing that.

 

[GuyJD]

THANKS A MILLION, WD

You've helped me rest my case.

Maybe that charity is the Mrs. Jordon Divorce Settlement Fund.

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: THANKS A MILLION, WD

You've helped me rest my case.

Maybe that charity is the Mrs. Jordon Divorce Settlement Fund.

Damn, you actually made me look at one of WD's posts.

I suppose your definition of "not greedy" doesn't include passing up several million dollars on top of the 40+ Million he's already worth, and totally discounts the fact that he came back, in part, because the team he owned was losing -- which BTW, is another thing he gave up to come back.

I believe the charity is The Micheal Jordan Children's foundation, or something similar -- a charity to fund education and sports for inner-city kids. Of course, he's on the board of that charity, so I guess you'll say that means he's just giving the money back to himself.

BTW, Jordan isn't the only one to stage a comeback for a charity -- George Forman returned to boxing again to fund a children's charity as well. I don't recall the name -- it's not named after GF -- but it's a fund for children's medical care.

 

[SINthysist]

Bet the guvment's pissed!

The additional income would have all been in the highest bracket.

 

[StondTmplPilot]

i mean the actual sports... like Football (soccer) that is primarily running for 90+ minutes... in American Football you have short bursts of high energy play for about 6 seconds (if that) on every play. Soccer players make a maximum of about 3M a year.... a third string quarterback who just has to turn up makes more than that..

a few more examples i have but i understand your point... it was a bit off the mark

I see your point on the difference between american football and european, but what you don't take into account is the bone jarring hits these guys have to endure, and in the trenches, the hand to hand stuggles between linemen. Also, they go through this day in and day out in practices. As for pay, most 3rd string QB's make the league minimum (unless you are Scott Mitchell) which is I believe 365K a year. The higher paid players make up to as much as 10M a year, and to me that IS highly overpaid, but, who would you rather have the money, the Owner, who does nothing but sit in a booth on sunday watching the game and signing checks, or the players, who put their bodies on the line every day for the benefit of the fans?