I'm sorry, but when you retire - RETIRE. Go fishing. Travel the world - do whatever you want but please don't come back! Yeah - I'm looking at YOU Mr. Martin and Mr. Favre... WTH is up with this trend? Have a "Farewell Tour" and make a big deal out of it being your last year - big headlines, lots of interviews and other attention - plenty of lovey-dovey fan mail I am sure...
And then BAM! Oh - never mind. I think I will come back after all.
Knock.it.off. It is to the point now where I don't even blink if someone in sports is going to retire. Who cares? I'll believe it when I see it. Don't get me wrong - these two men - I love them. I think they are rare in the sports world in that they are both polite gentlemen. But still - they have both lost something in the area of integrity with me at least (not that I imagine that either one of them would give a darn about what I think).
Athletes - hear me. Please. If you think you might want to retire - take some time. Make a list of everything that is making you lean in that direction. Write the you of tomorrow a letter today to remind yourself of these reasons... leave only when you are truly ready to leave. This is what I did. Give yourself a little time in your new life to enjoy the freedom and the lightness. Sure - you won't have adrenaline rushing through your veins 24/7 but guess what - you can get used to it. Learn to relax. Not easy. Of course not. But definitely worth it in the end. Have a little self-respect. When you leave. LEAVE. Don't come back.
End or rant.
for now.
:D
9 comments:
I can see the lure of a bit more fame in the record books, and certainly more fortune for these guys, but this is something to consider before announcing to the world that you will retire.
I certainly had to be positive I was going to retire before announcing it to my superiors, and I had to have a firm stance should they ask me to stay (which they did and I was flattered, but the answer was "No.")
If you're gonna do it - just do it.
Exactly!
My darling wife and I disagree on this issue. She thinks he should be allowed to come back. I think he should uphold his word, and retire graciously. Take the $2 million per year for ten years, and do marketing for the team. But don't try to recapture your youth or set more records. You've done enough. Ride graciously into the sunset. Let someone else shine.
Maybe the way to do it is take a long home-vacation to see if you like retirement... then if you don't, you don't retire :)
I agree! To add to that a little; have you ever noticed that my city, Kansas City, always end up taking the retired ones? Look back at the Chiefs and you will see what I mean!
We're just the reverse here in Atlanta, Saphira. We get them first, in the draft, and then let them go from our losing team. Then they come back with their new team and beat us into the ground.
Back in the '60's, I used to wish that Atlanta had an NFL professional team.
...I'm still wishing...
I don't know these people, but I agree. Same with singers who retire. Do the "last" tour and then come back a couple of years later for a "final" tour...lol
I have something for you on my blog today. :)
Daisy,
Check out Mr. Lady's site. Ya think I'd qualify? I still don't know what that round gooey thing is in my car... meaning it's still there!!!
Pat
I agree - Brett clearly suffered too many helmet-to-helmet contacts in his career. Have some grace. Keep your word. Don't turn your ex-team upside-down by trying to re-insert yourself into a team that's already reorganizing in your absence. Sigh. Prediction: He will be injured halfway through the season with the Jets and be on the sick list until the following season. THEN he will retire.
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