Let’s talk sports retirement.
Tom Brady had a Hall of Fame career. Twenty-two seasons. Seven Super Bowl wins, a career record of 243 wins and 73 losses. Passing for 84,520 yards and 624 touchdowns (No. 1 all-time in both categories), and at age 44, passed for 5,316 yards and 43 TDs, taking his team to the NFC finals.
On Feb .1, Brady announced his retirement from the NFL, saying he is “not going to make that competitive commitment anymore.”
Brady said, “I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition – if a 100% competitive commitment isn't there, you won't succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game.” On Instagram, he posted: “There is a physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.”
I believed him. Well done, Tom. Enjoy your retirement. That retirement lasted 40 days. That was 59 days shorter than the MLB lockout. Well … he’s back. Brady posted on Twitter: "These past two months I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it's not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I'm coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business."
So he changed his mind, OK, what’s the big deal? Well, just hours before Brady changed his mind, a bidder at auction put up $518,628 for Tom Brady's “last” touchdown pass ball. I wonder if the new owner of that ball will sue for breach of promise – to retire?
Brady isn’t the first athlete to retire and unretire. Another NFL legend, Brett Favre, held the Green Bay Packers hostage for consecutive years and retired three times, coming back at the last moment before camp. Boxing great Muhammad Ali also retired three times and Sugar Ray Leonard said goodbye three times. George Foreman came back after 10 years in retirement. Floyd Mayweather Jr. retires after every fight and returns. Boxers, right?
Basketball legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson each retired and unretired, Johnson after five years away, and Jordan retired twice and came back again.
Many gridiron heroes have returned after retiring, including “Neon” Deion Sanders, Reggie White, John Riggins, Bronko Nagurski, Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Brady’s favorite passing target, Rob Gronkowski.
In baseball, Minnie Minoso came back several times after retiring. Satchel Paige, Dizzy Dean, Ryne Sandburg, Jim “Ball Four” Bouton, Tony Conigliaro, Andy Pettitte and even Yogi Berra came back after a year off. Dave Steib made a comeback after being gone for five years. Shortstop Charlie O’Leary played 13 years, ended his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1913, and then came back for a year with the St. Louis Browns in 1934 … a gap of 21 years.
In basketball, Bob Cousy (six years retired), Dave Cowens, John Salley and others couldn’t stay away, and the hockey list is long and includes Gordie Howe (three retirements), Mario Lemieux, Dominick Hasek (three retirements), Guy Lafleur and many more. Tennis stars including Bjorn Borg, Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters returned after leaving. Even skateboarding legend Tony Hawk came back after being retired for 18 years.
So what’s the big deal? Well, we believe our sports heroes when they say they have had enough, and generally, when they come back, they are not the superstars they once were and we feel bad for them, even let down, when they don’t achieve their former greatness. Still, it is great to see the heroes get out there again and give it another try. We root for the old guys.
Just don’t buy their “last” card, jersey, boxing gloves, home run ball, TD pass ball or socks until you are sure they are done … really done. You don’t want to overbid.
What do YOU think? Let me know at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
See you next time.
