Is it Spring already?
Naw. Favre saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of speculation.
It all just serves to remind me how glad I am that I got to watch John Elway win two Super Bowls, retire gracefully and stay retired, leaving my fond memories of watching him play entirely untainted.
He still could have gotten those teeth fixed though.
He could give up football and still come back with the Lions.
I heard that he’s retiring and moving to Detroit. To get as far away from professional football as possible.
I agree with you in general, but personally, I’ll take winters of will-he-or-won’t-he over umpteen false “retirements” any day. With Favre-style waffling, all you have to do is ignore it completely until the start of the next season, at which point you have your answer: is he on the field or not?
With the multiple-retirees, especially the biggest names, you never really know where you stand. I know I’m on record as hating basketball, and I do, but as a child of the 90s, even I recognized the impact that Michael Jordan had on the sport and American culture as a whole. When he first retired, it seemed to my tween-aged eyes like the end of an era, a mark in the history books…but oh wait, never mind, he’s back. Ok, now he’s leaving again, cue the music, and…wait for it, waaaait for it…back! And gone again. But then he’s sort of back again, running the Wizards, and then he’s playing again, and…really, how many times can the public be expected to care?
When I’m appointed King of Sports, you can waffle all you want, but once you sign your retirement papers, you’re barred from ever playing again. Own or coach as many teams as you like, but your days on the field (court, etc.) are over. Best make sure you mean it.
I’ve posted this before, I figured if I was all-powerful and in charge of the world for a day, I’d have the respective Hall of Fames only take you in with your last team. Not to make a statement, just to mess with them. Oh, and I’d make it retroactive. And I wouldn’t accept ceremonial one-day contracts for retirements.
Johnny Unitas would be a Charger
Emmitt Smith would be a Cardinal
Joe Montana would be a Chief
Jerry Rice would a Seahawk
Ronnie Lott would be a Jet
OJ Simpson would be a 49er (since the 49ers seem to lose so many)
Vince Lombardi would be a Redskins coach
Although free agency would make this harder, I’ll pick on the other leagues, too.
Michael Jordan would be a Wizard
Hakeem Olajuwon would be a Raptor
Willie Mays would be a Met
Babe Ruth would be a Brave
As I recall, Jordan sold his interest in the team before signing, as per NBA rules.
Goodbye, and good riddance. Let him start a NFL-record streak of clearing brush or something.
I’m sick to death of him, and how people fail to see the whiny drama queen underneath because of the Donald-Trump’s-hairpiece-level-of-unconvincing folksy awww-shucks country boy schtick.
Apparently you missed whole 2008 offseason thing. He’s already retired as a Packer once.
You, sir, win the thread. And it isn’t close.
I’m pretty sure this is it, if for no other reason that he’s just not any good anymore. The one thing that there is no forgiveness for is stinking it up on the field.
Frankly, I’m amazed he lasted this long. What kind of legendary achievements has he done to warrant this preferential treatment? I mean, he used to be really good, no doubt, but not Warren Moon good (let alone Steve Young or John Elway).
He clearly has some ego/attention issues, and I just hope that he mans up and takes care of them. Otherwise, life is going to get painfully long.
garygun - What about Vinny Testaverde? Stay in it for the records, you mean?
I mean sitting on his couch, telephone in hand, waiting to accept a call from a team desperate for a QB mid-season.
lol!