# Super Star Athlete's Worst Last Performance **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 26, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503 "2010-01-26T13:30:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/1 "2010-01-26T13:30:52Z")
If Favre’s inexplicable interception in the NFC Championship game turns out to be his last, last play, could this be considered the worst last play to end a super star athlete’s career? (You know what I mean.) Not that that one play somehow overrides a certain Hall of Fame career but might it be one that leaves a long, lingering sour taste for him and his fans? Plenty of boxers are worthy of consideration but one that esepcially comes to mind is Sugar Ray Leonard. As if getting his ass handed to him by Terrible Terry Norris wasn’t bad enough, he comes back years later and gets whupped by Hector Camacho who at times seemed to be holding back out of some sense of deference. Also Michael Jordan ruined what could have been the perfect book end to a brilliant career –hitting a last shot buzzer beater for the NBA championship against the Jazz- by coming back in an ill-advised encore with the hapless Wizards with tired knees and noticeably two or five steps slower than his former self. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/2 "2010-01-26T13:53:21Z")
As you said, boxers probably dominate this list. Ray Robinson being knocked down by Joey Archer–who had only knocked down one other fighter in his career–stands out for me. Also Mike Tyson being blown out by Kevin McBride. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/3 "2010-01-26T13:53:31Z")
Yogi Berra playing a few games for the Mets in 1965 certainly didn’t impress anyone (though he did score the winning run in one of the games). In his last game, he went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts (though his last at bat was a ground out). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/4 "2010-01-26T13:56:35Z")
Nolan Ryan’s last performance was a disaster. He gave up 5 runs on 2 hits (1 HR) and 4 walks, and retired no one. Bob Gibson also gave up 5 runs, on 2 hits (1 HR) and 3 walks, retiring only three batters. Hitters are tough to call, since it’s not uncommon for even great hitters to have 0-fers in their prime. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/5 "2010-01-26T14:48:34Z")
Pete Rose was terrible in his last season - a first baseman hitting barely over .200 with no power. But then, it’s much more the rule than the exception that players have a poor to terrible last year - it’s far more common than players going out as winners or near the top of their game. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/6 "2010-01-26T15:19:40Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Nolan Ryan’s last performance was a disaster. He gave up 5 runs on 2 hits (1 HR) and 4 walks, and retired no one. I was at that game, and it was known that he was retiring in a few weeks but that wasn’t supposed to be his last. If I remember correctly, he had at least one more start planned at home (he was with the Rangers at the time) but injured his arm and was done. I kinda felt sorry for anyone who was hoping to see some history but came late. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/7 "2010-01-26T15:31:38Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I was at that game, and it was known that he was retiring in a few weeks but that wasn’t supposed to be his last. If I remember correctly, he had at least one more start planned at home (he was with the Rangers at the time) but injured his arm and was done. I kinda felt sorry for anyone who was hoping to see some history but came late. I was at the Royals game in May. He [lost in 4 IP](http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA199305070.shtml), just another terrible performance. Ryan was easily my favorite player at the time, and it was really sad to see him so visibly broken down. His [1993 game log](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=ryanno01&t=p&year=1993) just reads like a tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/8 "2010-01-26T15:35:51Z")
Willie Mays, playing for the Mets in the 1973 World Series. Yes, he did get a 12th inning RBI in Game 2, but he misplayed two fly balls and didn’t even appear in the final four games. Joe Namath’s final game (with the Rams of all things) – 16 for 40, no touchdowns and four interceptions, and pulled from the game. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/9 "2010-01-26T15:40:24Z")
I think Zinedine Zidane qualifies. This guy was the absolute best footballer on the planet for a while - and won everything there is to win - and the last action of his carreer was headbutting an opposition player and being send off. This didn’t just happen in any game, no, this happened during the biggest sporting event in the world; the world cup final (no sporting event is as important from a worldwide perspective). So the last action of one of the best players of all time, which was in one of the most important matches of his carreer (he played one other world cup final) is to lose selfcontrol and assault another player, resulting in being sent to the showers and being forced to stay there to hear(maybe watch on tv) how your country/team loses the world cup final. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/10 "2010-01-26T15:46:04Z")
How about Carl Yastremski being noiticeably late on that goose gossage fastball… but not sure if that was his last ab… ``` Karl Malone broken down body unable to do anything in that laker pistons series?? ``` ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/11 "2010-01-26T15:50:50Z")
It almost seems like sacrilege to say it, but Don Bradman’s last Test innings (out for 0 when he only needed 4 to have an unprecedented career average of 100) is legendary in cricket history. Though almost forgotten today, he was a star cricketer at the time for Australia, and Chuck Fleetwood-Smith’s last performance deserves a mention. All he did in his last match was set a world record for bad bowling that still stands over 70 years later: he conceded 298 runs in one innings and “helped” Australia to [a still-world-record margin of defeat.](http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62652.html) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/12 "2010-01-26T16:04:34Z")
Obviously, VERY few star athletes get to leave at the top of their game, as Sandy Koufax, John Elway and Bobby Jones did. It’s inevitable that an athlete is going to age and that his performance will eventually deteriorate. When that happens, a former superstar has three options: 1. Settle for being a role player (as Bill Walton and Johnny Mize did), 2. Decide “I’m not going to play any more if I can’t be among the elite (as Chris Evert and Jack Nicklaus did) 3. Hang on til the bitter end, as long as SOMEONE will pay you to perform… until you’re finally cut or forced to retire. Now, even the stars who fall into category #3 usually don’t completely embarrass themselves. Willie Mays is often cited as a guy who did, but he didn’t commit any errors in the 1973 World Series. He didn’t make any mistakes that cost the Mets any runs. He just LOOKED awful in the outfield. And to fans who remembered him as a phenom in centerfield, it was painful to watch, even though he didn’t do anything that hurt the team. That’s why it’s hard to come up with a “worst ever” performance by an over-the-hill athlete. Few athletes in ANY sport are allowed to keep playing once they’re flat-out liabilities. As others have noted, boxing is among the only sports where an over-the-hill athlete risks utter humiliation. By comparison, it’s not that big a deal to see a former batting champ go 0 for 4, or to see a former All-Pro quarterback underthrow open receivers. In any case, in team sports, a former star who just can’t do the job will be benched or cut long BEFORE he can do anything really embarrassing. A Dan marino or a Walter Johnson in his last season doesn’t stink out the joint week in and week out. rather, he comes to realize, “I’m equally capable now of having a great day or a lousy day… and that’s just not good enough for me.” ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/13 "2010-01-26T16:47:19Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Plenty of boxers are worthy of consideration but one that esepcially comes to mind is Sugar Ray Leonard. As if getting his ass handed to him by Terrible Terry Norris wasn’t bad enough, he comes back years later and gets whupped by Hector Camacho who at times seemed to be holding back out of some sense of deference. > > . Oh man. I’m a guy that used to like boxing, opposed the reduction from 15 rounds to 12 rounds, and generally did not like fights being stopped too soon. In that Leonard/Norris fight, I was screaming at the TV for them to stop the fight. Thought I was watching Leonard get killed before my eyes. Another boxer that went out ugly was Ali. Wasn’t as bad as the Leonard fiasco, and I think Ali actually got the decision, but it was clear that his run was over. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/14 "2010-01-26T16:51:30Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Obviously, VERY few star athletes get to leave at the top of their game, as Sandy Koufax, John Elway and Bobby Jones did. Don’t forget Tiki Barber…I think? Wasn’t he a receiver for ther Giants who retired while at the top of his game because he didn’t want to become one of those broken-down, hanging on to their legacy and should have been let go years ago, players? (And also wanted to keep his health, IIRC.) Of course, unfortunately for him his team then went on to win the Superbowl a couple of years later…though obviously we can’t say that if he was there they would hve won. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/15 "2010-01-26T17:04:55Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Don’t forget Tiki Barber…I think? Wasn’t he a receiver for ther Giants who retired while at the top of his game because he didn’t want to become one of those broken-down, hanging on to their legacy and should have been let go years ago, players? (And also wanted to keep his health, IIRC.) He was a running back, but otherwise, you’re correct. His last years were his best ones, he retired pretty young, and his last regular season game might’ve been his best one: he ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns and just about willed the team into the playoffs. They lost their first playoff game but he did well there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/16 "2010-01-26T17:07:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He was a running back, but otherwise, you’re correct. His last years were his best ones, he retired pretty young, and his last regular season game might’ve been his best one: he ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns and just about willed the team into the playoffs. They lost their first playoff game but he did well there, too. Barry Sanders is another guy that retired at the top of his game. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/17 "2010-01-26T17:10:51Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Don’t forget Tiki Barber You can if you remember Jim Brown, perhaps the ultimate example of leaving at the top. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/18 "2010-01-26T17:11:17Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Another boxer that went out ugly was Ali. Wasn’t as bad as the Leonard fiasco, **and I think Ali actually got the decision** , but it was clear that his run was over. Oh, my lord, no. [Ali’s last fight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBa9BxfYpHA&feature=related) was against Larry Holmes, a bout that’s universally considered a tragedy, something that absolutely shouldn’t have happened. Ali was not just old, but also, as we now know, neurologically impaired. Listen to Cosell, he sounds like a man doing the play by play for a funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/19 "2010-01-26T17:11:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You can if you remember Jim Brown, perhaps the ultimate example of leaving at the top. What, not Ted “home run in his last at-bat” Williams? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503/20 "2010-01-26T18:14:15Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You can if you remember Jim Brown, perhaps the ultimate example of leaving at the top. Final regular season game: [12 Att., 74 yards, 1 TD](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196512190crd.htm) Final playoff game: [12 Att., 50 yards, 0 TD](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196601020gnb.htm) Tiki Barber: Final regular season game: [23 Att., 234 yards, 3 TD, 3 Rec. 24 yards](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200612300was.htm) Final playoff game: [26 Att. 137 yards, 0 TD, 2 Rec. 15 yards](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200701070phi.htm) Yeah, I can see how Jim Brown could make you forget Tiki Barber… :rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-star-athletes-worst-last-performance/526503.md?page=2)