1) What does one have to gain from clinging to their sport long after their greatness or skills have become deficient? Explain.
2) Looking at the careers of Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan, do you think that they retired early, late or at just the right time? This will require you to check out other websites. DON'T BE LAZY HERE! Support your opinion with what you find/facts.
3) Do great athletes have a responsibility to their fans and their sport to retire at an appropriate time to preserve their legacy in their sport? Explain.
4) Finally, look back at the major sports and share your favorite "previous era" athlete. Give a 3-5 sentence summary of the athlete, their accomplishments and their post sport life.
WORTH 20 POINTS. DUE MONDAY, MARCH 18.
THE FIGHT--IF YOU WANT TO WATCH IT, HERE IT IS.
1. I believe that athletes cling to their sport a lot and don't want to give it up. No matter how old they are or how they've changed as an athlete.
ReplyDelete2. Wayne Gretzky was an amazing athlete who I believe did not retire or early or too late. He retired at just the right time. I think Michael Jordan waited to long to officially retire. That's my opinion though.
3. I think athletes have to be responsible to retire at the right time otherwise they will lose their fans and support from people who love the game or the athlete.
4. I personally think that Jonathan Toews has been one of the greatest hockey players to play the game in the past 5 years. He won a gold medal, an NHL cover, the Stanley Cup, and other stuff. He is the captain of the Blackhawks and deserves to have his number retired and be inducted into the hall of fame when he decides to retire.
1. By clinging to a sport long after one’s greatness or skills have become deficient, an athlete gains infallibility. From an economic standpoint, working diligently in our prime years as employees earns us a comfortable retirement. As Americans, this payoff seems fair and right, so we apply this same concept to sports. An athlete who is unmatched in his prime, then, deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labor long after he is physically capable of maintaining supremacy. There exists the belief that the athlete should rightfully win because he has won so many times before. In the Ali v Holmes fight, Ali couldn’t and wouldn’t win, but his fans believed he deserved to win. Homes’s victory, then, was tarnished while Ali’s legacy remained intact, as fans and analysts asserted that Ali in his prime was still the greatest of all time. Because Ali once excelled at boxing, his legacy trumped the reality of the fight and preserved his athleticism despite his inevitable physical deterioration. Thus, Ali after his prime was able to fight without losing.
ReplyDeleteI think Michael Jordan’s second retirement (in ’98) was the appropriate time for him to retire. After having retired in ’93 with three NBA championships, 3 regular season MVP and 3 finals MVP titles, a 9-time All-Star status, and All-Star game MVP, and 2 slam dunk championships, Jordan had definitely established himself as one of the greats, but he left the game without realizing the extent of his legacy. He was still capable of dominating the game, and he left when he was still on the rise (although his gambling might’ve forced his decision). In the ’95-96 season, he led the league in scoring and led the Bulls to an unprecedented 72 victories; in the ’96-97 season, he had his infamous “flu game”; and in the ’97-98 season, he made the game-winning shot in the championship against the Jazz. After returning from retirement again in 2001, he did not put up the same numbers as he had in the seasons up through ’98.
Wayne Gretzky, however, seemed to retire at the right time. After 20+ years of playing, he more than proved his dominance, playing in an All-Star Game each year of his career and being the first playing named MVP of three separate teams. He holds the records for most career points, goals, and assists, as well as most goals in a season, most 100-point seasons, fewest games to reach 500 goals, and most consecutive scoring and MVP titles. He demonstrated the longevity of his talent and mastered the game. His retirement, then, seemed to be timed well as he left hockey after accomplishing what nobody else has done or can do. After becoming the athlete nobody could live up to, his retirement kept his legacy intact without the blemish that Michael Jordan’s career has.
I don’t think it’s as much of a responsibility as it is a testimony to their greatness. As I wrote in question one, fans will always recognize and defend the accomplishments of the great, no matter their declines in athleticism. However, the athlete who has a truly deep understanding of his own athleticism and the game will know when to retire in order to make his fans not have to defend his legacy against the anti-climatic ending of one’s career. As in the case of Michael Jordan, fans are forgiving and allow an athlete to “overstay his welcome,” as long as it is not excessive. However, it’s a remarkable act when the athlete possesses the proper instinct and retires at a time when there is no doubt of his legacy.
Tony Hawk is similarly undisputed in his legacy in skateboarding, although I don’t think greatness is skateboarding is really as prestigious as more competitive and popular sports. Nevertheless, Hawk achieved great feats, turning pro at age 14 and being considered one of the best skateboarders by age 16. He won 70+ contests and 10 gold medals at the X Games and came up with the “900” trick. Post-career wise, he still skates in an attempt to preserve and further the popularity of skateboarding, and his Tony Hawk Foundation has helped make skate parks in low-income neighborhoods.
Love the thoughts on Hawk! I mean, the guy single-handedly (not a word) brought skate-boarding to the mainstream, and I'm not sure he is given enough credit. Whether it was his video game or his media savy marketing, the guy has more to do with the X-Games and the interest in street sports than just about any other athlete in that area of sports.
Delete1. There are several reasons people stay in their sport past their time. For some people it is for the money. Professional athletes earn so much but some people get greedy. Others are trying to cling on to their youth and their glory days. They remember what it was like when they could do it all and they want to relive that. Some others though stay because of their love for the sport and they can't fathom giving it up.
ReplyDelete2. For Michael Jordan the first time he retired was too early. He proved that when he came back and won another three championships, two MVP awards, three scoring championships, three all stars, and two all star game MVP awards. His second return from retirement was needed I think for Jordan and his fans. There was no 'what if he had stayed?' it ended his career without it being too painful.
Wayne Gretzky on the other hand retired at exactly the right time. He had been consistently scoring forty to fifty goal seasons and his stats had started to drop at the Rangers. He was still a great player and didn't wait till he was a bad one before retiring.
3.Yes, I do believe that players have a responsibility to leave at the right time. A sport is ever changing and if a player stays too long they end up just weighing their team and their sport down. They need to leave the best memory of themselves behind.
4. Gianfranco Zola is my favorite previous era athlete. He played for Chelsea and Italy. In his time with Chelsea he won two FA cups, one league cup, and a european super cup. He is considered one of the greatest Chelsea players of all time. After retiring he became the respected coach of West Ham and presently of Watford.
Gretzky was such a joy to watch. I wish I could explain to you his artistry on the ice compared to that of others athletes at that time. Jagr had a similar artistry, but just could not stay healthy.
Delete1.) An athlete can either gain respspect or lose respect from clinging to a sport. It can go either way. When an athletes talents start to deplete it can be really hard for them to get over. As a result when they are trying to cling to a sport they start to work even harder just so they can do what they have always loved to do.
ReplyDelete2.) Both Jordan and Gretzky retired at reasonable time in my opinion. Jordan's first retirement was obviously unacceptable when he just left the Bulls hanging to go play baseball. On the other hand we all new it was time for him to throw in the towel when he was playing with the Wizards. His legacy with the Bulls will never be forgotten. Gretzky retired at the perfect time after playing around 20 seasons he left it all on the ice. He showed us what dominance is all about.
3.) Yes athletes have a major responsibility when it comes to retirement. Retirement is a double edged sword for great athletes. If they retire to early they can potentially disappoint there fans. But they they retire to late it can get ugly and they can put a slump in their legacy. Picking the right time to retire in important for great athletes with many fans.
4.) My favorite athlete the past three years has been Calvin Johnson. He basically gave the lions hope the past two seasons. He is the main reason the lion have actually got some attention lately. His speed, size, and hands make him hard to stop and I love his work ethic. Don't get me wrong I am not a lions fan but I just love CJ.
1.) I can understand how someone would cling to their sport if they truly loved it. It's hard to give up the passion for the sport even if you aren't able to play anymore. I don't think anyone should stop clinging to their sport because it will always be around, even if you can't play.
ReplyDelete2.) I think both Gretzky and Jordan retired when they should have. Gretzky only scored 9 goals in his last season and Jordan proved he wasn't what he used to be when he tried to come back to the Wizards.
3.) In my opinion, athletes owe their fans nothing but respect (like they would want). If fans truly thought they were a "great player" they would like what the athlete has done for the sport.
4.) I know it hasn't been that long, but Shaq has definitely been an influence in my life. Growing up watching him play with Kobe was like nothing else. Even outside of basketball he seems like a good guy.
1) I can see someone trying to cling to the sport they love. One major problem will be that they have no sense of reality and it is just a game after all. Also the great athletes should know when to quit because you do become old and will never be what you where in your prime, so take a seat old man and let someone else shine.
ReplyDelete2)I see that some might not quit playing because they had one bad season, such is for wayne. Wayne Gretzky had a horrible season in 95-96 only scoring 8 goals all season, if he would have quit than he would have never gotten the good season he had the year after that but after that it was just down hill. Jordan was good but he definitely needed to get a hold of his issues in life situated.
3)Yes they do because all legends need to have an honorable way of leaving, unlike Muhammad ali did because he just royally messed up and was just in it for his own greed not for anything else. That is not pleasing to the fans because you are basically selling out.
4)I don't like sports at all, i never really grew up watching it. but if i had to choose it would be Ulf Samuelsson. He was a wonderful man on and off the ice. Ulf Samuelsson was the type of man who really enjoyed spending some time alone, with all the time he had on his hands he could have decided to write a book. About 2,453 penalty minutes over the course of his career you can say that he was definitely a people's person and he truly loved getting to know himself better to make himself a better mam.That is why I choose him as my Favorite "previous era" Player.
1. Personally, I don't think an athlete can gain much from clinging to their sport after their greatness has become deficient. I can understand that it shows dedication and maybe even love for the sport, but I think it comes to a point where you have to realize that you can still have the sport in your life without playing professionally. Athletes tend to cling to their sport, because they want to keep living in their glory days and feel accomplished, and I don't think they gain anything from that.
ReplyDelete2. Gretzky retired at the right time in my opinion, in his last season he was still good, but not great. He retired when his career was still good, and left a great legacy for himself. The first time Jordan retired was too early in my opinion, it seemed like he still had more to go and he proved that when he made a comeback. His second retirement was more appropriate, he wasn't quite what he used to be when he played for the Bulls and retired while he still was good.
3. I don't think athletes owe anything to their fans. Fine, they wouldn't be were they are without the support of their fans and I think the athletes should respect that and be humble towards their fans. As far as retirement I think that is entirely up to the athlete and they shouldn't need to take in consideration what the fans think about it. A true fan would respect the athletes wish and appreciate what the athlete has accomplished and done for the sport.
4. Susann Bjerkrheim is a norwegian handball player, and for you she probably doesn't mean anything. She has been someone I have looked up to, as she has helped put Norway on the map for those who cares about handball. She helped the norwegian handball team get silver and bronze in the olympics, and gold in the world women's handball championship.
1) I believe athletes cling back to their sport either to make money or attention. When an athlete truly retires, he doesn't have the ability to perform for the next season. Some athletes retire because they believe they have enough money or don't want to play any more. When their money runs out they return to the sport, but only to make money. If an athlete truly loves their sport they play until they're not physically able to compete. The only advantage I see to an athlete returning is people would sell out that event and cheer for the person, and hope that they still have the ability they did.
ReplyDelete2) I think Gretzky retired at the right time in their careers. Gretzky won 4 Stanley Cups, holds the record for most points (2,856), and winning the MVP Award nine time in a row, Wayne Gretzky had nothing else to prove. His career is well respected and many know him as the greatest hockey player of all time.
I think Michael Jordan could have played a little longer after his 1998 retirement. His first retirement in 1993 was ridiculous, he had all the talent in the world and decides to throw it away to go play baseball, a sport in which he isn't very good at. His 1998 retirement was his most appropriate time to retire, but I believe Jordan could have played a few more seasons. He probably wouldn't have won as many championships, and would lack the skills he had, but still could have lasted a few more seasons. I don't understand why Jordan came back to the NBA in 2001, but he surprised everyone leading the Wizards in points and assists, but I thought Jordan was done with basketball and should have stayed retired since 1998.
3) Yes, because if it wasn't for the sport and fans that athletes wouldn't be as successful and respected as they are today. Coming back to a sport after an athlete's glory days will most likely hurt their legacy. They won't have the same skills and abilities they once had, and could potentially hurt their career stats and averages. Also, fans would most likely remember that athlete who was once great, came back and ruined their legacy. Athletes should retire at an appropriate for fans to preserve and respect that person's legacy.
4) Frank Thomas is definitely my favorite previous era athlete. He is a well known figure in the Chicago White Sox organization and has accomplished being a 2 time AL MVP, 5 time All-Star, 4 time Silver Slugger Award, and 1995 Home Run Derby Champion. Since his retirement Frank Thomas has been making appearances on behalf of the MLB and Chicago White Sox, and his number 35 was retired at US Cellular Field.
Probably the 2nd best hitter of the era behind Griffey (of the clean players). He was so great when down in the count. Always worked back and then drove in a run. So good!
Delete1. Well for one it's pride. I could see why someone who was as great as Ali would think that he could beat Holmes easily. With the type of ego Ali had I could see why it would be hard to turn it down. Then again I know the main reason was the money in Ali's case, which is another big part of why athletes challenge there age, and play for longer though not all do.
ReplyDelete2. Gretzky and Jordan both had accomplished so much in there careers and for Gretzky definitely retired when he should of he was getting old and hockey is one of those sports that it's hard to be old and play. Though Jordan I think could have played for a couple more seasons.
3. Though I think athletes should avoid doing what great athletes like Ricky Williams and Jordan did they should retire when they think it's time athletes today are reffered to as our entertainment though we forget it's how they make there living they should want to retire when they want. Agood example is Michael Phelps he was criticized for retiring after the 2012 summer olympics.
1. I believe athletes don't have much to gain from clinging to their sport after their greatness. Like Ali he tried to come back after he had given it up and it did not go well. When athletes do not give up their sport and come back they get embarrassed and maybe even disappointed in themselves.
ReplyDelete2. I don't believe in athletes leaving the game when they are "on top" so I think that these athletes left at the right time. For example Jordan played after their three peat and even came out of retirement to play more. There is an age where every player loses their abilities and can't keep up with their competition.
3. Athletes have a responsibility to their fans to give it all tot their sport while they plan and that is all. If a player is doing all they can to help a team win what else can you ask for.
4. Michael Jordan a former all star from the Chicago Bulls might be one of everyone's favorite athletes. He won many championship games, MVPs, and he has his own shoe line. I don't know if he could have succeeded anymore.
1. well when you decide to pick a sport and play every game or match with all your heart, you eventually fall in love with that sport, as far as bein a world class athlete, i think sometimes athletes just fall in love with it to the point where it is too hard to let go and sometimes its pride, but one day a great athlete must know his swan song and hang up the gloves.
ReplyDelete2. lookin at gretzky he was a phenomenal player and a hero in the canadian peoples eyes. he is the face of hockey, he is a legend and i think he retired at a good time, he accomplished so much and played every game like it was his last, canadians admired him, as far as jordan goes, thats a different story, he retired a little too late, he had a terrible stint with the wizards after he left chicago and his stock dropped, he didnt start every game like he did when he was with the bulls and he sure as hell didnt put up the numbers he did back when he played for the bulls
3. i mean it all depends really on how the average fan likes that person, if he is a sports icon like Ali or jordan, most likely that athlete would be looked at as a hero and a legend, sometimes great athletes dont necessarily owe any responsibility to a fan but some athletes feel they do which is cool and it is sad to see a great athlete you admire retire because you wont be seein him or her as much as you liked or did when he or she was performin in their respective sport but as the great uncle ben once said, "with great power comes great responsibility"
4. My favorite athlete of all time will always be and always has been Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali, he is a hero across the world a living legend and a boxin icon. hes from Louisville, Kentucky and was given the name the Louisville Lip, he won the olympic gold medal at light heavyweight in 1960 in Rome, Italy, he was around many famous people such as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X which in fact Ali was good friends with Malcolm X and the nation of Islam, Ali was around famous events including the Civil Rights Movement, when Ali won the olympic gold medal, he wasnt allowed to eat in a restaurant cause of his skin color, which made him throw his medal in a river, he captured the heavyweight title 3 times, beat frazier twice, embarrassed george foreman and shook up the world when he was 22 years old to beat Sonny Liston for the world heavyweight title, after that bitch holmes put a sad whoopin on the great Ali, Ali returned a year later and lost a unanimous decision to trevor berbick, after these two sad fights Ali called it a day, in my opinion Ali should of retired back when he beat spinks and won the heavyweight title for a 3rd time, if Ali didnt have those two fights in the 80's maybe he wouldnt have parkinsons today, i personally think those two fights ruined his health and made him what he is today
Ali
DeleteJordan
Gretzky
Ruth
Unitas
Brown (Jim)
William (Ted)
Hull (Bobby)
That's who I'd start my Mount Rushmore of Sports with. Amazing!!!
1. I believe that besides money the athlete has very little to hold onto, although in the end money is usually enough for most to come back for at least a little while. They usually just end up with a bruised ego and a fat wallet so i guess it's not to terrible for them.
ReplyDelete2. I believe these athletes left at the appropriate times because even if Jordan came back to try again and continued to go into other sports he never hit a wall. I mean that he never was so totally behind the other players that he didn't look like he belonged on the court he always at least held his own.
3. Yes i believe they do because in the end if you really are a dynasty name such as Ali or Jordan then by letting yourself be made a fool of it's almost a mockery of the sport because that persons name is so tied into the sport itself.
4. I believe that Larry Bird is one of the greatest athletes of all time. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1979-1992 as forward. He was part of the Dream team that won gold at the olympics in 1992. He also won three championships. And last but not least was named MVP three times.
1. I believe the athletes who cling to their sport long after their skill level goes down are sometimes either just too nervous to retire or too competitive. I do not think the athlete has anything to gain from still playing. There are many examples of athletes not wanting to retire or just change their mind. some of these athletes include Favre, Ali, Jordan, and many more.
ReplyDelete2. Jordan and Gretzky retired just at the right time because both athletes were still preforming at high level at the time they retired. I think it makes more sense to retire while they are still decently good rather than bringing down the team with poor performances by a player who was good in the past.
3. I do not believe that athletes have a responsibility to the fans but I believe if a athlete is on a team for a big majority of their career they should retire as a member of their original team. some good examples are Ray Allen with the Celtics, Steve Nash with the Suns, Jason Kidd with the Nets, and many more.
4. My favorite "previous era" athlete is Jim Brown. Jim Brown is still considered one of the best running backs of all time. He played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 1971 Jim Brown was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Brown was also chosen by The NFL Network as the second greatest player in NFL history
1.) other than money, there's not much one can accomplish by themselves after their skill have depleted. They can offer wisdom on a team sport, but nothing to much.
ReplyDelete2,) I think Jordan retired kind of early. He initially retired right after winning 3 championships and as we know, he did come back. When he came back he was still good and then he retired. He came back
when he was way older, yet he was still good. Him being good cancels out that he retired at an old age.
3.) I don't think the players owe it to the fans because it should be up to them when they want to retire. It's on them when they want to leave the game.
4.) My favorite athlete from a precious era was Bo Jackson. Bo was on his way to becoming the best running back in NFL history and becoming a slugger in the MLB until he had a hip replacement. He is the only player to be all star in both sports. Since he got injured, he was forced to retire in his prime. He is probably the best athlete of all time.
1. There should always be a time where people age and retire. Health is more important than money. If you are betting beat up in every fight, you are going to get damaged in the brain or else where. Team sports should have an age range and after that, you should retire.
ReplyDelete2. Jordan was a monster and he should of kept playing for a little longer. He was in great shape and Bulls could of won more championships. If he kept playing, he could score at least a solid 15 points per game.
3. players shouldnt depend on fans. it is your own willing to retire.
4. i personally love basketball and my previous era was jordan. he had anamazing career onthe bulls and he won so many championships. he was tall, fast, tricky, and skilled. He was and still is today, the best basketball player of all time.
1.) I think it depends on what sport you play and if it's a sport that can be played when your older. I it's a young mans game and your an old man, it's time to give the sport up.
ReplyDelete2.) I think they all retired at the right time, while they were known as the best of their sports. If they kept playing they're skills would have decreased and they would have been any like any other player. But because they retired at the end if they're prime they were still known as the best.
3.) Id say the players can retire when they want. When they're ready to retire then they can retire. It's not up to the fans to decide.
4.) My favorite previous era athlete would have to be Jordan. There's no doubt in my mind he was the best and at least for now thats how it will continue to be. He had 6 championships with the Bulls and id like to see another player single handedly do the same. He has one of the most popular shoe brands around. And his legacy should carry on from generation to generation.
1.Someone who wants to come back to their best playing sport wont do much for you if they have been through their prime already. Like other people said, all they can do is offer tips on how to be better at that sport.
ReplyDelete2.Wayne gretzky and Jordan both retired at the right time. They each established their legacies very well and they both are legends in their own sports. They each won championships and set records. Once you win a championship you should be able to retire whenever you want.
3.They do have a responsiblity to retire at the right time. Many people will remember their legacy as something that couldve been alot bwtter if they retire to early. Players who retire later in their careers have a longer lasting legacy. People remember them as great players the later they retire.
4. Jpordan was my favoite previous era athlete. He won multiple mvps. He won six championships with the chicago bulls. He also won three staright titles in his career in 96,97, and 98. He established his legacy very well and everybody loved the way he played his sport.
1. I think that one can either gain respect from clinging to a sport or lose it. There is a time to let go of everything and if you hang on to long it turns to crap.
ReplyDelete2. I think as far as Jordan goes he could have played a little bit longer just for the Bulls benefit because he was still in good shape. For Gretzky i think he retired at the perfect time. He wasnt showing anyhting special to what he normally showed anymore. He was staying consistent and then retired.
3.I think that if athletes listened to their fans they would probably stay in the sport forever because some fans think that when you retire youre giving up. Or that youre letting go of something you love.
1.) People know that athletes get old & worn out with all the years and should understand that they can not perform as well as years prior. Athletes should still continue to play for their legacy even as they get older. They should play as long as their body will allow them.
ReplyDelete2.)In my opinion, they both retired at the right time. Throughout the years they set so many records and proved that they were the best at their sport. They achieved enough to be able to retire and have their name remembered.
3.) The three things athletes should play for are thier name, their team and the respect of the fans. Without all the supporters they would be nothing. Its the fans that have made athletes great.Athletes should know when the time is right, and should leave on a good note. They should be rembered for great moments.
4.)The best athlete at their sport in history would without a doubt be Michael Jordan. He was a legacy. No player handled the ball the same way. He had won many championships & MVP awards in his time playing. Whenever someone thinks about basketball they will remember his name."Air Jordan".
1.Athletes ego's,pride and their love of the sport that keep that drive in athletes to continued their sport. After time peoples body wear down and can't do the same things you use to do.
ReplyDelete2.Michael Jordan retired at the right time he achieved so much in the sport of basketball and will always be called the greatest.
3. I strongly agree athletes should retire at the right time before they start losing a ton and start losing their shine that they did in their career.
4.Michael Jordan is my favorite athlete in the past ERA he achieved 6 championship for the bulls and many MVP's he was the first athlete to have it's own shoes and clothing line.
1) playing sports is probably a lot of peoples best memories. Or it is always what they did as a kid and they do not want to give them up. some people may feel like without sports they are missing something in their life.
ReplyDelete2)no you can never retire to early. And michael jordan proved that he retired at a good time because when he came back to the wizards he was not the same player. still good, but MJ was not MJ.
Hockey is a sport that puts a beating on your body so i wonder how long could gretzky have gone?
3) No, people create their legacy while they are popular and in their sport. unless they really screw up down the road. they do not owe anything to the sport but i do think atheletes owe some appreciation for their fans.
4)Albert Pujols will go down as one of the greatest baseball players ever when he decides to retire. he has multiple rings and was the youngest player in history to hit 400 home runs.
1. I don't think it's fair to call it "clinging" to your sport. Once you've dedicated a great portion of your life to a sport, it becomes a part of you. It really is not an option to just let it go.
ReplyDelete2.I think Wayne Gretzky retired at the perfect time. Instead of jumping in and out of retirement like Brett Favre, he made a decision and stuck with it. It gets to be annoying when an athlete can't make up his mind. Gretzky left the game at the perfect time to leave his legacy. If he had stayed longer, his game would have deteriorated and people wouldn't regard him as well as they do to this day.
3. No athletes don't have a responsibility to their fans at all. If a fan is dependent on the legacy and athlete leaves, they've got to do something else with their lives. I understand that people look up to athletes, but in the end, these athletes are people too and it's their decision to retire when they want to, regardless of whether or not their fans think it's the right time.
4. Wayne Gretzky will always be known as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He changed the game with his style of playing and has influenced the league and it's rules to this day. When someone who doesn't know the game of hockey very well has to think of a hockey player, 90% of the time they'll say Wayne Gretzky. He left his legacy in a place that is pretty much untouchable to everyone else in the league.
Do you think that Crosby or Ovechkin or any other hockey player today can leave that kind of a mark? Keep in mind, those guys still have 10-12 years left in their career.
Deletei dont thing someone can really cling to a sport, i feel like loving a sport comes from something else like having a passion for it and really being involved is not something you can help, if youve been doing it for so long it just comes naturally and something you become used to and all you know, it depends on the connection you can make to it that really determines if that sport will ever leave you or not. you may not be able to play it anymore but it will still be a part of the person. looking at the career of mj i think he retired at the right time he played to his fullest potential and became a legend he will always be known as one of the best basketball players in history he got in his fair share of play, and im sure even though hes not still physically playing on the court the sport is still a huge part of his life and his passion for the game will never die. ithink that to a certain point athletes have a responsibility to their fans so many people look up to them and wish to be like them, they have so much pressure on them to do good and play a good game to keep them happy but its not all just fans i think alot of it is just the passion you have for the sport depends on how well you perform. when they retire fans will always be sad and dissapointed but they will be understanding. everyone eventually comes to that point
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