It’s hard to walk away from the things you love the most. Everybody can relate to it. That’s why it’s understandable why Brett Favre sobbed like a little girl while holding one of his many retirement press conferences.
Returning from retirement is a risk. Some performers and athletes pull it off like they never skipped a beat, but others are not as fortunate. Here are some of the best and worst examples of athletes returning from retirement.
BEST
Michael Jordan
Here’s an inarguable fact: Jordan NEVER sucked at basketball at any point of his NBA career. Not even during the brief stretches when he returned from two retirements (granted the Wizards return was not as impactful as the first). He announced his first retirement in 1993 to the surprise of millions and to the relief of other NBA teams. However, he returned to the Bulls in 1995, sending megawatts of fear down the spines of every NBA team and their coaches. For the next three seasons from 1996-1998, Jordan led the Bulls to another three-peat while also winning his fourth and fifth NBA MVP awards. He retired once again but returned in 2001— this time as a Wizard. Jordan didn’t win a championship with Washington but showed everyone that he still got it when he produced age-defying outputs of 40 and 50 plus points in a couple of games.
Mario Lemieux
In 1993, Lemieux was on pace to break Wayne Gretzky’s single season records for goals and points. Unfortunately, the Penguins superstar was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the middle of that season. However, the disease, just like the countless goalies that faced Lemieux, failed to stop number 66. Lemieux returned two months later to lead the Penguins to 17 straight victories and into the playoffs. He called it quits after the 1997 season, the same year he scored his 600th career goal in just 719 games. Three years later, Lemieux bolted out of retirement to play again for Pittsburgh. Though his return from retirement was marred by injuries, Lemieux still managed to pick up a few accomplishments including being named to the All-Star Game twice and leading the Penguins in points during the 2002-2003 season. He retired for good in 2006.
Gordie Howe
Howe began his pro career in 1946. Harry Truman was the president then. When Howe “retired” in 1971, four more presidents were sworn into the White House. But two years later, Howe reckoned that a quarter of a century of playing pro hockey wasn’t enough. He came back in 1973 and, along with his two sons (Marty and Mark), signed a four-year deal with the Houston Aeroes of the WHA. And it’s not like Howe just returned for the sake of returning. He came back to win and did accomplish it when the Whalers won the championship in 1974. Howe continued to challenge father time as he played for six more years – even finding himself back in the NHL in 1980 to become the oldest man to play in the NHL and the only player to see action in four different decades. Also, in that year, Howe became the first player to score 800 goals in NHL history.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
After defeating Oscar De La Hoya in a blockbuster fight, Mayweather decided that it was about time to hang his gloves and keep his undefeated record of 38-0 intact forever. Just a year later, Pretty Boy was singing a different tune when he announced that he’ll fight fellow undefeated boxer Ricky Hatton. Mayweather picked up where he left off knocking out Hatton in 10 rounds. He announced his second retirement after that fight but returned again in 2009. Since his latest comeback, Mayweather remained undefeated piling up five more wins.
George Foreman
“Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! ” shouted announcer Howard Cosell when Foreman knocked down Joe Frazier in 1973. A year later, Muhammad Ali knocked the living daylight out of Foreman in Rumble at the Jungle, and then in 1977, Foreman took a sabbatical from boxing – an absence that would last 10 years. He shocked the boxing world when he announced his return to the ring in 1987. After a series of fights, old George, at a tender age of 45, found himself suddenly fighting for the world heavyweight title against champion Michael Moorer in 1994. Foreman proceeded to knock Moorer out in the 10th round to become the oldest boxing champion in history – until Bernard Hopkins broke it in 2013.
WORST
Bob Cousy
Cousy was known for dazzling people with his entertaining, never-before-seen brand of basketball that he brought to the NBA when he played for the Celtics from 1950-1963. In a way, it revolutionized how the sport is played nowadays. When Cousy retired in 1963, he went on to have coaching careers both in the collegiate level (Boston College) and pro ranks (Cincinnati Royals). However, the man they call The Houdini of the Hardwood did not escape the temptation of playing in the NBA once more when he was offered to lace it up again in 1970 as a Royal. He played seven games that season registering a measly total of 5 points – one less than his total NBA championship rings.
Muhammad Ali
Had Ali stayed away from boxing after declaring his retirement in 1979, maybe, the charismatic and brash icon would not have suffered as hard a blow from Parkinson’s disease. But the Greatest Ever did not stay true to his retirement and staged a comeback in 1980 against Larry Holmes. Holmes taught Ali a lesson and handed the former champion his first career knockout loss. Ali looked for more trouble and fought one more time. In his last fight before retiring conclusively, Ali lost to Trevor Berbick. Ali, who coined the catchphrase “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, may always regret that he came back and was swatted down by competitors twice. While Ali’s retirement comeback was a total flop, his overall legacy fortunately remained well intact.
Brett Favre
Aside from football, the other thing that Favre is very passionate about is retirement. There is something in the combination of press conferences and retirement announcements which Favre found very addictive. Whatever it is, the only thing we can conclude is that he annoyed millions to the point that people are holding prayer vigils hoping that the football gods would grant their wish of divorcing Favre permanently from the game. They got their prayers answered in 2011 when the legendary quarterback finally left the game for good. Or did he?
Bjorn Borg
A winner of 11 Grand Slam titles, Borg returned to tennis’ big stage in 1991 – eight years after he retired in 1983. Armed with his weapon of choice, a wooden racket, Borg failed in his comeback attempt miserably. From 1991 to 1993 he lost 12 straight times in ATP Tour events against players who used modern rackets.
Conclusion – Do you think the moment that an athlete throws in the towel that it should be the last we see from them in their respective arena? Or do you understand their passion for their craft and the need for a break to serve as a reminder that they belong back in that arena? Share this article on your Social Network and let everyone know where you stand on Athlete Retirement Comebacks.
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