Why Don’t Professional Athletes And Coaches Know When It Is Time To Quit?

I do not profess to know the name of every professional athlete that has played too long, but I can distinctly remember thinking I wish Joe Montana and Jerry Rice had retired with the San Francisco Forty-Niners instead of moving onto just one more team before having to retire because they simply could not cut the cheese any longer.

The latest fiasco with Brett Farve has me really annoyed. Unlike Pittsburgh Steelers great, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, who exited the NFL with class and distinction while still able to walk, talk and chew gum at the same time some guys don’t seem to “get it’. Why does a 38 year old guy whose professional football stats have guaranteed him to be a first round pick into the Professional Football League Hall of Fame want to come out of retirement and continue to get concussions. And, other than putting fans in the stands, why would any team turn over the keys to him?

Farve said two years ago he was considering retiring and held the Packers hostage for way too long before saying he was coming back. The Packers knew if they attempted to move forward before getting something official from Farve the fan base would fry them. Then, after last season, Farve did it again. He hinted at the fact he probably should retire and wanted to think about it, some more. He openly admitted he did not think he could muster up what was needed to even report to another training camp and face the agony of the drills and hard work required to be a top notch player that could take a team all the way to a Super Bowl. And, what’s to become of Farve’s #4 jersey. The Packers were planning a “retirement ceremony”. Until today, was I in favor of the Packers retiring his jersey? Absolutely. Am I now? No way. So, what do the Packers do with that number. If they let some rookie wear it next year or any player on the team use it anytime soon the fans will raise such hell with them, well, they just can’t do that. So, while they have already “postponed” the retirement party, that number is likely never to be worn again in Cheesehead land, ever.

Not knowing when to quit is not reserved to players in the National Football League. It includes players in other sports, one of the most notable being Michael Jordan whose “come back” was a colossal flop. Great sports legacies are hard to come by. The shelf life a professional athlete in any sport is one day longer that the life of a fruit fly, on steroids (but that is a topic for another day). Going out with class, integrity and a legacy intact takes a deep understanding “the time has come”. It is time to quit playing and now time to move into the broadcast booth. Can you count, using the fingers on both of your hands and the toes on both of your feet, how many former professional athletes are on TV or radio in a booth or broadcasting as a commentator? I cannot.

The sad thing is many of the guys that have stayed too long as players would probably have made great coaches. They understand the game like nobody else and could be in a position to motivate, teach, and truly bring an added advantage to the team they have played for and for a team that has allowed them to be a part of their organization. If only Farve…oh, well.
But why should Farve or any other athlete want to quit after achieving all there is to obtain in their sport. What role models would they have? Would Woody Hays be one? How about Bobby Bowden? Since my wife and I have two wonderful and smart adult children who are proud graduates of Florida State it pains me to see Bowden make statements like he wants to die on the field. After all he has achieved? What about spending some quality time with his family? What more does he need to prove? Look at Tony Dungy, for Pete’s sake, he got fired from Tampa Bay then went to Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl. Wait a minute. Tony may be another enigma. Not only did reach the mountain top and prove he could win the big one, he is loved in Tampa where he still owns a home, where he still is an active member of his church, and where his family….moved back from Indianapolis after the untimely death of one of his children. A son.

I bet and lost money on the fact Dungy would retire after the Colts won the Super Bowl the year before last. What more did he have to prove? Tony has written best selling books and receives royalties. He receives a pension from the NFL but has earned so much as a coach he does need the pension. So we know, or at least think, Tony does not need the money. He preaches about “family first” but he stayed in Indy when the only way to go was…down. Which is where Indy went last year. It is extremely hard to be a repeat Super Bowl Champion. Still, while Dungy’s family returned to live full time in Tampa a year ago Tony stayed in Indianapolis to continue to coach. Why?

I can tell you this. If I had the financial means to retire and spend the rest of my life with my children and grandchildren, perhaps spend time as a mentor for other children that need guidance and support, I would not have to ponder making the decision whether to continuing to working to obtain more wealth, gaining fame in my profession or any other excuse that would keep me from being with my family.

In a way I want to feel sorry for the Michael Jordans, Brett Farves, Bobby Bowdens and Tony Dungys of the world, but I can’t. They have made choices beyond my comprehension and that of many others that, if on the “national scene” might find it difficult to speak out. That is until after all these guys finally run out of gas and fail, endangering their once great legacies. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that…