San Francisco Re-Treat

Jerry Rice retired today. I've never been a 49er fan, but I know greatness when I see it, so in a sense it's sad to see Rice go.

There will be those who will rank Jim Brown ahead of him in the discussion of the greatest football player of all time, and I won't pretend to be knowledgeable enough to weigh in on that discussion, but there can be no debate as to his place among his true peers, the wide receivers. There's Rice, there's a huge gap, and then there's everyone else.

The numbers are ridiculous. The top receivers in the game today, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison, and Terrell Owens, would have to increase their current output and then keep at it for another seven to ten years in order to match what Rice has achieved. (For details on this, check out Norm Clayton.)

So Rice was great, and we'll likely never see another receiver remotely approach him. All of this we can agree on. But there is some contraversy connected with his retirement, and it has to do with the timing. The romantic idealists would have us believe that Rice should've retired years ago, in order to go out on top and preserve his legacy.

Normally I count myself as a romantic, an idealist, and even a sucker for nostalgia, but this idea is absolute nonsense. This tendency has developed recently, this desire to see our heroes leave when we think it's time, not when the athletes do.

We need look no further than Michael Jordan to find a perfect counter example to this. Sure, his time with the Wizards was forgettable, but you know what? I've already forgotten it. When I think of Michael Jordan, he's wearing a Bulls jersey and violently pumping his fists while Craig Ehlo crumples to a heap in the background. He's soaring through a sea of Lakers, nonchalantly flipping the rock from one hand to the other while checking his watch and taking a sip of his café latte before gently spinning the ball off the glass and into the net. And finally, he's stealing a ball from Karl Malone, then paralyzing Bryon Russell (push or no push) before stroking the purest jumper I've ever seen to win a sixth NBA title. That's Michael. Don't talk to me about a tarnished legacy.

So somehow we're to believe that since Rice played a few years beyond his prime, the brilliance of his overall career is somehow diminished? Are his records any less daunting? Will we forget what he accomplished? I guarantee you that we'll all forget that he ever suited up in Seattle or dallied in Denver, but we'll remember what counts.

As for me, I think I've still got a few years left, even if my best writing is behind me. I hope that's okay with you.

Comments

[Matt]

Everything being equal, I think you should have retired 2 years ago, Hank. Just kidding -- nice paragraph on Michael. And I agree with you: it's nice to see a player go out on top like Jim Brown did, but if he wants to keep playing, and a team will put him on its roster, then why not? Though the Jordan Wizards days were anything but perfect, the nights an aging Mike had it going were all the sweeter.

[MetroDad]

I completely agree with you, Hank. The public has this desire to see their heroes as fairy tale icons. After all, if Jordan has lost a step and begins a precipitous decline in skills, what does that say about all of couch potatoes? I truly appreciate the athletes who continue on past their primes. They're smarter, wilier and more human. And anyone who has spent time around professional athletes knows how competitive they are. It's hard letting go. Who are we to judge them? I've never been a big Curt Schilling fan but watching him compete without his best stuff and outthink hitters is awesome. And need I even bring up Julio Franco? Nope...I'll take these old guys any day of the week. Makes me actually feel better about being in my late 30's.