Editor in chief: Tim Pyle
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No Need
=* ^ to Run
Barry Sanders’ premature
retirement is the latest in
a disturbing series of
superstar exits
A>W.
All right, this is getting ridiculous.
First, Michael Jordan. Then, Wayne Gretzky
and John Elway.
Now? Barry Sanders.
Instead of computers crashing as the new century nears,
professional sports and their fans are the
ones suffering.
Maybe the four aforementioned super
stars retired precisely because of the infa
mous 2000 bug — they didn’t want their
paychecks irretrievably lost in the mix or
scheduled flights to their next arenas nixed.
All millennium madness aside, sports stars
are calling it quits at an alarmingly rapid rate.
Jordan’s and Elway’s retirements were expect
ed and Gretzky’s was imminent, but Sanders’
Wednesday announcement was shocking.
Opinion
Tim
Pyle
One season removed from becoming just —^—
the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000
yards, Sanders, in his prime at age 31, wrote in a released
statement “My desire to exit the game is greater than my
desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through
and through and feel comfortable with this decision.”
This from a man who probably would have broken Wal
ter Payton’s career rushing record this season, needing
1,458 yards — an average season by Sanders’ spectacular
standards — to eclipse Payton’s mark of 16,726 yards.
Apparently, Sanders’ desires do not include being wide
ly recognized as the greatest running back of all-time by
claiming one of the NFL’s revered records.
That is, until some young stud like Terrell Davis proved
once again that records are, after all, made to broken.
Regardless, Sanders’ decision to walk away after just 10
seasons while still at the pinnacle of his craft is startling.
There are whispers that it is all a hard-bargaining ploy,
Sanders being unhappy with his Detroit Lions’ losing ways
and wanting out but knowing the Lions would never let
him go under normal circumstances.
But let’s at least assume for a minute that Sanders’ exit is
legit, and he won’t come back a few years from now like
Jordan or resurface in a different uniform (Barry, just don’t
change to No. 45).
Is this — the retirement of a star athlete while still young
and peaking — a precursor to what awaits in the 21st century?
With salaries, endorsements and all-around incomes
mind-blowinlgy high for superstars today, more athletes
can afford to retire young and enjoy their wealth.
Such practices are not too uncommon in the business world,
where brilliant, young entrepreneurs routinely get out of the
game early after making their millions, make that billions.
Perhaps Sanders is genuinely burned out, if not physical
ly, then emotionally. There is no telling the toll the rigorous,
violent NFL can take on an athlete’s psyche. Especially
when he or she is losing as much as Sanders’ Lions do.
Maybe Sanders just doesn’t feel like going to war any
more, even if he is tantalizingly close to what the media
had already pinpointed as what would be his greatest vic
tory.
Refreshingly, Sanders may just be that rare athlete who
doesn’t care about personal glory. As a rookie, he did
refuse to reenter a game for the mere purpose of securing
the league rushing title.
If Sanders’ decision does prove to be final, his early re
tirement is as awe-inspiring, head-scratching and jaw
dropping as were his invigorating, something-where-there
was-nothing runs.
Both are indeed unrivaled.
Even with Dominik Hasek, the Buffalo Sabres’ “Domina
tor” of a goaltender, trying to snag a little of the spotlight by
revealing that he will announce today his intentions to re
tire after next season.
For the sake of fans everywhere, the retirement virus
must be contained.
Contained to those who really are in need of the ‘ol ex
tended vacation.
Tim Pyle is the Emerald's editor in chief.
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