So hard to say goodbye

Some people know when it's time to move on and go away. Others just stretch their credibility like every boxer you have ever known over the age of thirty . Yahoo Sports put together the following piece about athletic post retirement comebacks. I thought there was a glaring omission so I added it at the end. I hated Lafleur as a high school kid because I hated the Canadiens the NYY of Hockey. Dang what he did was so amazing though. Hockey for it's all it's unpopularity in the last 15 years is still a tough sport to play . All the contact of football 3 or 4 nights a week not just once. Big ugly guys with no teeth wanting to take your head off. People travelling faster than basketball players. A hard black puck that goes at an amazing rate of speed and will hurt like anything.On top of that the participants needed to learn how to walk and run again. If you don't believe me, Take some ice skates and go on the rink and go from one end to the other.

Lafleur played at the highest level for 15 years, quit for 3 then came back for 4 more years . Sorry if my math is off. An amazing feat that deserves some sort of notice.

Ed

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So hard to say goodbye

By James C. Black and Greg Hester, Yahoo! Sports Aug 5, 1:10 pm EDT

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre’s decision to put off retirement for now is far from unprecedented. Whether it’s NASCAR driver Mark Martin, 49, announcing he’ll return to the sport next year, a boxer (go ahead, take your pick) getting back in the ring or a former coach/manager returning to the sideline or dugout, delaying or interrupting retirement is commonplace in sports.

Here’s a look at some prominent figures who have returned to action and how they fared:

Clemens with Andy Pettitte in 2004. (Brett Coomer/Getty Images)

ROGER CLEMENS Pre-retirement career 1984-2003 Clemens established himself as possibly the best pitcher of his era, winning three Cy Young awards with the Red Sox and three more combined with the Blue Jays and Yankees. After years of racking up personal accolades, he finally experienced the ultimate team success by winning a pair of World Series rings with the Yankees in 1999 and 2000. Back to action 2004-2007 Clemens, to this point, has most mirrored Favre, deciding just months into his retirement to play again. He joined the Astros in 2004 – winning his seventh Cy Young – and played this "will I or won’t I return game" for the next three years with Houston and the Yankees before the Mitchell Report indefinitely halted his career.

Foreman at 1991 weigh-in. (Rick Stewart/Allsport)

GEORGE FOREMAN Pre-retirement career 1969-1977 Foreman made his mark by badly beating Ken Norton to set up a title fight with Joe Frazier in 1973. The heavyweight champion then was given the same treatment, getting knocked down six times over two rounds as Foreman captured the belt. Back to action 1987-1998 Though Foreman didn’t officially retire the first time around, he experienced a 10-year hiatus before returning to the ring at age 38. In 1994, he beat Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion.

Gibbs says goodbye … again. (James Lang/US Presswire)

JOE GIBBS Pre-retirement career 1981-1992 Gibbs guided the Redskins to three Super Bowl titles before leaving to create Joe Gibbs Racing for the NASCAR circuit. Back to the sideline 2004-2008 With no titles and few playoff appearances since his departure, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder rehired Gibbs in the hopes of rekindling the magic. The Hall of Fame coach guided the team to two playoff appearances but failed to advance past the divisional round.

Hingis returns at Thailand in 2005. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

MARTINA HINGIS Pre-retirement career 1994-2002 She won five Grand Slam singles titles before ligament injuries in both ankles forced her to withdraw from professional tennis at age 22. Back to action 2006-07 Hingis won three singles titles and eventually climbed to No. 6 in the world but announced her second retirement on Nov. 1, 2007 after suffering from injuries for much of the year. She also admitted she had tested positive for cocaine during Wimbledon last year though she denied ever using the drug.

Jackson with Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. (Mark Avery/AP Photo)

PHIL JACKSON Pre-retirement coaching career 1989-1998 Jackson coached the Bulls to a pair of three-peats in the ’90s before leaving the organization – along with stars Jordan and Scottie Pippen – after winning a sixth championship. Back to the bench 1999-2004, 2005-current Jackson experienced immediate success in his first stint with the Lakers, guiding the franchise to championships in his first three years. His run came to an end after the team lost to the Pistons in the ‘04 Finals, but he rejoined the team a year later. He fell two wins short in June of winning his 10th title as a coach.

Johnson returns on Jan. 31, 1996. (Getty Images)

MAGIC JOHNSON Pre-retirement career 1979-1991 Johnson helped bring "Showtime" to Los Angeles and was a central figure in increasing the interest and enthusiasm in the NBA. Johnson, a three-time league MVP, five-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star during this period, left the Lakers in November 1991 after announcing that he had HIV. Back to action 1996 Johnson moved from point guard to power forward and averaged 14.6 points in the last 32 games of the season. Prior to returning to the court, Johnson actually coached the Lakers late in the 1993-94 season. He also played for the West in the ‘92 All-Star Game and won MVP honors.

Jordan works out with the Sox. (Robert Sullivan/AFP/Getty Images)

MICHAEL JORDAN Pre-retirement career 1984-1993 There are a myriad of theories floating around as to why Jordan walked away the first time. Regardless, he left on top: The Bulls had just completed a three-peat, he was a nine-time All-Star and three-time league MVP. Back to the sport 1995-98, 2001-03 Jordan’s two return stints after giving baseball a try for two years provided mixed results. With Jordan back for a full season in 1995-96, the Bulls went on to win three straight titles again. After retiring again and joining the Wizards’ front office, Jordan returned to action for two years with Washington but was unable to help the franchise reach the playoffs.

Lemieux returns on Dec. 27, 2000. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo)

MARIO LEMIEUX Pre-retirement career 1985-1997 Like Magic, Lemieux was pushed into retirement because of health reasons (battling lymphoma). In fact, he took a leave of absence during the 1994-95 season to overcome the radiation treatment. Still, Lemieux won three Hart trophies and helped the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in ‘91 and ‘92. Back to action 2000-2006 Despite playing in just 43 games his first season back, Lemieux was one of three finalists for the Hart Trophy in 2000-01 and helped Pittsburgh advance to the conference finals. He retired again after being diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation.

Lopez prior to her return last year. (Nati Harnik/AP Photo)

NANCY LOPEZ Pre-retirement career 1977-2002 A three-time winner of the LPCA Championship, the 1978 rookie and player of the year won 48 tournaments during her career. Back to action 2007 Lopez’s return was short-lived as she played in just six tournaments – breaking 80 in only three of 12 rounds.

DEION SANDERS Pre-retirement football career
1989-2000
Despite moonlighting as a Major League Baseball player, Sanders popularized the phrase "shutdown corner" with his ability to take away one side of the field in a team’s passing attack. "Prime Time" enjoyed personal NFL success with the Falcons but didn’t experience team success until joining the 49ers and Cowboys, eventually becoming the only athlete to appear in a Super Bowl and World Series.Back to action 2004-05
Sanders’ return to the NFL didn’t net the success he had gotten accustomed to during his first stint. He managed just five interceptions in his two seasons with the Ravens and was unable to help the franchise reach the playoffs.











http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononep198802.htm


Guy Lafleur's career with the Montreal Canadiens ended with 961 games played, 518 goals and 728 assists. His 1,246 points is a team record. In the House of Commons, Lorne Nystrom, a Member of Parliament, paid tribute to Lafleur's incredible career: "It may be that everywhere else in the world, the ascendance of Flower Power began and ended in the sixties, Mr. Speaker, but in Montreal it began in 1971 and ended yesterday when Guy Lafleur retired. This is the end of a great era, Mr. Speaker. I am certain that the House and the entire population of Canada will join me in wishing him good luck in the future and thanking him for the unforgettable moments he has given us." On February 16, 1985, Lafleur's Number 10 was raised to the rafters of the Montreal Forum, never to be worn again by a member of the Montreal Canadiens. After waiting the obligatory three years, Guy Lafleur was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. Lafleur during his season with the New York Rangers.But there was a fire still burning inside Guy Lafleur. During the summer of 1988, Lafleur decided he wanted to play again. Several teams discussed the possibility with Guy, but it was the New York Rangers who stepped up and consummated an agreement. General Manager Phil Esposito had always admired Lafleur's skills as an opponent. Coach Michel Bergeron had often spoken of his respect for Guy. Old friends Chris Nilan and Marcel Dionne were both playing on Broadway. It seemed like an ideal fit. Guy had played in oldtimer's games but little more during his three-year retirement, yet he was still in game shape. He started the season with the Rangers and became just the second member of the Hockey Hall of Fame to resume a career after becoming an Honoured Member. Gordie Howe had done so previously, and Mario Lemieux would afterwards. Lafleur scored his first goal in four years on October 16, 1988. Despite an ankle injury, Guy recorded 18 goals and 27 assists through his comeback season. Guy's last NHL season - as a member of the 1990-91 Quebec Nordiques.For 1989-90, Guy returned to Quebec, but this time as a Nordique, joining the team as a free agent. Former Ranger coach Michel Bergeron was now behind the bench in Quebec City, making Lafleur's transition easier. Guy Lafleur played two seasons with the Nordiques, and although suffering injuries during both seasons, scored 12 goals both years. After playing three additional seasons after his first retirement, exorcising the demons he discovered, Guy Lafleur was at peace with himself and at the conclusion of the 1990-91 campaign, announced his final retirement. "The difference is, this time it's my idea," admitted Guy at that time. In his final game, appropriately a contest between his Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens, "I'm retiring because I want to retire. I'm ready." Guy continued,"I will always regret that I cannot keep the great days with me forever. That I cannot go on forever scoring 50 goals a season, that my feet do not forever have wings, that my muscles never get tired. You hear the cheers and a light shines so brightly it can blind you forever, it is true. But also, so brightly it can light you the rest of your days." His final statistics - 1,126 games played, 560 goals, 793 assists and 1,353 points - bear testament to the fact that Guy Lafleur was indeed one of the brightest lights in hockey history. Kevin Shea is co-author of several hockey biographies. His most recent book is "Over The Boards - The Ron Ellis Story" (H.B. Fenn), released November 2002.

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