Five Sports Stars Who Should’ve Stayed Retired

• PierogyJim
• Tuesday, February 2, 2010

For many top retired sports stars, although faced with the inevitable cruelties of father time, the lure of the spotlight proves too tempting. Many should have just stayed retired, but instead ignored their aching bodies and declining skill sets to return for one last championship grab or handsome paycheck. Here is a look at five such former stars and their ill-advised comeback attempts, ranked on a scale of one to ten.

5. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson is a Hall of Fame basketball player who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he collected an impressive array of championships and personal accolades. He won 5 rings, 3 MVP awards, was a 12 time all star, and won the finals’ MVP 3 times. He was a monster on the court, and quite possibly the best point guard of all time. His numbers were truly impressive.

Off the court, Magic suffered from personal tragedy. Before the start of the 1991-1992 NBA season, he announced he had contracted HIV and would retire immediately. The next season he discussed a return, and even practiced and played a few pre-season games with the Lakers, but decided to remain retired. He ultimately returned for the final 32 games of the ’95-’96 season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. Not too shabby, but…

Why he should’ve stayed retired:

In the early 90s, people still held preconceived notions about HIV and Aids, particularly around the possibility of spreading the virus. Rightly or wrongly, Johnson alienated players and his return sparked opposition. He really had nothing left to prove, and although he wanted to retire on his terms, it just came across as a little selfish.

The Verdict:

Not a terrible comeback, just a little ill advised.

3/10

4. Jim Palmer

Like Johnson, Jim Palmer played his entire career with one team, the Baltimore Orioles. Also like Johnson, Palmer was elected to his sports’ hall of fame, being inducted in 1990. He won 268 games, 3 World Series, was a 6 time All-Star, won 4 Cy Young Awards, and even pitched a no-hitter.

His playing career spanned nearly 2 decades, from 1965-1984. Apparently all the accolades weren’t enough. In 1991, AFTER BEING ELECTED to the Hall of Fame, he attempted a comeback with the Orioles at age 45.

Why he should’ve stayed retired:

He was so washed up, that while working out at the University of Miami during his comeback attempt, Lazaro Collazo, assistant coach of the Hurricanes, told Palmer, “You’ll never get into the Hall of Fame with those mechanics.” To which Palmer replied,” I’m already in the Hall of Fame.” Whammy noise please:

He hung up his cleats finally after giving up 5 hits and 2 runs in two innings of a spring training game. Some writers speculate he was trying to show Nolan Ryan he wasn’t the only golden oldie that could still pitch.

The Verdict:

What was he thinking?

6/10

3. Bjorn Borg

Famous for his hair, headband, and rickety old fashioned wooden racket, Bjorn Borg was a former number 1 ranked tennis playing Swedish badass. He won 100 titles, including multiple titles at The French Open, Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open, basically all the major tournaments. He was at the top of his game in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, before shocking the sports world by unexpectedly retiring in early 1983 at age 26. Just as unexpected, he attempted a comeback nearly a decade later in 1991.

Why he should’ve stayed retired:

Between 1991 and 1993, Borg was defeated TWELVE consecutive times in the first round of ATP Tour events, losing to a who’s who of forgettable opponents. He still used his old fashioned wooden racket, thinking it would bring him the special touch of his youth. He was mistaken, and instead just looked silly. He finally retired and stuck to the senior tennis circuit, using a modern racket.

The Verdict:

Just pitifully bad

8/10

2. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali wasn’t just a boxer: he was a global cultural icon. He was a three time World Heavywight Champion, Olympic Gold medalist, and outspoken critic of the US government concerning the draft during the Vietnam War. His notable fights were broadcasted across the world, earning monikers such as “The Rumble in the Jungle” and “The Thrilla in Manilla.”

During his career, he won 56 fights to 5 losses, with 37 of the wins by knockout. Ali was so tough that in one loss against Ken Norton in which Norton broke Ali’s jaw, Ali finished the match and lost a split decision. He then promptly won the rematch. He finally retired in 1979 after winning the championship belt for a record third time.

Why he should’ve stayed retired:

In 1980, Ali returned to face then champion Larry Holmes in order to win the title for the fourth time. He was doing so poorly, his own manager refused to let him come out in the 11th round. In his final fight, he was walloped by Trevor Berbick in 1981.

The Verdict:

I’m sorry, but Ali could’ve stayed retired as a champion, but instead went out as a has-been. His blatant disregard for his own health probably led to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1984.

9/10

1. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan needs no introduction. Hall of Fame basketball player, the most notably marketed sports star on the planet, and greatest NBA player of all time, Jordan had it all. He won 6 championships, 5 MVP awards, 6 time NBA Finals MVP, was a 14 time all star and 2 time Gold medalist for the Dream Team.

Jordan first retired in 1993 after the tragic murder of his father, and subsequently had a short career as a minor league baseball player, a lifetime wish of his late father. He soon gave up baseball and returned to the Chicago Bulls in 1995, winning 3 more championships and solidifying his reputation as the greatest ever. He retired for the second time in 1999.

Why he should’ve stayed retired:

Seriously, Michael Jordan had nothing left to prove more than any other human on the planet who had been the best at anything. In 2001, Jordan returned for his second comeback, this time with the Washington Wizards. He showed his age and was plagued with a knee injury.

Furthermore, his supporting cast was young, and Jordan openly criticized his teammates, mostly because they weren’t as good as he was. He failed to make the playoffs in the two years he was with the Wizards.

The Verdict:

What did Jordan prove by coming back for a second time? Even the best sports gods are mortal.

10/10

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