Subj : Pinnacle?
To   : KEVIN GIBSON
From : LEE LOFASO
Date : Mon Jul 23 2001 07:10 am

Hello Kevin,

>LL>Thought for the day: Why does an athlete continue to play after
>LL>winning the Superbowl? Especially if that athlete is the star
>LL>quarterback for his team? Being at the pinnacle of one's career,
>LL>it seems illogical to want to keep playing given that it would
>LL>be all downhill from there. But yet most of the time athletes
>LL>choose to continue playing...

KG>It's not illogical to continue playing after one has scaled to such a
KG>height in one's career.  It's then that one is likely to be commanding
KG>the highest amounts of money for performing.  Or maybe it's the roar
KG>of the crowd, the adulation that provides the incentive to keep going.
KG>Or the comradery.  You work so hard to get to that point in life,
KG>why not enjoy it for a while?

Sure.  But some athletes, such as Doug Williams, decide to retire right
after reaching that pinnacle.  Other athletes, such as Troy Aikman, just
don't know when to quit.  And then, there are a handful of athletes who
try to make a comeback years after retiring.  Bjorn Borg tried to do so,
but found out very quickly that those younger tennis players were just
too fast and too strong for him, especially with the high-tech metal
tennis rackets they were using.  Borg did not last long, even with his
best wooden racket.  Today he spends his time on the senior's circuit,
along with John McEnroe, his archrival from Wimbledon days.

KG>Besides, how does one know when one has reached the pinnacle?
KG>Great achievements can come later in life.

It took a while for John Elway to reach that great achievement, helping
to lead his team to two consecutive Superbowl victories.  He probably
wanted to continue playing, but I'm sure his wife talked him out of it.
Sometimes women can be very influential, making it very clear to guys
exactly what women want...

--Lee


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