Hang 'em Up

On Saturday November 21, I watched the rematch between Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz at UFC 106. While watching the match it became apparent to me that Tito Ortiz was clearly past his prime. One thing that led me to this conclusion was the fact that he seemed to take on the role of a human punching bag in the third round, by taking strikes and not delivering any back. A young Tito Ortiz would have had the energy and desire to fight back. This led me to ask the question: Why do athletes, such as Tito Ortiz, continue to compete when their best years are clearly behind them?

The obvious answer to this question of why athletes hang on past their prime is money. With owners of teams and leagues willing to pay athletes millions of dollars for their services, it is easy to see why athletes might try to squeeze a few extra years out of their careers. However, it is not only the owners who supply these athletes with money. Major companies still give athletes huge endorsement deals despite their increasing age and decreasing performance. A company might do this to try to sell their product using a known face, rather than an up and coming one. A perfect example of this is LaDainian Tomlinson, who was the 5th overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. As running back for the San Diego Chargers, Tomlinson’s performance peaked during the 2006 season when he won the MVP and set the single season touchdown record at 31. Over the past few years, Tomlinson’s production has drastically declined, yet he is still making loads of money from his endorsements with companies such as Nike, Campbell Soup, and AT&T.

There are several other less obvious reasons why an athlete would continue to play when it has become clear that their time has passed. One reason is that playing and competing in their sport could be all that an athlete has known for their entire lives. Most athletes have an extreme love of their sport. This makes the transition to a more regular life difficult for many and perhaps even frightening to some. Another reason why it is hard for athletes to walk away is could be because of inflated egos. This is not meant as a negative, as athletes need to have some kind of ego in order to survive the harsh criticism that they receive from the media and the fans. However, this ego can turn into a negative when it blinds an athlete to their decreasing ability. A third reason why it may be hard for athletes to “call it quits” is the reluctance to feel old. Athletes spend their entire lives playing “kids games,” so it may be hard for them to face their real age when they finally retire. A final reason why some athletes hang on for a few extra years is to make one last run at the championship. This is certainly understandable, as it is nice to go out on top. One example of this is Jerome Bettis who was not the every-down-back that he used to be in 2006. Despite his declining abilities he remained with Pittsburgh for that season and they went on to win the championship.

While sometimes an older player can be an asset to a team by providing veteran leadership and experience, they can also be a burden. For reasons ranging from the lure of the money to the love of the game, it is easy to see why many athletes find it hard to “call it quits”.