ColumbusSports.com : Your place to stay informed and talk about the sports scene and sports teams in and around Columbus.

Hey Columbus Fans!

When is it ever a good time to call it quits with sports? Most recently, Brett Favre entertained the media with his many retirements. Remember when Michael Jordan put his fans on a roller coaster back in the day? What about Lance Armstrong and Ricky Williams? Did they make the right decision concerning their careers?

Athletes usually retire when they feel that they can’t perform at the highest level or that it’s time to move on in their life without sports. Some athletes have “unretired” because they realize they just can’t live without their sport. Sports are a major part of an athlete’s life for many years, and to try to give it up and move on is a lot harder than people think. Ultimately, one’s career is up to the individual. When Barry Sanders decided to retire, no one could understand why because the fans figured he had at least a few more good years in him. In the end, he knew it was time for him to move on regardless of what others believed. Brett Favre decided that he is not ready to give up football yet and still feels he can compete at the highest level. For the individual, retirement can be a very personal career decision, and one must decide when it is the right time to give up the sport, regardless of how it affects their reputation.

I get asked all the time, how long will it be before I decide to give up baseball? My response is "No Clue". The great thing about sports, and what keeps the fans’ interest year after year is its unpredictability. To make it to the top, all of the pieces have to fall into place, especially when you’re not a top round pick. Performance, luck, injuries, and taking advantage of opportunities are all keys to making it. I can’t predict how next year will pan out, but I’m already excited to play and find out. I figure the time will come eventually when, perhaps, I don’t continue to advance to the higher levels, or I will feel I am no longer of value to an organization. That could be next year, or twenty years down the road. Either way, when the time comes, I will make sure that the time is right. Thanks for reading!