Another piece of my childhood left the game of football this week- Jerry Rice. In his own time and on his terms, Rice decided that it was time to call it a career…at least for now. If you’re like me, just the name Jerry Rice brings back a flood of memories. I’m not just talking about memories of touchdown passes and crisp route running, I’m talking about memories of an era. For twenty to thirty-something’s, the career of Jerry Rice has last throughout our childhood, teen years, and into adulthood. Many of us have never known football without Jerry Rice. While I’m sad to see him retire, I do agree that it was time. I can’t help but respect Jerry Rice for his ability to play competitively into his forties. Five years ago, pundits were calling for his retirement, but Rice kept on doing what he does better than anyone, play football.
Why do we insist that we know what’s best for athletes like Jerry Rice? Doesn’t he know himself and his body better than anyone? Do we want people telling us what we shouldn’t do? If he wasn’t good enough to play, he wouldn’t make a team. What’s wrong with wanting to play football, even if you’re not the best? Doesn’t that mean Rice loves the game? Shouldn’t we celebrate that?
In our arrogance, we argue that we are merely concerned for the legacy of a player. NEWSFLASH- the records remain, the stats are in tact, and the Super Bowl’s didn’t disappear. It’s dim to think that he still won’t be regarded as the premier wide receiver to have ever played the game. He’s a sure-fire first ballot hall-of-famer. The twilight of his career won’t change that.
I call for this- a celebration of the career of Jerry Rice. Enough with the arguments over his legacy. It’s not worth the wasted breath and energy it has received. The best wide receiver ever deserves the best farewell possible. Hopefully, as elite athletes come to the end of their careers, we’ll just let them do what they love to do, and not think that we know better. There’s a reason why they are on the field, and we’re on the sidelines.
3 replies on “Right Time vs. Rice Time”
comment Good article idea, but it didn’t have very good structure, and the last 2 sentences of your intro were almost identical to the first 2 in the next paragraph.
Well said! jason, this is a very thoughtful column. A player should play as long as they can get the job done. If they can’t get the job done, then they will be cut. However, if they make the team, who are we to say they should leave the game because they can’t perform as greatly as they did in the past.
The objective is not competition versus yourself, but against the opponent. And, if you can still defeat your opponent, then play on!
i’ll edit it x