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A big-time sports figure seemed to call it quits just about every week. But
most amazing about this year's retirement frenzy was not the number of retirees,
but how many -- in the great tradition of Ted Williams -- went out with a bang.
Michael Jordan's last shot sealed the Bulls' third straight NBA title; after
waiting out the labor strife that canceled nearly half the '98-99 season, His
Airness grounded himself in January. Wayne Gretzky notched a key assist in his
final NHL game, which was played on the same day Julie Krone capped her
spectacular riding career with three winners. John Elway's curtain call? A
second straight Super Bowl championship. Barry Sanders rushed for 1,491 yards in
his last season, then vanished over the summer. Steffi Graf won the French Open.
Remember when people used to retire because they were either hopelessly washed
up or irreparably broken? Some fell into those categories, sure (see Wade Boggs,
Chris Spielman, Charles Barkley), but this year's "graduating class"
made it hip to walk away a
winner.
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