Call it “The year of the comebacks.”
Call it “The year of the returns.”
Call it “The year when retirement lost its appeal.”
Whatever you want to call it, this year in the world of sports has featured more athletes returning from the slumbers of retirement for another shot at glory than any year in recent memory. This increasing trend was made even clearer last week when it was announced that Allan Houston, 36 years old and two years removed from retirement due to chronic knee pain, signed a two-year deal to return to the team he led to the NBA Finals in 1999, the New York Knicks.
In addition to that jaw-dropping news to this Allan Houston fan, it was reported that journeyman Vinny Testaverde, all 43 years and six teams of him, signed with the Carolina Panthers to provide some much-needed depth at the quarterback position. Not only did he sign last week but he started Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Add that to the list of Roger Clemens, who returned in the middle of the year to play for the New York Yankees, and Mike Flynt, the 59-year-old who returned to his alma mater, Sul Ross State University, for his senior season, and you have quite a list of old guys playing in the leagues geared for the young.
What’s next? Is Barry Sanders, who many thought retired from the game far too soon, going to return to the Detroit Lions to break the ankles of every defensive player in the league? Probably not, but it would be cool.
Let’s take an in-depth look at the impact these four will have on their teams.
Allan Houston
I’m going to put it out there. If you like it, you can keep it. If you don’t, you can throw it right back. I am an Allan Houston fan. Back in the day, I admired and adored Houston. He played the game with such grace and fluidity it was almost unfair. He had one of the smoothest strokes in the game. And he was a leader, someone who players looked up to and played for. How else do you think the Knicks made the finals in 1999? Let me tell you, it wasn’t because of David Wingate.
But he was always troubled and hindered by problems with his knee and his highly criticized six-year, $100 million contract extension. Over the span of his last two seasons, Houston played in only 70 games.
So he left the game and settled nicely into a position at ESPN.
But Houston is back, which means good things for the Knicks and the NBA. Houston is one of those good all-around people who seem to be lacking in the professional sports world right now. At 36 years old and with two years of rust, Houston, understandably, might not be the force he once was. But good for him for at least giving the good old college try because if he makes it, it can only mean good things for the Knicks, the NBA and this Houston fan.
Vinny Testaverde
I can’t say I was really shocked by this move. Testaverde, who was let go by the New England Patriots prior to the start of the season, has bounced from club to club ever since he entered the league. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then went to the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens, then to the New York Jets, then to the Dallas Cowboys, then back with the Jets, then to the Patriots and then finally to the Panthers.
Will he make an impact? He already has. Yesterday, he started in the Panthers’ 25-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Testaverde completed 20 of 33 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown. A win for the team that you have been a part of for less than a week. I’d say that is making an impact.
Here are some fun facts: Testaverde won the Heisman Trophy the same year Dwayne Jarrett was born and has thrown more passes than the number thrown in the entire history of the Carolina franchise.
Just food for thought.
Mike Flynt
This guy is a beast. To return to your alma mater college football team for your senior season after you were thrown out of school takes guts and determination. I only hope that when I am 59 years old I will have half the energy as Flynt.
Roger Clemens
Do I really have to go into how that turned out?
If you know who David Wingate is, e-mail Howard at ahoward@media.ucla.edu.