I'm not one who usually follows trends, but I might as well hang up my journalism boots and retire now. It seems like the thing to do as of late, and I could use the break to take a trip somewhere that has drivable roads.
Recently, a few notable people have pondered or decided to take a trip for good. Former Utah Jazz and L.A. Laker forward Karl Malone, Pope John Paul II, and Reggie Miller have all either decided to retire or have contemplated it. It's clear that Malone and the Pope should retire, but it's hard to say the same about Reggie.
Pope John Paul II, it seems, is getting too geriatric for his job, too geriatric for his job, so geriatric, it hurts. For around three weeks, the captain of the Catholic team was on the injured list fighting off a bad case of the flu. During his tenure in the hospital, retirement talks brewed and fantasy teams around the globe collapsed in his absence.
The pope, however, took some Jordan juice, roared back and decided not to call it quits after all. Though he leads my religion and I support everything he does, he ought to rethink his decision to stay. People might start thinking he's in it for the money and fame if he doesn't resign soon, which thankfully, Malone opted to do.
The Mailman has finally decided to stop delivering after years of taking passes from John Stockton and a year of watching Kobe Bryant shoot. Good riddance to you, Malone, I say. Your me-me personality and dirty play won't be missed. Hey, at least we both benefit from his retirement -- I don't have to watch him play anymore, and now he has more free time to hit on Kobe's wife.
Unfortunately, another NBA superstar will have more time to make passes at women as Reggie Miller finally made up his mind and will end his 18-year career with the Pacers at season's end.
If I said I didn't tear up a little after hearing this, I would be lying.
Reggie still has what it takes to play another season or two, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Sadly, it's the end of my hero who I've tried to model my game after for the past 12 years. Like with any retired or deceased hero, it's better to look back at what made them so special rather then mopping over their loss.
So, in memoriam of Reggie, I would like to offer up some thanks you's his way:
Thank you for the mid- to late-1990s rivalry with the New York Knicks. The Christmas game between the Detroit Pistons and Pacers was the first time I've been that psyched to see a rematch since the days of The Choke and Spike Lee.
Thank you for all of your late game heroics, your team leadership, your flopping around to draw fouls and your obvious love for the game.
And especially, thank you for just giving it your all in every game you played. I appreciate the time I was able to watch you drain threes and talk trash, something I would never trade away.
Come to think of it, Miller shouldn't reconsider, seeing as he had a great career and all. Rings aren't important as they seem, anyway.
Besides, although Miller time might be over, the clock just began for Jermaine O'Neal.
"It'sssss OH-Neal time!"
Yeah, I like the sound of that.
Write to Ryan at rjsmith@bsu.edu
Visit www.bsu.edu/web/rjsmith
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