Walking away on top better than being airlifted away from the top

 Walking away on top better than being airlifted away from the top

Experiencing world class athletic success must be the most exhilarating drug ever. Once on top, it’s difficult to imagine one’s body will eventually betray the prowess that allowed the inhabitant to experience the glory sports stardom brings.

But history is replete with fabulous athletes who didn’t know when to walk away. The Sultan of Swat Babe Ruth was so slow in his last full Yankee season, pitchers refused to take the mound if he was bumbling around in left field. When the Yanks unceremoniously cut him loose after the '34 season, the Braves picked him up as a gate attraction for the ’35 season. A shadow of his former greatness, Ruth staggered off the field with 6 dingers and a .181 average in just 28 games.

Bronx Bomber Joe Louis, heavyweight champion from ’39 to ’40, came out of retirement highly overweight in 1950 at age 36 to pay off tax debts. Failing to regain the heavyweight title, Louis suffered 2 of only 3 losses in 69 fights, the last of which was a merciless beating by Rocky Marciano in 951. Rocky learned Joe’s departing lesson well, retiring on top as undefeated champ at 46-0.

That brings us to world class alpine skier Lindsey Vonn. Few such athletes reached the pinnacle of success achieved by Vonn: four World Cup championships, three Olympic medals including first American woman to win Olympic downhill gold. Vonn retired twice due to injuries but the lure of Olympic fame at the current Cortina Games was too much to resist, prompting her second comeback last November at age 41.

Even a torn ACL nine days before her first event could not dissuade Vonn from attempting the unattainable. Thirteen seconds into her run she suffered a catastrophic fall severely breaking her left leg. Three surgeries later Vonn is in for a long road ahead to simply enjoy normal, pain free mobility with likely decades to live.

Vonn’s ordeal should be a lesson to all great and not so great athletes to leave on a high note….not on a high mountain.