Mark Recchi played his last game ever professional hockey game at the age of 43 in Vancouver on Wednesday night.
The Boston Bruin may not have played his final game on the ice in front of 19,000 screaming Bostonians but he did manage to go out holding the greatest prize in Hockey, the Stanley Cup.
To go out on such a high is something the eludes even the greatest of sportsmen/women and being able to retire at the top is something that undoubtedly influenced Recchi's decision to put away his stick.
So this got me wondering.
Which sports personalities finished their careers in the most impressive fashions. Which athletes can lie in bed at night without thinking "could I have had just one more title?" Here are 3 of my top retiring moments for athletes that finished at the top.
Honourable Mention
Zinedine Zidane 2006
Ok so he didn't lift the World Cup for France in his final game as a professional footballer. But Zidane did manage to finish his career in a way which will always be remembered even if its for all the wrong reasons. Still one of the greatest footballers to grace the Earth Zinedine will always be remembered for that head-but and that walk down the tunnel past the trophy he just cost his country.
3. Pete Sampras Wins the 2002 US Open
After an early exit at Wimbledon to 145th ranked George Bastil expectations were low for the world number one. After narrowly beating Britain's Greg Rusedski in the third round Rusedski predicted to the media that Sampras would be out in the next round saying the American was "a step and a half slower" than normal
Sampras however went on to defy the Rusedski and the experts to reach a record tying 8th career US Open final defeating both Tommy Haas and Andy Roddick on his way.
In the Final met fellow veteran Andre Agassi, the man that Sampras had met in his first ever Grand Slam final 12 years ago.
The Final lasted just 4 sets as Sampras defeated Agassi to set a then record of 14 Grand Slam titles and tie Jimmy Conners' record of 5 US Open Singles titles.
Although Sampras retired in 2003 he never played another tour event after the 2002 US Open.
2. Sir Steve Redgrave Get #5 in 2000
In 1996 Steve Redgrave won his 4 Olympic gold medal in 4 games. Following the victory in Atlanta Redgrave was asked about the prospect of Sydney in four years time. Redgrave told the surrounding reporters that if "anyone sees me go anywhere near a boat, you've got my permission to shoot me."
So what happened four years later in Sydney. Well I can tell you now that every single person who went to the first heats of the coxless four event was patted down by security in search for firearms. Yes Redgrave was back in a boat in the Olympics with Matthew Foster, Tim Foster and James Cracknell in an attempt to secure his 5 gold.
5 minutes and 56.24seconds after the horn sounded to start the coxless fours final Redgrave and his team crossed the finishing line.
.34 seconds after that the Italians crossed the line in second place.
Redgrave was a 5 time Olympic champion, a national hero and in 2001 became Sir Steve Redgrave. He never competed in another major boat race.
1. Jordan Hits Championship Winning Shot to Seal 2nd Three-peat
Ok so I'm going to ask for a favour here. Can we just forget about the whole Washington Wizards comeback.
This really should have been #2 on the list but I've moved it to #1 because a) Jordan is one of my all time favourite sports stars, b) its the equivalent of Gretzky hitting a last second winner in the Stanley Cup final for Edmonton in his final ever game, and c) its my list so if you don't like it leave a comment at the bottom.
When he first retired in 1993 Jordan was already considered one of the greatest to ever set foot in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls retiring his number. On March 18th during the '94-'95 season Jordan announced to the world "I'm back".
10 days into his comeback Jordan hit 55 points in Madison Square Garden and helped take the Bulls back to the Eastern Conference semi-finals where they lost to the Orlando Magic. He was back.
In the 97-98 series Jordan and the Bulls went back to the finals for a third consecutive appearance and a chance for Jordan to grab his 6th NBA title and 2nd "three-peat" of his career.
Basketball's greatest player had already lead the league in scoring that year as well as collecting his 5th NBA League MVP at the end of the regular season. But Jordan wanted a 6th ring, and all that stood in his way was Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz (the side who the Bulls had defeated in the finals 12 months ago).
The Bulls entered game 6 of the best-of-seven finals 3-2 up. But with 40 seconds left in the 4th quater the Bulls trailed Utah 86-83. Receiving the in-bound pass Jordan drove inside floating in an easy lay-up.
Utah went up court giving the ball to their star Malone in the low post. Malone was too busy fending of Bulls Forward Dennis Rodman to see Jordan step up and swat the ball from Malone's hands.
Jordan then advanced up court before crossing over Bryon Russell and pulling up to hit an open two-pointer and give the Bulls a 87-86 lead with just 5.2 seconds left on the clock. Utah had no reply and Jordan's final steal and 2 shots as a Chicago Bull (the only team Jordan had played for at that time) won a third straight NBA Championship and earned Jordan his 6th Finals MVP award in 6 Finals appearances.
This would be unquestionably the greatest way a player has ever bowed out to his sport had Jordan not returned to the NBA in 2001 with the Wizards. But because of his third comeback questions have to be asked about whether this can be considered a true retiring moment.
I do and for me its the greatest one of them all.
Here it is.
 |
| Mark Recchi holds the Stanley Cup aloft. |
To go out on such a high is something the eludes even the greatest of sportsmen/women and being able to retire at the top is something that undoubtedly influenced Recchi's decision to put away his stick.
So this got me wondering.
Which sports personalities finished their careers in the most impressive fashions. Which athletes can lie in bed at night without thinking "could I have had just one more title?" Here are 3 of my top retiring moments for athletes that finished at the top.
Honourable Mention
Zinedine Zidane 2006
Ok so he didn't lift the World Cup for France in his final game as a professional footballer. But Zidane did manage to finish his career in a way which will always be remembered even if its for all the wrong reasons. Still one of the greatest footballers to grace the Earth Zinedine will always be remembered for that head-but and that walk down the tunnel past the trophy he just cost his country.
 |
| A picture says a thousand words. Many of them are offensive and in French |
3. Pete Sampras Wins the 2002 US Open
After an early exit at Wimbledon to 145th ranked George Bastil expectations were low for the world number one. After narrowly beating Britain's Greg Rusedski in the third round Rusedski predicted to the media that Sampras would be out in the next round saying the American was "a step and a half slower" than normal
Sampras however went on to defy the Rusedski and the experts to reach a record tying 8th career US Open final defeating both Tommy Haas and Andy Roddick on his way.
In the Final met fellow veteran Andre Agassi, the man that Sampras had met in his first ever Grand Slam final 12 years ago.
The Final lasted just 4 sets as Sampras defeated Agassi to set a then record of 14 Grand Slam titles and tie Jimmy Conners' record of 5 US Open Singles titles.
Although Sampras retired in 2003 he never played another tour event after the 2002 US Open.
2. Sir Steve Redgrave Get #5 in 2000
 |
| Going back on his word. Redgrave returns to a boat to get number 5 |
In 1996 Steve Redgrave won his 4 Olympic gold medal in 4 games. Following the victory in Atlanta Redgrave was asked about the prospect of Sydney in four years time. Redgrave told the surrounding reporters that if "anyone sees me go anywhere near a boat, you've got my permission to shoot me."
So what happened four years later in Sydney. Well I can tell you now that every single person who went to the first heats of the coxless four event was patted down by security in search for firearms. Yes Redgrave was back in a boat in the Olympics with Matthew Foster, Tim Foster and James Cracknell in an attempt to secure his 5 gold.
5 minutes and 56.24seconds after the horn sounded to start the coxless fours final Redgrave and his team crossed the finishing line.
.34 seconds after that the Italians crossed the line in second place.
Redgrave was a 5 time Olympic champion, a national hero and in 2001 became Sir Steve Redgrave. He never competed in another major boat race.
1. Jordan Hits Championship Winning Shot to Seal 2nd Three-peat
Ok so I'm going to ask for a favour here. Can we just forget about the whole Washington Wizards comeback.
This really should have been #2 on the list but I've moved it to #1 because a) Jordan is one of my all time favourite sports stars, b) its the equivalent of Gretzky hitting a last second winner in the Stanley Cup final for Edmonton in his final ever game, and c) its my list so if you don't like it leave a comment at the bottom.
 |
| Jordan's back. |
When he first retired in 1993 Jordan was already considered one of the greatest to ever set foot in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls retiring his number. On March 18th during the '94-'95 season Jordan announced to the world "I'm back".
10 days into his comeback Jordan hit 55 points in Madison Square Garden and helped take the Bulls back to the Eastern Conference semi-finals where they lost to the Orlando Magic. He was back.
In the 97-98 series Jordan and the Bulls went back to the finals for a third consecutive appearance and a chance for Jordan to grab his 6th NBA title and 2nd "three-peat" of his career.
Basketball's greatest player had already lead the league in scoring that year as well as collecting his 5th NBA League MVP at the end of the regular season. But Jordan wanted a 6th ring, and all that stood in his way was Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz (the side who the Bulls had defeated in the finals 12 months ago).
The Bulls entered game 6 of the best-of-seven finals 3-2 up. But with 40 seconds left in the 4th quater the Bulls trailed Utah 86-83. Receiving the in-bound pass Jordan drove inside floating in an easy lay-up.
 |
| Jordan hits the series winner in game 6 |
Utah went up court giving the ball to their star Malone in the low post. Malone was too busy fending of Bulls Forward Dennis Rodman to see Jordan step up and swat the ball from Malone's hands.
Jordan then advanced up court before crossing over Bryon Russell and pulling up to hit an open two-pointer and give the Bulls a 87-86 lead with just 5.2 seconds left on the clock. Utah had no reply and Jordan's final steal and 2 shots as a Chicago Bull (the only team Jordan had played for at that time) won a third straight NBA Championship and earned Jordan his 6th Finals MVP award in 6 Finals appearances.
This would be unquestionably the greatest way a player has ever bowed out to his sport had Jordan not returned to the NBA in 2001 with the Wizards. But because of his third comeback questions have to be asked about whether this can be considered a true retiring moment.
I do and for me its the greatest one of them all.
Here it is.
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