tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post2133820870926293135..comments2024-02-29T23:31:03.341-05:00Comments on Out Of Left Field: What’s with the Old Guys?sagerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08757652892056684490noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-22481940980880537592009-10-19T21:32:24.105-04:002009-10-19T21:32:24.105-04:00The fact that George Foreman was a heavyweight cha...The fact that George Foreman was a heavyweight champ at 45 was more a testament to what a sorry state that division was in at that particular time.<br />Other 40 somethings have excelled when they should have been fading for reasons other than fastidious work habits and good genes.<br />In the case of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, it was good personal chemistry, if you know what I mean.<br />On the other end of the scale, brilliant careers were cut way too short because the medical help at the time let them down.<br />Bobby Orr and Gale Sayers were two examples of that.<br />When they played the surgical techniques used to repair damaged knees were completely invasive and did as much harm as the original injuries.<br />As far as I am concerned, the greatest freak of nature was Nolan Ryan.<br />He pitched his first MLB game for the Mets in 1966 and finished his career in 1993!<br />That's 27 seasons over four different decades, for crying out loud!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16538424.post-20473737888516314402009-10-15T12:30:33.374-04:002009-10-15T12:30:33.374-04:00I would disagree slightly on Gretzky. In his fina...I would disagree slightly on Gretzky. In his final season, when he only turned 38 half way through, he scored but nine goals in 70 games. Sure, he was still an effective playmaker, but his goal scoring ability had completely abandoned him, and the greatest player in history was now averaging less than a point a game. Anyone who saw him play that final season could see that Father Time had come calling, and good on Gretzky for heeding the call.<br /><br />I think the difference for the guys who show great longevity is fitness. Look at Chris Chelios - that guy has an off-season workout regimen that would challenge a 21 year old Marine. Jerry Rice was the same - he was a total workout warrior, and as a result he was able to remain productive into his early 40s as an NFL receiver, amazing when you consider that most skill players in the NFL start going downhill quickly in their mid-30s.<br /><br />On the other side of the scale, I don't think anyone ever accused Gretzky of being overzealous in his off-season training. Mario Lemieux was also notoriously lazy when it came to hitting the gym, and you will note that his career took a dive earlier than it should have. Yes, Mario had illness and injury issues, but you have to think he would have had more to give had he been in better shape. Denis Savard and Guy Lafleur were two guys whose idea of off-season training was cutting down to half a pack a day, and their respective skills completely abandoned them past age 30. Imagine how good Lafleur could have been had he looked after himself off the ice.Dennis Prousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01117649570711228161noreply@blogger.com