Kobe Bryant has announced that he is calling it quits after this season, mercifully ending what will be the least memorable portion of his illustrious career as a sports icon. From an afro’d precocious neophyte who took Brandy to prom to one half of one of the greatest pairings in basketball history; a regular season and finals MVP, five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and eventually a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Bryant has done it all on the court. At his peak Kobe was an artist, but he has been in painful tailspin in recent years in what is a depressing reminder that even with German super-solider serum flowing in his veins, father time will not be defeated.
Between injuries and general declined, Kobe Bryant could’ve been well served retiring years ago…but he ain’t the only one. Here at the Hip-Hop Sports Report we recommend, and go so far as to implore these folks to follow “The Kobe System” into the greener pastures of retirement.
Peyton Manning— Denver Broncos Quarterback/Famed Pizza Pitchman
Peyton Manning, 39, has been annually leading one of the best teams in the NFL for nearly 20 years. Manning has had one of the greatest runs in NFL history starting in Indianapolis and coming over to Denver Manning has made 12 straight Pro Bowls, won five MVP awards, earned enough player of the week awards to fill half a calender, etched his name on just about every passing record and winning a superbowl. Peyton even won the 2012 Comeback Player of the Year award but it is time for him to give up the sticks!
Manning could follow in John Elway’s footsteps and move into a front office role and be a great success. There are few greater minds in football than that of Peyton Manning…unfortunately the game of football is played with the mind and the body. As of this writing, Peyton is out with a foot injury. He’s already had a litany of neck surgeries and it seems like his arm is shot; in short this old grey mare she ain’t what she used to be.
Manning’s had three great seasons in Denver, most notably his 5,400-yard, 55 touchdowns-to-10-interception with 68% completion rate 2013 campaign. But he is having his worst season since being drafted first overall in 1998. Time for the Sheriff to hit the ‘ole dusty trail.
Lil Wayne— Rapper/Bandwagon-Jumper
From sports to hip-hop. Lil Wayne has been one of the biggest names in the game since he was a kid. Weezy came into his own with Tha Carter II, his Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, and reached his peak during a two year period in the mid 2000s when he completely owned the rap radio waves by jumping on tracks with just about every known artist. In 2008, Wayne released Tha Carter III which won a Grammy and is one of his highest selling albums. However 2015 has been rough for the former Young Money flag waiver.
He has songs with Jay Z, Nas and other rap icons and was one of the hottest rappers on the planet, but in 2010 he released I am Not A Human Being and nothing was the same. We all know every great rapper in the universe has always been a human being.
Away from the mic there’s been the well chronicled breakup between Wayne and Cash Money Records, his musical and literal family since childhood. Wayne dropped diss records, a reported $51 million lawsuit and became an owner/artist with Jay Z’s TIDAL outlet, where he released an “exclusive” Free Weezy album to little fanfare.
Wayne apparently plans to retire at the age of 35, but after a poor reception to his latest mixtape No Ceilings 2, the 33-year-old may find himself sorry for the wait.
Paul Pierce— Los Angeles Clippers Forward/Wheelchair Enthusiast
Drafted in 1998 by the Boston Celtics, the California native is finally back home playing a reserve role with the Clippers. Pierce might as well get comfortable on the beach because he is not getting it done anywhere near a basketball court. The one-time NBA champion and all-time champion troll has now become an card-carrying NBA Journeyman. The Truth is averaging just a handful of points (4.5) and rebounds (3.0) for his third team in as many years. He’s also a well-oiled turnstile on defense.
Pierce reunited with coach Doc Rivers and was expected to help with wing scoring, yet all he’s done is prove that President of Basketball Operations Doc Rivers is not that good at talent evaluation in regards to team building.
We recapped how Pierce helped the Washington Wizards last year but as they say, “life comes at you fast”. Paul Pierce is finding that out first hand in his 17th season in the NBA.
Jeff Fisher— St. Louis Rams Head Coach/Mediocrity Master
Manning & Fisher should have plenty of time next year to talk about their Tennessee ties since neither of them should be working.
There may not be a higher regarded yet simultaneously unproductive coach in the history of the NFL. FIsher has been coaching modern day gladiators for 21 years and has a total of 11 playoff games (5-6) with his one trip to the Super Bowl as head coach of the Tennessee Titans with Steve McNair and Eddie George leading the charge in 1999. Fisher finished with a .542% winning record with the Titans, and was canned after 13 years in 2010.
After a brief sabbatical, Fisher returned to the NFL to lead the St. Louis Rams in 2012 and has promptly turned in zero winning seasons, while selecting at the top of the draft year in and year out. Somehow Fisher has not been able to guide a very talented defense and a capable offense to eight wins. The 2015 season has been another lost year for the Rams, who hope to build something consistent on offense around running backs Todd Gurley and Tre Mason (possibly in Los Angeles).
In the NFL winning cures all, so Fisher’s longevity in the league is quizzical and should prove that he’s best served taking his talents elsewhere.
Tiger Woods— Golfer/Former Mr. Lindsey Vonn
This one might be the most obvious of all. With his aggressive style on the links, Woods truly embodied the nickname “Tiger”. But since his home life crumbled, at his own hands, he hasn’t come close to his previous heights. Woods revealed his own concerns about his fears how he may not return to the game. Like Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning, Tiger is dealing with a long list of injuries related to the wear and tear of his game.
Decline with age is to be expected but ladies and gentlemen this is golf we’re talking about here! The game somehow has seemingly passed him by, while a new crop of young(er) golfers like Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott are winning the majors and landing the endorsements.
Maybe he can jump on the senior circuit, but for a sports legend like Tiger Woods, who meant so much to the sport and sports culture, it would be better for him to just take one last stroll to the clubhouse.
You tell us! Who do you think should move on into retirement? Disagree with someone on the list? Let us know why!