Bernie Williams No Longer a Yankee

It didn't take long for me to witness the final farewell of a legendary athlete, as one of my first sports memories featured the National Basketball League's current all-time leading scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, receiving an overwhelming and raucous sendoff by the Laker fans at the Forum at the start of Game One of the 1989 finals. My safe presumption at the time deduced that Jabbar could never return to the game as his decision to retire was basically set in stone.

That misnomer died in '95 when Michael Jordan returned from his one-and-a-half year absence from the game to collect three more titles before ultimately displaying human qualities during his failed run with the Wizards. Fortunately I only caught few of the highlights with a beefed-up Jordan backing down smaller opponents in the post, and furthermore, I completely eradicated the memory of New York Knick great, Patrick Ewing, playing out his finals days on the Sonics and Magic.

Fans know certain players crave the spotlight and easily rescind their announced retirement based mostly on egocentric motives rather than for financial worries. Deon Sanders redefined the role of a shutdown corner with deceiving speed for the Falcons, Niners and Cowboys. But after struggling in D.C., Prime Time returned to the league as a seldom-used nickel back for the Ravens, never displaying the glossy flair that set him apart during his earlier days.

Many odious and mocking fans fixate on the last, and possibly the most embarrassing stint of a superstar's career. Recall the Broncos cut Jerry Rice from training camp and recently the Texas Rangers signed Sluggin' Sammy Sosa to a minor league deal. Whether humorous or pseudo- tragic, many athletes cannot stay removed from their passion.

The constant indecision among aging athletes merit guidelines for how and when one should go about their last hooray.

There's the elongated farewell tour in which each team honors their favorite rival with a mini-ceremony and extraneous gifts. The idea reeks of prissy good sportsmanship. Take a rock group like Soundgarden who disbanded around '96. You might anticipate their last and craziest show to be in their hometown of Seattle, but you might also expect a hearty and long-lasting ovation after every encore of every show on that tour. People in Topeka, Kansas pay to see Soundgarden rock one last time. In sports, fans in Milwaukee, or let's say New York, purchase tickets primarily based on their team ties rather than paying homage to a famed foe.

What was Knicks management thanking Reggie Miler for during his last visit to Madison Square Garden? "You know you've caused a lot of heartache to these people here tonight but we don't want to make you think that what you've done hasn't gone unappreciated. Take this new free Hummer and your very own Hollywood director."

Fans marvel in the skills of the greats like Miller and MJ, and of course there's an unsaid admiration, but full-blown adulation transforms the faceless enemy into a future friend. Maybe it's the Michael Corleone theory that states you keep your friends close and your enemies closer but I doubt Miller fears he will be whacked by a bitter Knick fan in the future.

Wayne Gretzky's final trip around the National Hockey League marked the end for possibly the greatest ever to don on a pair of ice hockey skates but the extravagance and pomp seen on his last cycle should have been mostly preserved for his final home game. Fans usually reciprocate the pleasure they derive from watching a star in action but to devote an entire season to an exit appears excessive.

So far we have the idea of ignoring the final lackluster days of a star playing for a different team, and cutting down on the farewell tours that reach rock star status. Now we delve into the Favre-Clemens syndrome. Favre officially announced he will return for next season so that story won't drag into the summer but anything less than a permanent change of address to Spain for Favre will keep the media hounds sniffing for a return to the game well after he announces his exit.

Clemens trotted off the field during game Seven of the 2001 World Series at Arizona to a relentless flash of lights as he tipped his cap, implying his Hall-of-Fame career would end after that night. It's now 2007 and the question isn't will Clemens pitch this season? it's who he'll pitch for and how many games.

Favre and Clemens deserve unrestrained applause after the final play of their final game, and I can understand that they need to weigh their options before committing to another season, however, their imminent returns should not receive such glorified press. The statute of limitation on farewell tours cannot extend past two years. Should I stay or should I go? I'm fine either way, now let's just go bowling or something.

Lastly, management's callous indifference to their players irritates loyal fans who root more for a person than a logo. The delicacy of the situation and the extenuating circumstances cancel any concrete rules of engagement but for the Yankees, with Mr. Burns of baseball, George Steinbrenner, placing the well-being of his massive ego before that of his team's welfare, it's nearly impossible to leave the pinstripes behind on good terms. An exception being Paul O'Neill. Paulie could not hold back his emotions as he was serenaded by the Bleacher Creatures in right field during Game Five of the '01 series. A poignant scene during an emotionally grueling time for the city. I admit that I wept as even though I never idolized an athlete, I related with Paul's personal push for perfection and held him in high regard.

Six title-less seasons later and Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman chose to retain Joe Torre despite last season's disappointing postseason, and basically let go of Bernie Williams, who has been with the team for 16 years.

I agree with both moves despite the inherent conflict of interest. In a more forgiving business each would leave ceremoniously under their own terms because of their past successes - four titles in five years. Torre can't be absolved of all the blame from the Yankees lost to Detroit as he did seem to tamper with team chemistry and knocked A-Rod's fragile state of mind drastically by dropping him to the eighth spot in the order. The move can be considered a possible blunder but it alone is not sufficient enough to fire a man who has led his team to the postseason in each of his 11 seasons as manager. Plus there does not seem to be a clear favorite to take over for Torre and immediately improve the Yankees.

Bernie rejected a minor-league offer from the Yankees this weekend knowing that he no longer fits onto the roster but the club wanted to save face by throwing crumbs his way. Bernie's amiable persona off-the-field and consistently dedicated approach during the game will ensure no other Yankee player will wear No. 51. But clearly his numbers and skills have dropped off precipitously and with last year's addition of Johnny Damon and the growth of Melky Cabrera, Bernie might have to resort to ending his playing days and concentrate on coaching, possibly in the minors.

Always a touchy spot for all involved when a respected player with stellar numbers in the past refuses to acquiesce to his diminished play and admit his time is over. If Bernie were playing on a less prominent team like the Pirates or Rangers, I could understand his gripe, but the Yankees have qualified for the postseason every year since '95. Sorry Bernie, you'll be missed but it's your monster shot over the Orioles in Game One of the '96 ALCS and your galloping grace covering the luscious grass in Yankee Stadium on a daily basis that fans will forever cherish.