The Latest Trend: Opting Out

The original prompt for my thinking about a post on this subject was the "controversy" about New York Giants running back Tiki Barber's announcement that he would retire after this year to go into broadcasting. How could anyone question the reasonableness of such a decision? Retirement from professional sports is usually an economic decision, and this one is pretty close to a no-brainer, the way they wear down NFL players and pay broadcasters these days.

Remember when Barry Sanders quit in mid-career form? Time may have seemed to turn its back on him, but we don't see it from his point of view.

I am loth to question anyone's motivation for withdrawing from the public spotlight (particularly if one's public role is imitating an anvil). Even Ricky Williams, who seemed to want to quit to devote himself to smoking pot (before practical reality got in the way). Who am I to judge that?

I will say that it is unwise to withdraw right when one's integrity is being challenged, as happened with Rafael Palmeiro this year. It tends to confirm the negative rumors--actually, it doesn't, it just seems to confirm them. Better to tough it out and let them bring you home on a stretcher if it comes to that (see Donald Rumsfeld, Denny Hastert).

Better yet though to read the handwriting on the wall, and either 1) let them buy you out or 2) get out at any costs before they make you look like a "statistic on a government chart" (thanks for that one, The Police!)

2008 Update

While we're on the subject, I can only marvel at the fact that so far we have a lot more potential candidates who have bowed out than thrown their hat in. (Folded: Warner, Feingold, Frist; Tossed: Vilsack). Of course, this is only a question of timing for those who are still holding their hats, standing upright with an eager look. I do think that there may be some more dropouts from Democratic Senate folk (like Feingold) who once again have a reason to come to work, due to the surprising outcome of the 2006 elections: Biden, Dodd, Kerry, even possibly Obama or HRC.

Once again: "Running things. It's not all it's cracked up to be." (Miller's Crossing) Who wants to be President, anyway? And why?

Update on most likely six finalists for the two three-cornered party nomination races:
Republicans.
1) McCain
(now more than ever with the decisive Democratic victory, Bushite defeat.)
2) Giuliani
(Romney now heir-apparent to this role if Rudy falters, as Pataki disappears)
3)Gingrich
(over Brownback as leader of right-wing holding action and eventual VP candidate. No more chance of a significant Bushite candidate )

Democrats.
1) Hillary Rodham Clinton (in her own interest, HRC will be advising Nancy Pelosi on a full-time basis throughout 2007)
2) Barack Obama (the Clinton Centrist Challenger of the moment)
3) John Edwards (establishing a surprising claim to be the best "XXX" candidate)

I'm still thinking Obama may decide it's too early in his career for him to make his best run at it (which it is). If he goes, that CCC spot is wide open, though I don't think Edwards can capture it. It would be ironic if it comes down to these three (and, for a further fancy, say, Bill Richardson) and Edwards is the only white male left standing for the Democrats, while being the one "furthest to the left". Such a combination could actually put him over the top for the nomination.

I still see the likely scenario for the Republicans being the right-wing stalking horse handing the laurels to McCain in mid-primary season and getting the VP nomination (not insignificant, given McCain's age).