Biggest Retirements of 2009

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 1, 2009

Biggest Retirements of 2009

Bobby Bowden

The second-winningest coach in major college football history has decided to retire after his 34th season at Florida State. Bowden's 388 career wins are second only to Penn State's Joe Paterno among major college coaches.

John Madden

A former NFL player, longtime Raiders coach, video game magnate and broadcasting legend, John Madden broadcast NFL games for nearly 30 years, teaming with Pat Summerall, Vin Scully, Verne Lundquist and Al Michaels along the way. Known for his use of the telestrator and his use of "booms," "bangs," and "doinks," Madden crisscrossed the country in a bus, and handed out turkey legs to the best players during Thanksgiving Day games.

Tony Dungy

Tony Dungy retired after seven years as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The announcement capped a 31-year NFL career, which started with Dungy winning a Super Bowl ring as a player in Pittsburgh and ended two years after he became the first black coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Dungy amassed a 148-79 record, and retired as the career wins leader in both Tampa and Indianapolis.

Curt Schilling

One of the game's most dominant pitchers and grittiest competitors, Schilling announced in a March 23 blog post that he was calling it a career. The right-hander won a World Series with Arizona in 2001 and with Boston in 2004 and 2007. He finished his career with 3,116 strikeouts, 14th most in baseball history, a 216-146 record and a 3.46 ERA. He was even better in the postseason, with an 11-2 record, the best of any pitcher with at least 10 decisions, and 2.23 ERA in 19 career starts.

Jeff Kent

One of the best-hitting second basemen of all-time, Jeff Kent retired as the career home run leader among second basemen with 351, 74 more than Ryne Sandberg. In 17 major league seasons, Kent was an All-Star five times, and earned the 2000 NL MVP, when he hit .334 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs for the Giants.

Oscar De La Hoya

Boxing's ''Golden Boy'' burst onto the world stage in 1992, winning a gold medal at Barcelona. Over the next 16 years, he amassed a 39-6 record, winning 30 of the bouts by knockout. After defeating Lamar Williams by KO in the first round of his pro debut, De La Hoya went on to defeat Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez and, in perhaps his biggest victory, Fernando Vargas -- who tested positive for steroids after the bout. De La Hoya had 19 HBO bouts, and closes his career with records in career pay-per-view buys (14.1 million) and total revenue ($696 million).

Alonzo Mourning

Seven-time All-Star and two-time NBA defensive player of the year Alonzo Mourning retired rather than mount another comeback. Mourning came back after being diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a career-threatening kidney disease, in 2000, and battled back after a kidney transplant in 2003. The second overall pick in the 1992 draft, Mourning averaged 17.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in 15 seasons, and won an NBA championship in 2006 as a member of the Miami Heat.

Bruce Bowen

Bowen spent time with three teams before finding a home in San Antonio. In seven seasons with the Spurs, he played an integral role in helping Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich win three championships while being named to the All-Defensive first team four times.

Tedy Bruschi

Picked in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft, Bruschi retired after 13 seasons with the New England Patriots. He made an immediate impact on both defense and special teams for the Super Bowl-bound Patriots. He totaled a career-best 138 tackles in 2000, and was eventually named New England's defensive captain (a distinction he held for seven seasons). A three-time Super Bowl winner, Bruschi suffered a mild stroke just weeks after the Patriots defeated the Eagles to win Super Bowl XXIX -- and only days after he played in the Pro Bowl. Bruschi suffered partial paralysis and announced he'd sit out the 2005 season. Just months later, however, he returned to action, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. For his career, Bruschi tallied 30.5 sacks, 735 tackles and 12 interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns.

Rodney Harrison

After 15 NFL seasons, Patriots safety Rodney Harrison announced his retirement in June. Voted the "dirtiest player in the NFL" in several player polls, Harrison, 36, played nine years with the Chargers before heading to New England. He spent the past six seasons with the Pats, leading New England in tackles in his first two seasons, and helping the team win back-to-back Super Bowls. With 30.5 career sacks and 34 interceptions, Harrison retires as the only NFL player with at least 30 of each defensive statistic. And to top it off, his 907 solo tackles leads all defensive backs.

Joe Sakic

Sakic announced his retirement in the same room of a Denver hotel where John Elway did. Only fitting, since both were icons in the Mile High City. A 20-year veteran, Sakic wore the captain's "C" for 16 straight seasons and guided the Colorado Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, won league MVP honors in 2001, was a 13-time All-Star and led Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002.

Brendan Shanahan

A top power forward for 21 seasons, Shanahan scored 656 goals, good for 11th all time, and retired as the only player in NHL history to reach the 600 mark while amassing 2,000 penalty minutes. Rugged but cerebral, he was an eight-time All-Star who skated for the Devils (twice), Blues, Whalers, Rangers, and Red Wings, with whom he won three Stanley Cups. His most significant contribution to hockey was during the 2004-05 lockout when he convened and spearheaded a conference of players, coaches, GMs, owners, agents and TV executives that helped create the "New NHL" of more penalty calls, the shootout, the two-line pass, and other offense-oriented rules changes as well as a competition committee that included active players.

Jeremy Roenick

Vince Vaughn was right: Jeremy Roenick was good. Over the course of a 20-year NHL career, which officially ended Aug. 6, Roenick became one of just four Americans to score at least 500 goals (513). And though he never won a Cup, he was money in the playoffs. His six Game 7 goals are tied for second all-time. Despite that offensive prowess, it's debatable whether he'll be better remembered for his dedication and soft hands or his quick wit. No hockey player has ever been a better quote or more comfortable in front of the camera. The only question now is who scoops him up first: the Hall of Fame...or Hollywood?

Derian Hatcher

Flyers defenseman and captain Derian Hatcher retired following knee replacement surgery on June 1. Although his playing years are over, Hatcher will not leave Philadelphia just yet; he joined the Flyers' staff as the player development coach. In 16 years and 1,045 NHL games, Hatcher netted 80 goals and totaled 331 points for the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers. He also scored 33 points in 133 career NHL playoff games, and is the only American-born player to captain a Stanley Cup-winning team, which he did in 1999 with the Dallas Stars. <br><br>Who would you add to the list. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

Sheryl Swoopes

The three-time WNBA MVP and three-time Olympic gold medalist was waived by the Seattle Storm in February 2009, just one day before her 2009 contract would have become guaranteed.

Lisa Leslie

One of the cornerstones of the WNBA since its founding in 1997, Lisa Leslie retired after the 2009 season. A three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Leslie helped guide the LA Sparks to WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002.

Joe Calzaghe

Former super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe wrapped up his 16-year pro career with a win over Roy Jones, Jr. The Welshman held the WBO super middleweight world title for more than 10 years, unified the title in 2007, and retired with a record of 46-0.

Mike Bellotti

Though Bellotti will still have a hand in Oregon's football affairs as the school's athletic director, his head coaching tenure came to end on March 13. Many assumed Bellotti would coach one more season, but the 58-year-old went out on top, leading his Ducks to a Holiday Bowl win over Oklahoma State and a top 10 finish in his final season at the helm. In his 14 years as head coach, Bellotti amassed a 116-55 record and 12 bowl appearances.

Biggest Retirements of 2009