12 Types of Sports Breakups
They say breaking up is hard to do, and it’s no different in sports.
There are many different reasons for breakups—some are mutual, some are not. The Boston Celtics’ relationship with Rajon Rondo ultimately came to an amicable end via trade. Conversely, the New York Jets broke up with Rex Ryan by firing him.
Feelings change, people change, but the sports world continues to spin. Let’s take a look at 12 types of sports breakups and try to decide which is worst.
Amicable
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Perhaps the best kind of sports breakup is the amicable one. In the end, no one is angry, hurt or upset—both sides are happy and better off.
Such was the case with the Boston Celtics and their breakup with Rajon Rondo. Sure, Rondo started it by saying he wanted out of Boston, but ultimately the two sides came to an amicable end. Rondo got a fresh start with the Dallas Mavericks, and the Celtics got Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and draft picks.
Both sides had nice things to say about each other post-breakup. According to ESPN, Rondo tweeted, “My time in Boston has meant so much.” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, “We would like to thank Rajon for everything that he has done for the Celtics organization and the success we have experienced during his tenure with us.”
I Don’t Want a Relationship
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Sometimes in sports, it’s not about going to a new team—it’s about not having a team at all.
When you just don’t want a relationship at all, that’s when it’s time to retire. MLB veteran Jason Giambi announced his retirement from a 20-year career that he called an “incredible journey.”
All We Do Is Fight
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Sometimes, breaking up just makes sense. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal played together with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004. Despite winning three championships together, the two always seemed to have a contentious relationship.
From Kobe’s alleged selfishness to Shaq’s alleged laziness, the two never seemed to get along. Ultimately, O’Neal was traded to Miami in 2004.
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I Just Want to Be Friends
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James Harden was an integral part of the Big Three in Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Thunder went to the playoffs in all three of his seasons there, and he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011-12.
In 2012, OKC tried to keep Harden by signing him to an extension, but they were unable to reach a deal that worked for both sides. Harden was eventually traded to the Houston Rockets. According to ESPN, Harden tweeted, “I would love to Thank Oklahoma City for 3 amazing years! Teammates and Fans were thee best. The love will always be there. Thanks Again.”
Destructive Relationship
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Dwight Howard started his career with the Orlando Magic and played eight seasons there, but in the end, he left nothing but destruction in his wake.
Uncertainty about Howard's future in Orlando began to ramp up in 2011. He kept the team in limbo for months about whether he wanted to stay with the team long term. His less-than-great relationship with head coach Stan Van Gundy most likely contributed to Van Gundy’s firing in 2012. Then, oh by the way, Howard decided he wanted to be traded anyway.
He was finally, mercifully, sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in a monster four-team deal in August 2012.
Totally One-Sided
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Sometimes, only one party wants to break up, and the other party has no real say in the matter. Imagine firing your significant other. That’s what sometimes happens in sports. A player gets cut, a coach gets canned—these are one-sided breakups.
Take, for example, NFL’s “Black Monday” in December 2014. Three NFL head coaches were fired by their teams—Rex Ryan by the New York Jets, Mike Smith by the Atlanta Falcons and Marc Trestman by the Chicago Bears.
Abandonment
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In sports, free agents get to choose who they want to be with, and sometimes that involves making a change.
Albert Pujols played with the St. Louis Cardinals for 11 years, won three MVP awards and two World Series championships. Times were good.
Then, after the 2011 season, Pujols became a free agent. St. Louis tried to keep him, but it didn’t offer quite enough, apparently. He ended up departing St. Louis for the 10-year, $254 million deal the Los Angeles Angels offered.
Trading in for a Younger Model
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Peyton Manning’s departure from Indianapolis was amicable, yes, but it also might not have happened without a younger model waiting in the wings.
Manning was 35 years old when the Colts released him in March 2012, and he had just missed all of the 2011 season with a neck injury. Despite his legendary status in Indy, the quarterback’s future was uncertain in terms of how he could perform and for how long.
Besides that, the Colts held the No. 1 pick in the upcoming April draft, and two prized quarterbacks—Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III—were available. Ultimately, the Colts selected Luck with the first pick, and it has worked out pretty well for them.
It’s Not You, It’s Me
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When LeBron James left the Miami Heat to return to Cleveland, he made it clear the decision wasn’t about Miami; it was about him.
James wanted to go home. He said as much in an announcement he wrote for Sports Illustrated, letting the world know of his plans. He said that leaving Miami was extremely difficult for him, but he’d always envisioned going back to Cleveland at some point. He said, “The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”
It’s Not Me, It’s You
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Then again, when LeBron James left Cleveland to begin with, it was totally about Cleveland. James wanted to win a championship, and he apparently felt he couldn’t do that with the Cavaliers at that time. James said in his Sports Illustrated “I’m Coming Home” piece, “When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships.”
Caught Cheating
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The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency broke up with Lance Armstrong in 2012 when it strongly suspected he was cheating. The seven-time Tour de France winner opted not to fight a drug case against him, and USADA stripped him of his titles and banned him from competitive cycling for life.
Of course, Armstrong later admitted to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
I Just Don’t Love You Anymore
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Brett Favre was beloved in Green Bay. The legendary quarterback led the Packers to a Super Bowl championship and won an MVP award during his 16 years there.
It all started to go south in 2006 when Favre dropped hints about retirement. Mind you, the Brett Favre retirement saga is long and complicated, but basically it goes like this:
Favre sort of said he’d retire following the 2006 season, but he didn’t. Then he definitely announced his retirement following the 2007 season, but oh wait, he decided to come back in 2008 after all. Suddenly, the Packers weren’t too keen on all the back-and-forth, and he was traded to the New York Jets in August 2008.
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