Memorable Sports Tributes

The sports community takes great pride in honoring its heroes, as evidenced by recent tributes to Stuart Scott and Dean Smith.

Many memorable salutes have taken place over recent years—both for retirements and in memoriam. Here are just 15 of many acts of kindness and respect. You'll see Jordan Brand’s Derek Jeter ad as a tribute to The Captain's retirement as an MLB player. You'll see beautiful in memoriam tributes, like Pat Tillman’s tunnel at Arizona State University.

When a legendary athlete or coach retires, sports fans and media often pay tribute in touching ways. 

These tributes are truly special, and they will help us remember their honorees for years to come. 

Pat Summitt

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Pat Summit won 1,098 games as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee—that’s good for the most of any head coach in NCAA basketball history. The living legend retired in 2012 due to early onset Alzheimer’s.

That same year, ESPN honored Summit with a moving tribute at the ESPY Awards. Peyton Manning, a Tennessee alumnus, presented her with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, and her acceptance speech was touching and memorable.

Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports reported that Summitt said, “It is time to fight. I ask all of you to join me together so we will win. I can tell you tonight, I am deeply touched as all of you heard my story. I'm going to keep on keeping on, I promise you that."

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter is a surefire Hall of Famer and longtime New York Yankees captain. He retired after the 2014 MLB season to much fanfare.

Of the many tributes Jeter received during his final season, one of the best was an ad released by Jordan Brand. The commercial featured all kinds of fans—celebrities, athletes, even Boston Red Sox faithful—tipping their caps to The Captain.

Mariano Rivera

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Mariano Rivera is MLB’s all-time saves leader and has the lowest career postseason ERA on record. During many of his 19 years with the New York Yankees, the closer ran onto the field with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blaring from the Yankee Stadium loudspeakers.

During his final season in 2013, the Yankees honored Rivera with a ceremony preceding a September 22 home game. The Yankees retired his jersey on the spot, and Metallica showed up in the flesh to play Mo’s entrance song.

Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan is perhaps the most widely recognized player in U.S. men’s soccer history. The all-time leader in goals and assists for the national team announced his retirement from professional soccer in 2014.

In a fitting end to a historic career, Donovan’s MLS team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, won the MLS Cup in his final season. U.S. Soccer also produced this incredible tribute video to honor Donovan’s career and what he meant to the game. It’s almost seven minutes long, but it’s worth a watch.

Chipper Jones

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It’s not often that a guy plays his entire MLB career with one team, but that’s what Chipper Jones did. The third baseman compiled 2,726 hits and a career .303 batting average in 19 seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

Jones’ retirement announcement started the trend of MLB farewell tours. He received tributes and gifts from away teams throughout the 2012 season, and the Braves hosted Chipper Jones Tribute night in September. Former teammates and coaches, including Hank Aaron, returned to honor Jones during a pregame ceremony.

In 2013, the Braves retired Jones’ No. 10 and inducted him into the franchise's Hall of Fame.

Gordie Howe

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Gordie Howe retired long ago, but he is still a living legend. He played an astounding 32 years of professional hockey between the NHL and World Hockey Association.

In February 2015, Howe was honored at the annual Saskatoon Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner, a charitable event honoring sports heroes. Past honorees include Bobby Orr, Bo Jackson and Wayne Gretzky.

Howe has battled dementia in recent years, and in 2014, he suffered a stroke. His recovery was uncertain, but he made it to the dinner, and fellow legends Gretzky and Bobby Hull were there to help celebrate.

Ernie Banks

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Ernie Banks, aka “Mr. Cub,” was a beloved player for the Chicago Cubs for 19 years. He died in January 2015 at the age of 83.

Chicago paid tribute by bringing his statue from Wrigley Field to Daley Plaza downtown so fans could come and pay their respects. In addition, the Blue Cross Blue Shield tower lit up to read “Mr. Cub 14.”

Jerry Tarkanian

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Jerry Tarkanian coached the Runnin’ Rebels of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to four Final Four appearances and one national title during his time as head coach. The Hall of Famer died in February 2015, and buildings on the Las Vegas strip did something they rarely do—they dimmed the lights.

Major hotels and casinos went dark for three minutes at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, to honor the late coaching legend. Others who have received the same honor include two U.S. presidents, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, according to Yahoo Sports.

Dean Smith

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Dean Smith was a legendary basketball coach at the University of North Carolina for over 30 years. He died in February 2015, and the sports world honored him.

In the team's first matchup since the coach’s passing, UNC and rival Duke knelt together near midcourt for a moment of silence before the game—a game that was held at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In the Tar Heels’ first home game following Smith’s death, UNC players wore throwback uniforms and set up in Smith’s Four Corners offense on their first possession. 

Pat Tillman

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Pat Tillman was a professional football player with the Arizona Cardinals before the September 11 terrorist attacks prompted him to join the U.S. military. Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in 2004.

In June 2014, his alma mater, Arizona State University, renovated the football stadium’s entrance tunnel with photos of the fallen hero and renamed it the “Tillman Tunnel.”

Vice President for University Athletics Steve Patterson said in a statement, “Pat’s principles are such an important part of everything we do. The values he represented and the tradition he built upon helped bridge the gap between the field and the community, so it is fitting that this tunnel bears his legacy.”  

Junior Seau

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Legendary NFL linebacker Junior Seau died in May 2012 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shortly after his death, about 200 people participated in a “paddle out” in the ocean outside his home in Oceanside, California.

Among the surfers who paid tribute to Seau that day were New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and several other former teammates.

Dan Wheldon

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Dan Wheldon was a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He was killed in October 2011 in a 15-car crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race was canceled after his accident, but drivers returned to the track for a five-lap tribute.

At the following season’s opener, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Wheldon’s sister dropped the green flag, and fans wore orange to honor the late driver. Turn 10 was renamed "Dan Wheldon Way," and IndyCar debuted its first new car since 2003, the DW12.

Nick Pasquale

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Nick Pasquale was a UCLA football player who was hit and killed by a car in 2013.

In the team’s first home game after the wide receiver’s death, UCLA honored him by distributing towels with Pasquale’s number on them and holding a moment of silence. On the team’s first possession of the game, players lined up in a 10-man formation to honor their teammate.

Nick Adenhart

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Nick Adenhart was a 22-year-old pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. He had just started his first big league game when he was killed in a car accident in 2009. When the Angels secured a playoff spot later that year, players symbolically included Adenhart in the champagne celebration by dousing his jersey.

Some thought the gesture was inappropriate given the circumstances of Adenhart's accident—the vehicle he was in was struck by a drunk driver. However, then-Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen told Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, "We wanted to celebrate with him like he was here. If he was still here with us, we'd be pouring beer on him just like everybody else in here.”

Later, in 2013, fellow Angels pitcher Jered Weaver and his wife named their son Aden after Adenhart.

Stuart Scott

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Stuart Scott was a beloved broadcaster and a longtime ESPN anchor. He died from cancer in January 2015 at the age of 49.

Tributes poured in from around the sports world from athletes, fans and colleagues. ESPN produced a beautiful tribute video to honor Scott’s memory. Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs wore special shoes that read “Stu” and Scott's catchphrase, "Booyah," on the heels. Graffiti artists in Los Angeles created a massive mural in honor of the broadcasting great. Students at Scott's alma mater, UNC, held up "Stu" signs at a basketball game, and players wore patches on their uniforms.