Allen Iverson and 20 Guys Who Don't Know When to Call It Quits
Allen Iverson will be dressed as player for Besiktas of the Turkish professional league on Oct. 31, but it won't be a Halloween costume.
The former Philadelphia 76er has agreed to a two-year deal with the Turkish team that is incentive laden and could be worth up to $4 million.
Iverson apparently turned down a deal to play in China because he wanted to play in Istanbul. But is he continuing his career for anything more than a payday?
It's somewhat sad for NBA fans to see a guy like Iverson finish his career halfway across the world while playing in front of people who probably have never been to an NBA game.
It's hard to say whether this will be the beginning of a new trend—former NBA players finishing their careers overseas—or whether this is a desperate attempt by a past-his-prime athlete who doesn't know when to call it quits.
Let's take a look at Iverson and 19 other athletes who overstayed their welcome.
20. Julio Franco
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The skills of former MLB player Julio Franco were rapidly diminishing by the time he turned 40, but Franco somehow managed to play another eight years before retiring at age 48.
The guy never did anything terrible during his final run in the majors, but he didn't do anything remarkable either.
Except for the fact that he played until he was almost 50.
19. Lance Armstrong
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Lance Armstrong retired in 2005 after winning a record seven-straight Tour de France titles.
He had already cemented his spot as the greatest cyclist in history, but he returned to the sport in 2009.
I love the fact that he's racing to support cancer awareness, but he's nowhere near the guy he was five years ago.
18. Gordie Howe
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Gordie Howe was forced to retire from the NHL in 1971 after battling chronic wrist problems, but he returned to the ice just two years later for the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros.
At age 51, he signed with the NHL's Hartford Whalers. He scored 15 goals in 80 games, and the Whalers made the playoffs.
But at more than halfway to 100, he probably should have just stayed retired.
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17. Deion Sanders
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Deion Sanders is one of the most exciting players to ever step foot on a football field. The guy dazzled crowds for years with both his play and his antics.
But after retiring at age 33 in 2000, Sanders made a comeback with the Ravens four years after hanging up his cleats.
"Prime Time" looked more like "Nap Time" though, and a lot of Deion fans likes to forget about his time in Baltimore.
16. Reggie White
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How many people remember that Reggie White played for the Carolina Panthers? Because I didn't realize it until I started putting this slideshow together.
Well, after retiring in 1998, White returned to the gridiron two years later for the Panthers.
He had just 16 tackles all season before retiring again. I wonder if that return was worth it.
15. Roger Clemens
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Roger Clemens nearly retired before each of his three seasons with the Houston Astros, but he returned each time and even won his seventh Cy Young after retiring in 2004.
But Clemens returned to the Yankees in 2008, where he went just 6-6 and had an ERA of 4.18.
Of course his legacy has taken a huge hit for other reasons, but his last couple of years didn't help.
14. Bjorn Borg
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After retiring in 1983, Bjorn Borg returned to tennis in 1991—wooden racket in hand.
Guess how many matches he won that year?
If you guessed zero, you are correct.
13. Tito Ortiz
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Following his loss to former Ultimate Fighter protege Matt Hamill, UFC fighter Tito Ortiz has now lost four of his last five UFC fights.
And that isn't sitting well with UFC president Dana White, who says Ortiz could be finished with the company following his latest loss.
"This is the big leagues, man," White said.
Yeah, it is, Tito. And I think you're about to get sent back to the mins.
12. Allen Iverson
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Allen Iverson played all of three games with the Memphis Grizzlies last season before leaving for "personal reasons."
He then eventually re-signed with 76ers, but his return to Philadelphia was shortlived, and he left the team before the season ended.
Now? He's playing professional basketball in Turkey after agreeing to a contract today.
My, how Iverson has fallen.
11. Shaquille O'Neal
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Shaq is one of the best players in NBA history, and there were periods of time when he dominated the game like no center ever has.
But since winning a championship in Miami in 2006, he's basically been a nomad, playing for the Suns, Cavaliers and now the Celtics.
Who knows where he'll end up finishing his career at this rate.
10. Johnny Unitas
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Johnny Unitas is often considered to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but let's take a look at his stats during his final five years in the league.
From 1968 to 1973, Unitas threw just 38 touchdowns to 64 interceptions.
Enough said.
9. Bob Cousy
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At age 41, former NBA player Bob Cousy returned to the Cincinnati Royals for one reason: to sell tickets.
I'm not sure how well the team did in ticket sales, but Cousy's play on the court was atrocious.
He scored just five points in seven games.
8. George Foreman
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George Foreman un-retired twice, but the biggest surprise came when he returned to boxing at age 38 after a 10-year layoff.
Foreman actually became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history seven years later at age 45.
But let's be honest. The guy should have hung it up well before that.
I guess he did have some grills to sell though.
7. Evander Holyfield
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Evander Holyfield began his professional boxing career in 1984.
It's 2010, and the guy is still going. Look, Evander, the "real deal" here is that it's been 26 years since you first stepped foot in a boxing ring.
It's got to stop.
6. Muhammad Ali
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In 1976, Muhammad Ali was in the latter stages of his boxing career, but he continued to fight and won three straight decisions.
He could have ridden off into the sunset, but he didn't. Ali challenged Leon Spinks for the WBA Heavyweight title, won the match, and subsequently retired.
But he un-retired once again in 1980, lost two straight decisions and retired once and for all.
Ali finished with five career losses, but three of those came in his final four fights. That's not exactly the way he pictured going out.
5. Jim Palmer
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In 1984, Jim Palmer retired from professional baseball after a stellar career with the Baltimore Orioles.
In 1989, Palmer was inducted into the Hall of Fame. But a year later, he attempted a comeback with his old team.
To say it didn't last long would be a huge understatement.
Palmer allowed five hits and two runs in two innings of a spring training game. He retired before Opening Day.
4. Emmitt Smith
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When you've spent your entire career with the Cowboys and they release you, it's probably a sign that your time in the NFL is done.
But apparently Emmitt Smith thought it would be a good idea to spend two more seasons in the league with the Arizona Cardinals.
That was not a good idea, Emmitt.
3. Jerry Rice
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Jerry Rice is undoubtedly the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.
So when Rice's time was up in San Francisco, he jumped across the bay to Oakland where he had moderate success before being traded to Seattle.
He had a terrible season with the Seahawks, and it was clear he was going to be cut from the Broncos during training camp of the following season.
For a guy who had absolutely nothing left to prove, he should have just called it quits.
2. Michael Jordan
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As awkward as it was seeing Jerry Rice in a Seahawks/Raiders uniform, I'm not sure anything will top seeing Michael Jordan as a Washington Wizard.
Following the 1997-98 season, Jordan retired on top with the Chicago Bulls. It was the perfect ending to the greatest career in NBA history.
But four years after his second retirement, he returned to the NBA with the Wizards. Why he felt the need to come back, I'll never know.
1. Brett Favre
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Of all the professional athletes on the planet, no one regrets the fact that they're still playing more than Brett Favre.
His elbow's messed up, he damn near needed a walker after last night's game, the Jenn Sterger scandal is still looming and his team is 2-4.
I bet he wishes he was back in Mississippi right about now.
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