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[Yoki_IsTheName]

Although he's not officially retired yet, I'll put Brandon Roy's first retirement.

He is on the verge to be on par, if not the best SG in the NBA, and maybe eclipsing Kobe at that point. He is one of the best and the hottest superstar. Definitely a top 5 player in that time. And we know the rest of the story.

Outside of that. Barry Sanders. Whatever the real story with that retirement is, it just ended too soon.

[Smutzy#9]

I know it doesnt have the impact that the others do simply because the career wasnt cut short but just seeing KG retire is probably gonna make me cry. Its a similar situation to Ray Lewis, two of the most fiercest competitors to play any sport. The passion and love they show to the game, and the amount of work they put in should be  every rookie aim. Its a sad day when players like this retire.

[csfansince60s]

Speaking of Gale Sayers, what about Brian Piccolo?

I might want to change my vote to Lou Gehrig.

Roy, we think alike.

Piccolo and Sayers' relationship immortalized in Brian's Song made me shed a few, like IP. Those two are forever linked together.

[snively]

Mutombo crying after his career ended in the playoffs on an injury struck a chord with me. 

[IndeedProceed]

Mutombo crying after his career ended in the playoffs on an injury struck a chord with me.

I was trying to remember if that happened, or if I had imagined it in a fever dream. Struck a chord with me too.

[Birdman]

Lou Gehrig..the man was dying..sad

[Neurotic Guy]

Locally, you'd have to put Tony Conigliaro in there.
Horrifically beaned in 1967 it took a year and a half of recovery before a remarkable comeback.  But his eye never fully recovered and he was done by 26 after being the youngest player in MBL history to hit 100 homers (22).

Tried another comeback in his late 20's and then officially retired at 30.   Of course, then the tragic heart attack and subsequent miseries. 

[eja117]

This is just me but Lou Gehrig was physically dying. But mentally and emotionally he must have felt like a million bucks. 6 time champion.  The record for consecutive games played.

Barry I felt had had his soul crushed. I just get a deep sadness out of him. Playing for a team that was sorta the NFL equivalent of the pre-Griffin Clippers was just cruel. It was cruel to everyone that had to watch it. I can only imagine what it felt like to him.  There's just such a tremendous difference between him and Brett Farve that it bothers me that people want to put them in the same hall

[Roy H.]

This is just me but Lou Gehrig was physically dying. But mentally and emotionally he must have felt like a million bucks. 6 time champion.  The record for consecutive games played.

Just a guess, but I think Gehrig would have traded in the championships and records for living past age 37. 

There's the pain of losing, and the pain of dying from a degenerative disease like ALS.  Everybody would choose the former over the latter.  My strong suspicion is that in his final days, Gehrig wasn't feeling like a million bucks at all.

[eja117]

This is just me but Lou Gehrig was physically dying. But mentally and emotionally he must have felt like a million bucks. 6 time champion.  The record for consecutive games played.

Just a guess, but I think Gehrig would have traded in the championships and records for living past age 37. 

There's the pain of losing, and the pain of dying from a degenerative disease like ALS.  Everybody would choose the former over the latter.  My strong suspicion is that in his final days, Gehrig wasn't feeling like a million bucks at all.

Well yeah, but it was worst/saddest retirement, not worst saddest death. Like if 5 years ago Magic had died from AIDS I wouldn't say the two are equivalent...but I see your point.

[RebusRankin]

Larry, childhood hero gone to soon.

[celticinorlando]

Larry...because you knew it was over

[Mazingerz]

Magic Johnson's retirement. I mean he was in the prime of his life, he didnt play several games, then the sudden announcement that he is retiring because of HIV.

2nd in my list is Larry's retirement. Its hard to see your hero suffering and still playing. I can still see him lying on the floor to relieve the stress on his back and still go out and play.

[2short]

I voted gehrig

one's of my memory that affected me, bird, ali, magic

no mention of cousy, before my time but seems to be should be on list

[jambr380]

Magic's retirement now doesn't seem like an enormous deal, but at the time he had acquired a virus that was still very much killing people. Luckily, major hurdles have been met [and are still being met] for people with HIV / AIDS to live long, productive lives, but at the time, his life could have gone either way.