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Retiring on top is a myth, just ask Hewitt and Goodes
Simon Massey
Roar Rookie
17th August, 2015
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Lleyton Hewitt (AAP Photo)
Simon Massey
Roar Rookie
17th August, 2015
12

When we encourage kids to play sport, do we tell them that it’s all about winning? No.

We tell them that sport is about mateship, it’s about striving to do your best and having fun while you do it.

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So why is there a never-ending cry for sports players to retire while they’re ‘on top’? Can’t they just play the game because they enjoy it?

Lleyton Hewitt and Adam Goodes are two Australian sporting legends who clearly haven’t retired on top.

As any passionate Australian tennis fan would know, Hewitt hasn’t been a force in world tennis for a decade, and he hasn’t looked like winning a Grand Slam since Marat Safin overpowered him in the 2005 Australian Open final.

But his dedication and commitment to the game is infectious. No genuine Australian sports fanatic doesn’t enjoy settling in for a Lleyton five-setter during the opening week of the Aussie Open.

There have been numerous calls, almost incessantly, for Lleyton to retire.

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‘He’s not the player he once was’ and ‘Go out while you can still maintain dignity on the court’, are often trumped out. But Hewitt has defiantly continued and all credit to him.

Lleyton just loves the game of tennis. You’d want to love it if you’re willing to take on a coaching role with Nick Kyrgios.

Similarly, Goodes is no longer the dominant midfielder that he once was in the AFL. Many people called for Goodes to retire after last year’s grand final. These calls were further heightened when Swans coach John Longmire relegated him to substitute and then reserve grade for a couple of weeks early in the season.

Despite the calls to retire, Goodes maintained that he was still passionate about the game. And a couple of goals against Collingwood last Friday night show that he’s not a spent force yet.

If sport isn’t just about winning, then what is it about? Don’t ask the likes of Kyrgios or Bernard Tomic – they’ve got some growing up to do. Instead, look to Lleyton and Goodes. The integrity in their performances over the past few weeks have demonstrated why these two champions of the past continue to play the game they love.

In the recent Davis Cup tie, amidst the turmoil that is the new generation of Australian male tennis players, Lleyton came out and did what does best: play with passion for his country.

It wasn’t high quality tennis. It wasn’t the Lleyton who won Wimbledon in 2002. And it won’t win him another Grand Slam. But it demonstrated exactly what Lleyton is all about and it vindicated his refusal to retire. It was his passion for the game, not his superior skill that stood out.

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Similarly, the recent Adam Goodes racism saga has shown him to be a great warrior and dignified leader. While I can’t imagine the hurt and grief Goodes has endured through the entire scandal, his commitment to honouring his culture is steadfast. Years down the track I hope that we see these last few weeks as the ushering in of a new paradigm in Australian sport, one where we embrace and respect diversity.

So in light of Lleyton and Adam, let’s change the conversation and ask our professional sports players not to ‘retire on top’, but to bow out when they’re no longer passionate.

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