ASH BARTY

Did they retire too early?

Jim Brown, Sandy Koufax, Barry Sanders, Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather, Earl Campbell, Rocky Marciano, Bjorn Borg, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Annika Sorenstam, Calvin Johnson, Ken Dryden, Bobby Orr, Bo Jackson, Ricky Williams, Magic Johnson, Gale Sayers, Robert Johnson, Brandon Roy, Bobby Jones, Mark Spitz, Lance Armstrong, Pat Tillman, Usain Bolt, Tiki Barber, Pat McAfee…

Did they retire too late?

Willie Mays, Gordie Howe, Shaq, Junior Seau, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, Chris Chelios, Patrick Ewing, Jerry Rice, Michael Schumacher, Brett Favre, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone…

Ashleigh Barty went with her heart.

Easy to do, when you’re 25.

And not easy at all.

Imagine this:

Being at the very top of your game in life– in your chosen pursuit–and looking inward deeply enough to say, “I’m done.”

I’m fulfilled…I’ve had enough…and I’m happy about it…

Wow!!!

How do you do that?

Thank goodness, for once, it’s not about the money.

But after a boatload of dough is made, banked and invested(?), is it ever about that, exclusively?

I don’t think so.

Not for Barty.

Apparently, she and Tom Brady have a lot in common.

Several days ago, the world’s #1 female player announced that she was through with tennis.

At 25.

Leaving fans speechless, she said,

“Today is a difficult day and exciting for me because I am announcing my retirement from tennis.

I want to chase other dreams.

[Cricket?]

I am aware that this is the right choice, at this moment I have no more motivations and above all I do not have the desire to play at high levels.

Then, some time later, she said she had second thoughts.

“In retrospect, my retirement was a bad decision.

I have decided that I will return to tennis starting from the grass swing, with the intention to be competitive for Wimbledon.

My goal is to win the US Open and complete the career Grand Slam, and become the GOAT of women’s tennis.

I want to be remembered as Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Steffi Graff and all the other great champions.

I’ll be back to play!”

She won’t.

She’s not Brady.

She’s real.

She has a sense of humor.

April Fool’s.

[Editor’s Note: this piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in April 2022.]