Broken Bodies


"You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream; And I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer. This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding; My mind can handle the grind; But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye." — Kobe Bryant

It's hard to watch our beloved athletes get old, especially when they've been a part of your sports experience their whole careers. I'm sure it's what our parents and grandparents have felt in years past. Now I know how it feels.

Kobe Bryant announced his retirement after this season. Peyton Manning isn't playing against the Patriots, and may not play again. Both are great. Both are champions. Both will be in the Hall of Fame. And both are shells of their former selves.

A few weeks ago, Kobe Bryant said he sucked. It wasn't false modesty or taking too much blame — it was the truth. He can't play at an elite level — he can't even play at a decent level — and he knows it. The Lakers are awful, and with him as the marquee player, they can't win. His desire is as strong as ever, but his body is broken.

In his last start, Peyton Manning earned the all time record for passing yardage, then promptly threw four interceptions and was benched as his team got routed. The Broncos best offensive game this year, for the most part, came last Sunday when Peyton was no where to be seen.

Manning holds many records and is one of the greatest of all time. But time is undefeated, and his time has past. He faded at the end of last season and never began this season.

I've watched Manning and Bryant all their careers, and they've been great. I rooted for Kobe his whole career, as I love the Lakers, and usually rooted against Manning. But I've respected both their talent and drive. And it's hard to see them play this way.

Bryant is correctly walking away. Manning needs to do the same.

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