The Great American Comeback

Superstar athletes never retire. They only reinvent themselves within their respective sports either transitioning from player to coach to general manager to owner or they transition from player to broadcaster. Often during this transition period the superstar athlete will realize they still have a love for the game and will attempt to make the great American comeback.

Where were you when Michael Jordan announced his intention to relinquish his minority ownership interest in the Washington Wizards so he can play for them? Although an old Michael Jordan is still better than most guys in the NBA I wished he wouldn’t have done it. What did you think when “Primetime” Deion Sanders left the CBS broadcast booth to don the #37 Baltimore Ravens jersey? I don’t care what anybody thinks; I will always remember Deion wearing the #21 Atlanta Falcons jersey – It’s not your fault D’Angelo Hall, you’re a great player but you’re wearing Deion’s number. How did you feel when Hulk Hogan jumped back in the squared circle? I’m just glad he didn’t break his hip when he did the leg drop.

I completely understand why these athletes make their comebacks. It must be hard to transition from the “main event”, i.e. the superstar athlete to one of the supporting cast, i.e. the coach, manager, or even a “regular” person. I put quotation makes around regular because they’ll always have fame and fortune, but it may not be as crazy as if they were a current player.

This summer Sylvester Stallone will tackle the subject of the great American athletic comeback when he plays the role of the ageless fighter Rocky Balboa. For those counting, this will be Rocky VI. The last Rocky movie came out in 1990 and showed the “Italian Stallion” suffering from bankruptcy brought on by Uncle Paulie’s mismanagement of his money. He and Adrian had moved back to south Philadelphia where Rocky transitioned from boxer to manager of up and coming boxer Tommy “Machine” Gunn. The duo of Rocky and Tommy was beneficial, Tommy won the championship, but the media gave all the credit to Rocky, which caused his protégé to get jealous and fire Rocky. After firing, the media hated Tommy, so Tommy and his new manager decided to pick a fight with Rocky, so Rocky had to beat the hell out of Tommy in a south Philly street fight.

Rocky VI will apparently pick where this left off. After being a successful manager, Rocky will get the itch again and find himself back in the boxing ring attempting a great American comeback. According to sources (you didn’t know PiB had sources), this movie will be introspective and focus more on Rocky’s feeling and how he handles age.

If you haven’t seen any Rocky movies, then you should go and check them out. Rocky I won three Oscars, the final fight scene in Rocky II where he fights Apollo Creed is one of the best ever, Rocky III has a young Hulk Hogan and a menacing Mr. T, and in Rocky IV he travels to Moscow to take on the Russian Machine Ivan Drago.