Goodbye to Big Mac ... for now

Watching Michael Jordan flounder around against Gary Payton the other night I couldn't help but think how well Mark McGwire is handling the end of his career.

He's leaving on top, for the most part, which is something most athletes miss. Instead they hang on for that little bit more, trying to squeeze that last ounce of talent out of their body.

For all the images of Willie Mays stumbling in the outfield for the New York Mets there is a McGwire, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn who call it quits at just the right time.

After a magical 1998 season when he hit 70 home runs, breaking Roger Maris' 37-year old record, McGwire hit 65 more in '99. While Barry Bonds eclipsed McGwire's '98 mark by three this season, the aura that engulfed Big Mac during his record-breaking season was absent. As fans, like with Jordan pre-comeback, McGwire has taken us on the journey, has put us on his back and allowed us to ride along in the co-pilot seat.

Which is why you can't really take this retirement to the bank just yet.

McGwire announced his plans to retire through a fax to ESPN. He didn't mention anything to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa or general manager Walt Jocketty. And since neither of them has reached McGwire since the announcement they can't really say it's official.

"I'm skeptical enough that until I hear this officially, I don't take the fax as gospel," La Russa told ESPN.com. "But he's warned us so much to make plans. If I had to guess, I would guess that it is real. But there's no harm in waiting until it becomes official, so I'm going to wait till it becomes official. Or at least till he tells it to somebody besides ESPN."

La Russa's approach to McGwire's retirement is dead on. Let's wait and see. The fact remains that while faxing ESPN a statement that says, "I am walking away from the game that has provided me opportunities, experiences, memories and friendships to fill ten lifetimes," he still, as of yet, has not told the Cardinals of his plans. For a class guy like McGwire, that's a major gaffe.

All signs, like La Russa said, are pointing at his retirement being honest and true. McGwire has battled knee injuries for the past two seasons. Without the ability to push off his back leg, where he generates most of his power, McGwire batted just .187 but still hit 29 homeruns. While he struggled at the plate during the '01 divisional playoffs McGwire shined with the glove, making diving stops to save base hits and runs. Those plays reminded many of us that McGwire was much more than a home run king, he was also a gold glover (1991) and not a one-dimensional player.

The door is definitely still open for McGwire to renege on his retirement. The decision to leave was made by his gimpy knees and not by his heart or mind. If healthy (the key word here) McGwire can still compete, 29 dingers out of 56 total hits can attest to that, and with a vigorous off-season training regimen he could comeback. Maybe not to the tune of 70 home runs and a .299 average, but he could remain a factor for another two years, which is what the Cardinals proposed.

However, if we take McGwire at his word, the extension St. Louis proposed (two years, $30 million) could be used to sign another big-name first baseman. McGwire stated in his fax that the money for his contract extension could lure a star-caliber free agent (i.e. Jason Giambi) to the Cardinals. McGwire is one of the few professional athletes who play for the game and not the green.

Athletes hate to call it quits because of an injury. Like anyone, they want to do it on their own terms, not their body's. That said I would not be surprised when McGwire attempts a comeback for the 2003 season. A year off to heal may pique that urge to hit 600 career home runs (he's 17 short) or earn that second World Series ring. If that's the case, then lets hope he doesn't get blown away by an 85-mile an hour fastball from a scrub pitcher or trip on his way to first to cover the bag on a slow hopper.

For now, though, you have to tip your cap to the greatest home run hitter of our generation. A player who brought fans back and sparked excitement with each at bat.

A player who hit a Randy Johnson pitch into the upper deck of the Kingdome, hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium and clubbed 583 career dingers.

He was our Babe Ruth.