Aging Superstars

A recent Sports Illustrated article about Pele compared the former soccer great to seven aging superstars from other sports, pointing out that while the others may be fading less gracefully in the sunset, Pele is still going strong. This may be an unfair and unequal comparison by the usually graceful writer S.L. Price. Five of the seven are older than Pele. Four are more than five years older, and two (Arnold Palmer and Frank Gifford) are more than ten years older Pele’s senior.

Of the two superstars younger than Pele, both have caveats: Muhammad Ali suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, and Joe Namath brought dishonor to himself by appearing on a sideline interview with Suzy Kobler while inebriated. Here are the comparisons, with Price’s description.    

09.10.29 Arnold Palmer “stoops”

08.16.30 Frank Gifford “fading”

05.06.31 Willie Mays “fading”

01.16.35 AJ Foyt “hobbles behind the racing scene”

01.03.39 Bobby Hull “fading”

10.23.40 Pele

01.17.42 Muhammad Ali “shakes in silence”

05.31.43 Joe Namath “lost his remaining cool”

02.05.34 Hank Aaron would’ve been a much more favorable comparison than the dour Mays. Hammerin’ Hank remains articulate and personable to this day, while turning down lucrative endorsement deals of his own. But Price wasn’t seeking a favorable comparison, but instead former athletes that would pose Pele in the most favorable light. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. For my generation in particular, Pele clearly stands as the GOAT – the Greatest Of All Time. It is to his credit that Pele is finally able to cash in on the upcoming World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. But points off for his endorsement with Subway.

05.12.25 Yogi Berra (89), and the recently deceased

01.17.31 Don Zimmer remained likeable ambassadors of their sport to this day.

Other living superstars who aged gracefully:

11.29.27 Vin Scully

03.31.28 Gordie Howe

08.09.28 Bob Cousy

01.04.30 Don Shula

01.09.34 Bart Starr

02.12.34 Bill Russell

08.31.35 Frank Robinson

11.01.35 Gary Player

11.09.35 Bob Gibson

12.30.35 Sandy Koufax

02.17.36 Jim Brown

05.28.38 Jerry West

08.09.38 Rod Laver

11.24.38 Oscar Robertson

01.01.39 Phil Niekro

10.18.39 Mike Ditka

01.21.40 Jack Nicklaus

04.08.40 John Havlicek

07.18.40 Joe Torre

05.30.43 Gale Sayers

09.20.43 Tommy Nobis

11.17.44 Tom Seaver
04.02.45 Don Sutton

12.14.46 Stan Smith
01.31.47 Nolan Ryan

05.20.48 Bobby Orr

Did I leave out anyone big?