Ricky Williams Retiring!!! - Page 7 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

LaTunaNostra · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nors

he has not utilized his god given talent

Yes, a veritable insult to God Himself.

natedawg · 07-25-2004

Props to Ricky for walking away. He's always marched to the beat of his own drummer, and I'm glad he's going to try and do what will make him happy.

To those who think that he owed the team something: He doesn't owe the front office anything... I'm kinda glad to see a team's front office on the wrong side of a player exiting the game for a change. To his teammates and fans.... yeah, the timing sucks, but he couldn't retire before he reached this decision. Now that he has reached it he's doing what he thinks is right. For him, football isn't life, it's a game. One that he doesn't want to play anymore.

Nors · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Yes, a veritable insult to God Himself.

He has not used all his talent to the fullest extent.

100% his call to retire and enjoy life however he see's fit.
100% my call to comment on!

SALADIN · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madzo

He's running away from football and leaving millions of dollars to pursue piece of mind and happiness, sure its an odd thing to do at the prime of your career but it's not selfish.

I'm happy that he's happy.

And all the people who think he's a quiter, a loser, or selfish probably have never know a moment of the kind of freedom, happiness and peace of mind that Williams is experiencing right now.

The only people he owes anything to are his 3 children and if he believes that this can and will make him a better person and father that good for him.

Nors · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Well, it's untimely for the Phins, but I disagree there is anything "cold" about it.

Ricky probably spent the entire offseason thrashing the decision out and only just came to the final conclusion he can't do it anymore.

I'd say the same thing if it were Curtis on the Jets who just retired..there have been so many guys made that decision just before camp goes in to indicate they were doing a lot of mental gymnastics trying to convince themselves all offseason they could get thru another year. The very fact they didn't announce retirement immediately after a season ended is evidence they were thinking about the good of the team, trying to hang on out of sense of obligation, trying to get the energy back over the offseason, and couldn't.

Williams was 27 and had 5 plus quality seasons ahead of him. Curtis Martin could walk away tomorrow and as a Vet who left it all on the field and plkayed well into and maybe past prime, nobody would question it.

Robert Smith comes to mind as a similar guy who walked away.

calico · 07-25-2004

This is like a punch in the stomach. Being a huge Longhorn fan, Ricky was someone who I loved to watch play football. I hope he changes his mind and decides to stay.

**Sarge** · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nors

He has not used all his talent to the fullest extent.

Since when is that a prerequisite in deciding whether to retire or not.

People, very qualified people, retire early every single day in this country.

People very capable of continuing onward in their profession.

It's a choice to make. A personal choice and someday you will have to make the very same one.

It's simply a wonderful option for many.

You should be so lucky to one day have that same choice.

Embrace it. Don't knock it.

Nors · 07-25-2004

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ins..._insider_feb7/

I'm becoming a Dolphin fan today. I'm pulling for that team to rally and kick #$% without the great Ricky Williams. That kid has wrecked two organizations!
Is going to be suspended 4 games for substance issues. Lets not marytr this kid. He's a free spirit! Oh my.

Nors · 07-25-2004

http://proshop.miamidolphins.com/index.cfm

Nors · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by calico

This is like a punch in the stomach. Being a huge Longhorn fan, Ricky was someone who I loved to watch play football. I hope he changes his mind and decides to stay.

will trade for his rights.

Doomsday101 · 07-25-2004

As a UT fans I admit I have always liked Ricky Williams but this was a pretty shatty thing to do to the Dolphins. If he wanted to walk away from the game I certainly don't blame him, but to do it a week before training camp starts that is a pretty shatty thing to do.

LaTunaNostra · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nors

Williams was 27 and had 5 plus quality seasons ahead of him.

Nors, so what if he were 25 and had 7 "quality" years ahead of him.

The way I see it he is 27 and has FIFTY quality years ahead of him, of life, which is more than football.

There is this freaking entitlement mentality operating and it is not on the part of the player. It is on the part of the fan. He's got five more good years in him and he OWES it to us to play. I'm being cheated when a Barry Sanders calls it "quits" Bawhahah!!!!!

Freak that. This is a man, a human being, and regardless of what "god-given" talent he was bestowed with, he owes us fans nothing. No matter how much he gets paid, he owes us nothing. He doesn't owe the sports gamblers, or the fantasy footballers whining today how he screwed them, or even the fans who really loved, loved, loved watching Ricky run on a Sunday, because surely that was a treat and a thing of powerful beauty.

He owes his family, and his own conscience. That's it.

So run, Ricky run, as fast and as far away from this beautiful but f*^ked up game that turns a man into a freaking commodity.

LATER

Juke99 · 07-25-2004

Perhaps he is in pursuit of his other, more important, God given talents...

calico · 07-25-2004

I hope he comes back. He was the only back to to take a Roy Williams hit and shake Roy off with ease. I admit that I did have a smile to watch a former horn do that to a former Sooner.

Nors · 07-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Nors, so what if he were 25 and had 7 "quality" years ahead of him.

The way I see it he is 27 and has FIFTY quality years ahead of him, of life, which is more than football.

There is this freaking entitlement mentality operating and it is not on the part of the player. It is on the part of the fan. He's got five more good years in him and he OWES it to us to play. I'm being cheated when a Barry Sanders calls it "quits" Bawhahah!!!!!

Freak that. This is a man, a human being, and regardless of what "god-given" talent he was bestowed with, he owes us fans nothing. No matter how much he gets paid, he owes us nothing. He doesn't owe the sports gamblers, or the fantasy footballers whining today how he screwed them, or even the fans who really loved, loved, loved watching Ricky run on a Sunday, because surely that was a treat and a thing of powerful beauty.

[View Full Quote]

For buying tickets, watching TV and making them all rich. A commodity? Poor football players. Rest of their lives? Tell that to all the average blue collar workers toiling their whole life living paycheck to paycheck.

Poor Ricky.
He owes the fans nothing. I sense how he handled this matter is symptomatic on how he handles all facets of his life. He has issues! But its great that he can tell his boss to take this job and shove it! The "game" made him a wealthy 27 year old. He's free and we shall see the ending to this story. I sense the book is not closed on this one!