Read the debate intro and Bleacher Fan’s argument that a team should be able to retire a player’s jersey whenever it wishes.
There are few honors in sports that exceed the impact of having a jersey retired with a team. The principle behind the honor is to reward a player for prolonged outstanding service to an organization. Usually the player being honored also assumes other burdens of stardom like media attention, marketing focus, etc. The principles behind jersey retirement are sound. Thus, when the Miami Heat retired former point guard Tim Hardaway’s jersey on October 28 of this year, my reaction was… “huh??” As good as Hardaway was, his tenure with the Heat was too brief to warrant the honor.
Tim Hardaway, and his famed “killer cross-over,” were tough to handle. Hardaway was an outstanding NBA player for 13 seasons. However, Hardaway did not deserve to have his jersey retired by the Heat, proving that a minimum number of factors – especially total season with a team – must be taken into account when a team is considering retiring a player’s number.
The first and most important factor worthy of consideration is exactly how long a player was with a team. Hardaway was with the Miami Heat for just five and a half season of his 13 year career. Note in the opening paragraph how ”prolonged” service to a team is a requirement. Hardaway had many good years with the Heat, but his impact on the franchise does not warrant retiring his number. He led the Heat to zero championships, he won zero MVP awards, etc. He was a good player, but he proves that a minimum number of years of consideration are required to fully and completely vet a player’s all-time achievements within proper context. Considering a player’s jersey for retirement should not even be a topic of discussion within an organization for at least five seasons after the player retires.
Hall of Fames have a minimum number of years before a player is even allowed to be eligible for a vote. And, even when the vote happens, a majority of voters must be on board with welcoming the player to the class of the elite.
For example, consider the process for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and its veteran’s committee, comprised of a host of former players cum Hall of Famers. A player is eligible for the writers to vote them in after a five year waiting period. If a player has still not been elected to the Hall of Fame by the writers in 20 years, the prospective Hall of Fame member is passed to the veteran’s committee. The committee, which votes every other year, requires that 75 percent of those voting agree to admit the candidate to the ranks of the Hall of Fame. It is a clear, unbiased process that mandates only the best of the best make it to the Hall of Fame, thanks to a minimum number of years before considering a candidate.
Why should a team retiring a jersey be any different? Why should specific standards and guidelines be completely irrelevant? For a player’s jersey retirement to hold value it should be unquestioned. For Hardaway’s number to be retired without strong, publicized standards devalues the honor for all.
Last, a caveat. I realize that the formal process of retiring a player’s number varies. For example, in the case of the Los Angeles Angles and tragically killed pitcher Nick Adenhart, the team took the issue upon itself and chose to not wear the number out of respect. The team, collectively, made an admirable choice. The team choosing not to wear the number, and honoring their fallen teammate with a placard on the back fence, is a de facto number retirement. Situations similar to Adenhart and the Angels do not and should not fall under the guidelines of a minimum number of years. However, even the great Greg Maddux should have served his time in sports purgatory before receiving the honr.
So much of the sports culture is solely about the moment… “what have you done for me lately.” Passed time is required to gain perspective on a player’s impact on a team, and several factors require consideration. In the case of Miami and its dwindling attendance, retiring Tim Hardaway’s number is an overt ploy to get older Heat fans reengaged with the new team. A great honor for an athlete and an organization should not be resolved to a simple marketing promotion.
If LeBron James leaves for New York after this season, should the Cleveland Cavaliers eventually retire his number? Should the Miami Heat retire Shaquille O’Neal’s number because of the impact he had on the franchise in his short time there? Should the Toronto Raptors retire Vince Carter’s number because of the his glory days with the team?
Where is the line? Specific standards must be set for sports accolades, or they are rendered meaningless… and few accolades have the esteem and impressiveness of a team retiring a player’s number.
Good argument. How about the Cavs? They retired Nate Thurman’s number! How many games did he actually play for them? Also, how many people outside of Cleveland know who Bingo Smith is? One more point, how about colleges retiring numbers after that player played one year and left?
Nice comment, thanks! How many people inside Cleveland know who Bingo Smith is???
I obviously disagree with the verdict on this one. Hardaway, and many other players through the history of all sports, would not have their numbers retired if a few more years of thought went in to the decision.