Baseball is a game/work, and that probably makes retiring that much harder. He has played since he was a kid, and no one wants to go out like this, and in fact, most athletes don’t want to go out at all.

Mo is a very religious man, and I think he trusts that there is an underlying plan for his life. I think his emotion yesterday was natural given that it was just so shocking to think that he would never do what he loved again, but eventually the day was going to come.

I hope he doesn’t retire, and I hope we get to see him victorious on the field again, but Mo is a winner no matter what happens from here on out.

Just think of the many players who put on that uniform and had a mere fraction of that success. Think of Don Mattingly who is still chasing a ring after so many years.

Considering his age, and the nature of this injury, it would have been VERY easy for Mo to say…
Yeah… it looks that way.
Yeah… some things are out of my hand.
HEY… I’M 42 YEARS OLD…. WHAT DO YOU THINK!

But instead he fought back tears.
To me, it says…. Mo is not ready to retire.
Not like this.
Even if he was planning to retire after this year,
I don’t believe this is the way he’s ready to wrap it up.

So here’s my opinion.
The mind wants to come back.
But what about the body? I think it’s up to the prognosis. If he is told that even with a difficult rehab, the odds are against a successful return,that Mo may surrender to God, and accept his fate.
If, however, he is told that with a dedicated rehab, he should be able to come back 100% (or close), then he will see this as a challenge, and come back (or try to come back).

Mo is a modest man. But he is aware of his legacy, the fans desire to ‘send him out’ right, how his teammates feel. I believe he has a sense of closure, and that this was not what anybody had in mind.

I think it comes down to how badly he’s injured, how he heals, and if he can be 100% (or pretty damn close).

The man I saw on film did not look like he is ready to go down quietly.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sportingscene/2012/05/mariano-rivera-injury.html

Cripes. So not ready for this.

I just feel despondent.

but i don’t think he would have gotten hurt otherwise. of course we’ll never know for sure.

But if Mo didn’t track down that fly ball and blow out his wheel, he’d have slipped on the steps heading back to the clubhouse and ended up with the same injury.

Just because it was a “freak” thing doesn’t mean there wasn’t a cause.

I’m not above thinking like this. If the Yankees didn’t dick around with the roster, Mariano would be fine.

And even though Mo has a smooth delivery, how much more work can a 43 year old surgically repaired right knee stand up to, and would it make Mo change his delivery. They do say in show business, leave them wanting more.