Young men sniffle and can't speak and strong women brush away tears with calloused hands. Of all the acts in the grand opera that is sport, retirement can be the most dramatic. Maybe injury has visited, exhaustion has set in or skill has dimmed. Either way what set them apart is being broken apart.
It is a time of insecurity, uncertainty, reflection and lies. Some untruths make you grin, some are just plain cheap. When retirement is turned into a negotiation for pay or a Conor McGregor manoeuvre, it's simply demeaning and boring.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you