HOW CAN WE MISS YOU WHEN YOU WON’T GO AWAY?
Although Eminem hasn’t officially announced that he is calling it quits, his musical collaborators say “Encore” will be his final album and Anger Management 33 his last tour.
Is there reason to be skeptical? Let’s take a look at some other prominent retirements that didn’t quite pan out.
MICHAEL JORDAN
Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls to play baseball in 1993. After returning to the Bulls in 1995, he quit again in 1999, saying he was “99.9 percent” sure he was done for good. He came out of retirement in 2001 to play with the Washington Wizards.
CHER
In May 2002, Cher announced a three-month, 50-city farewell tour. Three years and 325 shows later, she finally ended the run. Probably.
JAY-Z
Rapper Jay-Z announced his retirement in late 2003 while releasing “The Black Album,” saying it would be his last.
But he headlined a major tour and played Live 8 this month with Linkin Park, with whom he cut a CD in 2004.
BILL PARCELLS
Football coach Bill Parcells, known as the Big Tuna, has gotten off the retirement hook twice. He left the N.Y Giants in 1991, came back to coach the New England Patriots, went to the N.Y. Jets and retired again after the ’99 season. He joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2003.
ROGER CLEMENS
The World Series winner and future Hall of Fame pitcher retired as a New York Yankee in 2003 but hooked up with the Houston Astros the very next season. He was “99 percent sure” that would be it, but he made his 11th All-Star Game appearance last week.
JANE FONDA
Fonda dropped off the moviemaking scene to dive into her role as Mrs. Ted Turner in 1991. She divorced Turner in 2001 and made a splash earlier this year as Jennifer Lopez’s maternal nemesis in “Monster-in-Law.”
EVANDER HOLYFIELD
Boxing champion Holyfield retired in 1994 after being diagnosed with heart problems. He came back in 1995 and fought his last bout in 2003. He returned this summer to athletic competition–as a dancer. The lumbering heavyweight was a huge hit with fans of “Dancing With the Stars”–just not with the judges.
