GOING OUT ON TOP

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"There, there. Sharapova will be a fine number one."

Annika Sorrenstam, the LPGA's all-time money leader, and Justine Henin, current WTA #1, have announced that they will be retiring at the top of their games (curiously within 24 hours of each other). It got us thinking about other athletes who have had the good sense to retire on top.

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Rocky Marciano
The Rock from Brockton retired with a perfect record of 49-0-0 in 1956, the only heavyweight champ to retire undefeated, and even "beat" Muhammad Ali 13 years later. But, in a ironic twist, the most famous boxer named Rocky is still a lovable underdog.

Pete Sampras
Much like Henin, Sampras retired at the top of the tennis world on the heels of an open-era record six-year streak atop the ATP standings. Roger Federer has even said Sampras would be ranked in the top five were he on the tour today. Finally, the Swiss take a stand on something.

Candace Parker
She left Tennesse as a back-to-back national champion and the forthcoming savior of the WNBA. Does it get any better than that?

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Vince Young
While college athletes don't really retire (well, at least the good ones), Vince Young's performance in the 2006 Rose Bowl against USC resulted in a national championship for the Longhorns and sent the quarterback's draft stock soaring. As in, higher than Matt Leinart's.

Ray Bourque
With 20+ years in the NHL under his belt, Bourque finally captured a Stanley Cup title with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001 and promptly called it quits, the pansy.

Michael Jordan
After a brief retirement from '93-'96, MJ came back to the Bulls to win 3 more titles, the last coming in 1998, his final year in Chicago. And if anyone asks, he never played in the NBA again, got it?

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Jerome Bettis
The Bus hung up his cleats in Detroit, his hometown, after an improbable run to a championship in Super Bowl XL against the Seahawks. With a bowling game like his, we're surprised he held out that long.

Lance Armstrong
Before his retirement from cycling in 2005, Armstrong rattled off an astonishing seven-consecutive Tour de France victories and romantically linked himself to Sheryl Crow. Showing up the French and landing a hot girlfriend: truly the American dream.

John Elway
After defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII, Elway led the Broncos to a repeat championship in 1999 over the Falcons before calling it quits. Dan Marino: "Now that's just being greedy."

Honorable Mention: LSU

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