When I was playing before I retired, I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something, and that was very embarrassing.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The positives of retiring outweighed the positives of returning and my desire to still play.
When I retired in 2002 I had retired to stay home with my family and didn't necessarily think my playing days were over.
As a player you are always made to feel welcome, but at the same time, there is too much pressure.
There were probably a few games I played where I should not have played, because of some nagging injuries or something. I used to always talk the managers into playing me, because I wanted to play so badly.
People respect you more if you just play and blow something out than if you take the easier road. That's how we think. You get more respect and people play harder for you. Just play till you blow it. Just play till it goes.
Playing the game, representing the team, giving my all and never letting go has meant everything to me.
It's been the video game ever since I got out of coaching. Even when I was an announcer, fewer and fewer people remembered me as 'Coach,' and as the years went on, people just started knowing me from the game.
People respected my experience, they hire me, they pay me what I am worth to coach their team.
As a civilian not playing sport, to get that sense of real belonging and feeling how you are progressing through the day is what I loved and miss.
I think I earned the players' respect, and that's the ultimate in life, isn't it? I didn't care if they liked me or disliked me, as long as I had their respect.