Oct. 6, 1993 – Michael Jordan, at the age of 30, announced his retirement

Michael Jordan had won three straight NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, three straight NBA Finals MVP awards and seven straight NBA scoring titles.

It is not the first such retirement: Rocky Marciano retired at the age of 32 as undefeated heavyweight boxing champ with a 49-0 record. Sandy Koufax retired at 30 after compiling a 27-6 season in 1966 with the Dodgers. Björn Borg quit at 25 with 11 major titles. Jim Brown‘s retirement, considering he had just led the NFL in rushing and TDs at the age of 29, surprised the football world. And just two years earlier, Magic Johnson had stunned the basketball fans everywhere when retired after contracting HIV.

As the world watches in disbelief, Jordan calmly explains his reasoning, without any sadness in his voice, without any tears. He actually smiles. He actually proves his decision is one of relief, despite retiring at the height of his power.

“I’ve reached the pinnacle,” Jordan tells the world. “I always said to the people that have known me that when I lose that sense of motivation and that sense that I can prove something, it’s time for me to leave.”

Jordan pauses. He looks out at the crowd of reporters. He looks down. “It was just a matter of waiting until this time, when basketball was near, to see if my heart ticked for it,” he says. “I went through all the different stages of getting myself prepared for the next year, but the desire…was not there.”

Tracy McGrady, at age 34, announced the end of his 16 season NBA career

Tracy McGrady retires with career averages of 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game.

Question: Is T-Mac a Hall of Famer?

NBA career achievements:

• 2× NBA scoring champion: 2003 (32.1), 2004 (28.0)
• 7× NBA All-Star: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• 7× All-NBA: First Team: 2002, 2003, Second Team: 2001, 2004, 2007, Third Team: 2005, 2008.
• NBA Most Improved Player Award: 2001

In the last 16 years only Kobe Bryant (35.4) and Allen Iverson (33.0) averaged more points in a single season than Tracy McGrady’s 32.1 average in 2002-03. Bryant and Iverson’s performances both came in the 2005-06 season when Bryant bested Iverson for the scoring title.

In 2003-04, McGrady won his second straight scoring title — besting Peja Stojaković by 3.8 points per game. That is the highest margin between scoring champ and runner up in the last 10 years.

May 28, 2003 – NHL golie Patrick Roy announced his retirement

When Patrick Roy announced his retirement, he was the NHL’s all-time leader in not only wins but also regular season games (1029), minutes (60,225) and 30-win seasons (13), marks that now all rank second. In addition to being first overall in postseason wins, Roy is still the NHL record holder in career playoff games (247) and is second in postseason shutouts (23).

Roy won two Stanley Cups with each franchise. In 2004, Roy was selected as the greatest goaltender in NHL history by a panel of 41 writers, coupled with a simultaneous fan poll. On November 13, 2006, Roy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (the award given to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs) three times, in different decades, and for two different teams.

Roy, who is the Avalanche’s all-time leader in nearly every statistical category, had his No. 33 retired by the organization on Oct. 28, 2003.

Sir Alex Ferguson retires as manager of Manchester United

During his 26 years at the club, Sir Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, and the UEFA Champions League twice.

Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player who has managed Manchester United since 1986. His time at the club has led to Ferguson being one of the most admired and respected managers in the history of the game.

Ferguson is the longest serving manager of Manchester United and the longest serving of all current League managers. He has won many awards and holds many records including winning Manager of the Year most times in British football history. He was knighted in 1999 for his services to the game.

Apr. 27, 1956 – Rocky Marciano announced his retirement from boxing; undefeated heavyweight champ

Rocky Marciano was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go untied and undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times. Marciano had a total of 49 fights in which 43 of his 49 wins came by KO.

Tribute to one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time:

Dec. 21, 1969 – Vince Lombardi coached his last game

His Washington Redskins lost to the Dallas Cowboys 20-10. The Redskins ended that season at 7-5-2, which was the first winning season for the team in 14 years.

His year in the nation’s capital was the only time he coached a team other than the Green Bay Packers. The Hall of Fame coach died less than a year later on Sept. 3, 1970.