Disclaimer: Dave Dyer is both the Assistant Sports Editor for The Clock as well as the third-string quarterback for the Plymouth State football team. Dave didn’t have the chance to think about what he was going to write on Saturday, for two reasons. The first, because he was too busy bragging about being Homecoming King. Secondly, he once again saw some action in PSU’s 30-0 stomping of Nichols College. He was however, given some inspiration on Sunday.
As I arrived to my student apartment on Sunday, after having practice and watching film for Curry this upcoming Saturday, I gave my Dad a phone call. He was ecstatic when he heard my voice, because he let me know that Vinny Testeverde, a quarterback that was signed by the Carolina Panthers this past week, and who at the age of 43 is only three years my Dad’s junior, was having a great game against the Arizona Cardinals. Sure enough, Carolina won the game 25-10, and Testeverde did indeed have a good game, throwing for 206 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith.
This got me thinking: What is up with old guys kicking butt in sports in the last decade or so? Several players near or at the age of forty continue to dominate the sports scene. Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers set the mark for most touchdowns thrown in National Football League (NFL) history and is having one of his best seasons at the age of 38. Former boxer, and grilling mastermind, George Forman won the World Heavyweight Title in 1994 at the age of 45. Julio Franco of the Atlanta Braves played major league baseball this past season at the ripe old age of 49!
And what exactly keeps these old timers going? Are they “Rockin’ to the Oldies” more with Richard Simmons and keeping in shape better? Are they taking 100 vitamins a day? Did they find out that since the biblical character Methuselah lived to be 969 years of age, playing sports to age 40+ is nothing?
Testeverde became the third oldest quarterback to start an NFL game this past Sunday, joining former QB’s Steve DeBerg and Warren Moon, who were both 44 years old when they last played in a game. The Boston Red Sox have carried two 40-something veterans in pitchers Curt Schilling and Mike Timlin this past season, and both did fairly decent jobs. Barry Bonds broke the home run record…….well, we know why he’s lasted this long.
The point is that our generation needs to tip our caps to these players. Sure, they need twice the fiber that younger players do, and they might be the only ones truly considering those Viagra commercials that constantly play during sports broadcasts, but watching players like Favre and Testeverde jump around after touchdowns and having fun on Sundays puts a smile on this sportswriter’s face, because all athletes at any age play sports for the same reasons.
Now if I can just try to talk my Dad into thinking he can try out for the Patriots…