when I get older

About once a year I head down to Florida to visit my grandma at the "hotel" as she likes to call it. I enjoy stepping into a place where time has basically stopped at about 1943. The music, the movies, the food all have a distinct pre-Eisenhower feel to it. But it seems many athletes aren't content to head to the farm once they've hit 40. Here's a look at a few of our favorites:



Vinny Testaverde (43)
Testaverde just resigned with the New England Patriots for his 21st career season in the NFL. Luckily for him, he’ll be backing pro-bowler Tom Brady. Since being drafted in the 1987 season by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vin’s played for Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens (94-97), New York Jets (98-03, 05) and Cowboys (04) before landing with the Pats.

Julio Franco (“48”)
Julio will always hold a special place in my heart because of his will and tenacity. Franco made his major league debut in 1982 for the Philadelphia Phillies before being traded to the Cleveland Indians. Funny thing is, not one player on the current Rome Class A Braves, Franco’s current team, was alive to see it. Julio has spent time with over seven MLB teams (including Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets) as well as teams in Japan, South Korea and Mexico. Since his 2001 return to the big show, Franco has served well as a pinch hitter and sometimes first baseman. He is also the oldest player to ever hit a homerun and the only active player to have been pitched to by a pitcher (Jim Kaat) who also pitched to Ted Williams (in 1959).

Dikembe Mutombo (40)
With only the possibility of a Reggie Miller (42) and Charles Oakley (43) return, we had to move to a player who actually saw action during the 2007 season, Dikembe. Mutombo was drafted in 1991 by the Denver Nuggets after attending college at Georgetown University. Mutombo excelled at defense winning the defensive player of the year four times and making the all-defensive team six times (First team: 3; Second team: 3). While he’s bounced from Atlanta to Philadelphia to New Jersey to New York before landing in Houston his skills have not diminished, too much. Mutombo is currently a free agent, but we’re hoping he can do one last farewell tour before calling it a career.

Chris Chelios (44)
At 44 years young, Chelios is still bashing heads as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Drafted in 1981 by the Montreal Canadiens, he has played the most games and compiled the most penalty minutes by any active player. He also owns two successful restaurants in Michigan called Cheli’s Chili Bar I and Cheli’s Chili Bar II.

Ricky Rudd (51)
Taking the top spot on the age ladder, Rudd will actually be stepping down at the end of the 2007 season. Plus 50 drivers in NASCAR is nothing new, look at Handsome Harry Gant who was winning races in his 50s and Dick Trickle, who’s probably racing somewhere right now. Rudd made his first Cup start in 1975 back when Winston was still the naming sponsor. By 1977, he had the racing world on its ear picking up Rookie of the Year honors two years before Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Rudd has driven for top organizations like Richard Childress Racing, Robert Yates Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and his own team during his long career. But we will be sad to see him go after the checkers drop in Homestead in November.

Dara Torres (40)
15 months after giving birth Torres proved she was still competitive after winning the 100-meter free style at the U.S. National Championships in early August 2007. Torres hopes to earn her fifth straight Olympic appearance in the 2008 summer games in Beijing.

It's been fun blogging with you,

Kate