The harsh reality of letting go


As human beings with carried emotions, it’s naturally hard to let go, whatever it may be. When a lot of us were kids, we didn’t want to let go of our parent’s hands. As we grew older, we couldn’t bear saying goodbye to a favorite TV show. Now as young adults on the brink of falling into the “real world,” many of us don’t want to even think about closing the book on perhaps the best four or so years of our lives. Every now and then, though, Father Time comes knocking on the door saying it’s time to move on, and in almost all cases, it’s in your best interest that you do.

This couldn’t be more apparent than in the case of USC Athletic Director Pat Haden, who was reportedly transported to a hospital by ambulance after experiencing an episode of lightheadedness on campus Wednesday. This development comes less than a week after it was announced that Haden will retire from his position in June, though he will stay on for an extra year in a different capacity in order to spearhead the $270 million renovation of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Unfortunately, this is not the 63-year-old Haden’s first run-in with health issues in recent months. In October, he was attended to by medical personnel on the sidelines of Notre Dame Stadium after experiencing similar symptoms of lightheadedness. Haden also has a pacemaker.

In the fall, I wrote a column expressing my concern for Haden’s health after he resigned from the College Football Playoff selection committee for exactly that reason. Rumors of Haden’s intent to step down from his post of athletic director had been swirling around Heritage Hall for months before last Friday’s big announcement. It’s hard to say why Haden waited until just recently to make his retirement official, being forced to deal with the criticisms of a coaching search and a former head coach’s lawsuit in between.

It’s safe to say that in the best interest of living a long and healthy life, especially after Wednesday’s events, Haden is making the right decision in deciding to retire, though I don’t think it’s quite as easy for him to let go, especially after all that he has done to push his alma mater back in the right direction.

Haden isn’t alone in his predicament, though, in an awkward time now for one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, who can’t seemingly decide whether to retire, or at least when to tell everyone what he might have determined months ago.

The question on everyone’s minds heading into Super Bowl 50 this past weekend was not whether the Denver Broncos or Carolina Panthers was going to come out on top. Instead, there was a giant elephant in the room continuously present throughout the annual spectacle: Was Peyton Manning finally going to announce his retirement? At 39, Manning became the oldest quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl, which would provide a storybook ending to one of the most decorated careers in NFL history.

In his postgame interview, Manning mentioned that he would take some time to reflect and drink a lot of Budweiser the night of but gave no direct answer to if he intended to hang up his cleats for good. After completing 13 of 23 passes for just 141 yards to go along with an interception, though, all indicators point to this “Super Bowl winning” performance being his last rodeo — a main reason being the nagging injuries that he has dealt with in recent years.

Perhaps, you could even go the lengths of comparing Manning’s situation to that of Kobe Bryant. Though Bryant’s Lakers team hasn’t been as competitive as Manning’s Broncos, there was, indeed, a gray area for a long time of whether this season would be his last.

As one of the greatest competitors of all time, I don’t think it could have been any harder for someone like Bryant to admit it’s time to move on, but ever since he decided to pull the trigger in a Player’s Tribune letter, it’s only been downhill for him, getting the farewell tour that he so very much deserved.

It’s too late for Manning to get a farewell tour like Bryant or Derek Jeter did if he were to retire now, but it would surely instill a peace of mind in not only his mind, but that of his fans as well.

Manning, Bryant or even Haden wouldn’t be the professionals we thought they were if they didn’t at least try to make a fuss when Father Time came knocking, but now that he has gotten in the door and refused to leave, it’s probably a sign to just let go.

It will be difficult for all of those involved, but it’s the only way everyone can truly say goodbye and move on. It’s not the end of the world, but it is truly the end of an era.

Darian Nourian is a senior majoring in print and digital journalism. His column, “Persian Persuasion,” runs Thursdays.