So Long, Old Friends

Jeter in Clearwater, FL.
Photo by Richard Wilkins, Jr.

There are lots of people who won't really get as much ink on here moving forward, because well, they're done getting ink anywhere, or at least won't get as much. I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge them-

• Bobby Abreu, my favorite Phillies player in my lifetime, retired from baseball this year. I feel his stats deserve a serious look for the Hall-of-Fame, so I hope to write about him when he gets in.
• Derek Jeter, the biggest icon of New York Sports in my lifetime, retired from baseball this year. DJ won't disappear from public life, but it will be weird not seeing him on the Yankees next year.
• Tom Corbett, the worst Governor in Pennsylvania in my lifetime, lost his re-election, and his career is over. While I won't miss him, I hate having to be so negative about anyone, so I wish him well.
• Paul Konerko, the White Sox legend who helped them win the only World Series in Chicago since World War I in 2005, retired from baseball. We'll write about him in the Hall-of-Fame someday.
• Mary Landrieu, daughter of a political legend, and a survivor in her own write for three terms, lost her Senate seat in Louisiana. While the "granola cracker liberals" cheered this, I didn't. We're going to miss the Blue Dogs when it comes to making deals.
• While Jimmy Rollins hasn't retired yet, the greatest shortstop in Phillies history was traded to Los Angeles, marking an end for us as Phillies fans. We'll still see him a little, but not nearly as much as we have. He's another I want to see make the Hall.
• Martin Brodeur played his last game as a Devil, and while he's not retired, closed the book on the greatest goaltending career in hockey history.
• The Colbert Report is done, and David Letterman's last show is in May, so it's worth acknowledging both now. Letterman will be missed, as will Colbert's old show, even if his new show is great.
• Charlie Crist is done being a quasi-national figure after his defeat at the hands of Florida Governor Rick Scott in that state's governor race.
• Senator Scott Brown's carpetbagging in New Hampshire didn't work. His career appears to be over.
• Donald Sterling, the racist owner of the Clippers, won't be missed from basketball at all. He made out like a thief though.
• Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, will be missed. It was beautiful.
• We won't miss the Afghanistan War at all after 13 long years.
• Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor was, to me, the ultimate survivor, continuing to win against impossible odds. That ended this year.
• Eric Cantor is now a part of history, having lost his home seat, and as a result, his Majority Leadership in the House.

I think I hit on all the main stuff here.