When Jaromir Jagr stated that he wanted to play professional hockey until he was 50 years old, most people had to spend a few minutes feeling around the floor after their eyeballs had accidentally rolled right out of their sockets. Sure, Jags, we’ll see you when you’re 50!
Fast forward a few years and the ageless wonder is still at it. His goal of reaching 50 is within reach, as the Czech legend achieves the half century mark this coming February.
While we all likely have been wishfully believing that he’s doing it for the love of the sport, a recent chat with The Hockey News shed a new light on his longevity. It’s not so much that he wants to, it’s that he feels obligated due to the partnerships and sponsors that hinge on his availability.
Jagr continued on by acknowledging his decline, and also explained how much harder it is to stay in playable condition.
An excerpt from The Hockey News:
“It’s not easy anymore, believe me,” he said. “Because mostly during my career, I felt that if I wanted to score a goal, I would score. But suddenly, this doesn’t work. I have to practise, pay more attention to it and not gain 120 kilograms again.
“At the same time, people still expect it from me, and that’s probably the worst feeling, when people think I can, but I know I can’t. Plus, I can’t even tell them. I just know that I will do my best to help the club. I don’t know if anyone can understand my role. I don’t even want to be in such a position, but I have no choice. As long as my father breathes, I take the club as my responsibility. He held it for 20 years. As a son, I would be embarrassed if I left.”
As a hockey fan, you never want to hear that a player is playing through struggles – both physically and emotionally – out of obligation. If it were for the love of the game, we would want to see just how far he can go.
With this recent news, we’re hoping that he can make the transition to retirement in a way that won’t negatively impact that team that he owns; the team that he loves.
(H/T The Hockey News)
