Michael Jordan failed. Ryne Sandberg failed. Ervin Magic Johnson failed. Heck, half the boxing world has failed.

The real question is will SIUC senior guard Shane Hawkins join these great athletes?

How could three of the best athletes ever to play their sports fail? Failing to deal with retirement, they all returned to the games that have filled most, if not all, of their lives. Now that basketball has taken up most of his life, Hawkins has to decide if there is life after basketball.

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After Michael Jordan’s splendid career came to an end after the death of his father, Jordan was relieved to be away from the game. Suffering from a lost love, Jordan quickly found out his life was not complete without basketball.

Jordan, determined to stay away from his love, convinced himself that his retirement was justified. He claimed that his father had seen his last game and would not continue without his father. Then excused his return by wearing the number 45, claiming that his father had seen his last game behind number 23.

Possibly inspired by Jordan’s comeback, Ryne Sandberg’s retirement plans failed as he made an embarrassing comeback that failed to regain his past glories at second base for the Chicago Cubs.

Ervin Magic Johnson did not even have retirement plans before discovering he was HIV positive. Determined to return, he educated the NBA about the virus and convinced them to allow his comeback.

And in boxing, George Foreman and countless others have been using the revolving doors, coming and going for years.

A common characteristic among all these athletes is the use of excuses to retire and more excuses to return to their careers. No athletes can leave on their own terms. If possible, they would never leave the games that their lives have revolved around.

You can spend hours counting the number of athletes who have left their games but returned in some capacity later. But can you count any who have successfully found careers outside the competitive forum? Only one comes to mind Sen. Bill Bradley, D-New York.

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Walter Payton might fall on this list, but his racing team disqualifies him because he is still involved in a competitive sport.

However, unlike these great athletes, the rest reach a point in their careers when they can no longer continue. Their excuses to return are mute as comebacks are not possible. They move on, most always finding careers in their respected games.

For SIUC senior basketball player Shane Hawkins, it is his time to choose which road he will take. Will he continue his basketball career? Or is there life after basketball?

Completing a successful high school career with a state championship for Pinckneyville High School, Hawkins was fortunate to prolong his career another four years at SIUC.

While at SIUC, Hawkins picked up numerous awards including most career 3-point field goals (314) in SIUC and Missouri Valley Conference history. With 435 career assists, Hawkins is second all-time at SIUC.

In his final season, Hawkins was named MVC All-Academic team member, MVC Honorable Mention All-Conference Team and was named to the MVC Most Underrated Team.

Looking back, Hawkins cannot comprehend life without basketball and would love to continue his career in basketball, on or off the court. Either way, Shane Hawkins will join the list of athletes who can’t leave because the games they love have taken up so much of their lives.

In attempts to avoid an inevitable retirement, Hawkins has recently searched overseas for anyone who will allow him to continue his love affair.

However, if Hawkins has put the jersey away for the last time, don’t expect him to put the basketball away, too. The dream to coach his team to an NCAA National Championship begins this fall.

Leaving excuses behind, Hawkins will take on student teaching, as well as an assistant coaching position, this fall to fulfill graduation requirements. As he did as a player, Hawkins hopes to climb the ladder to coach an NCAA National Championship hopeful someday.

Though they have failed, these athletes are not failures. When one first steps on the court, they must prepare for the addiction they will face for the rest of their lives. The addiction will never be cured, for the love of the game will lie in the heart forever.