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Tag: Retire

  • Cindy Crawford: Iconic Supermodel Will Retire At 50

    Legendary supermodel, Cindy Crawford will soon say goodbye to the modeling world.

    Crawford, who has been modeling for more than 30 years, opened up to United Airlines’ Rhapsody magazine about her plans to retire from modeling once she turns 50.

    “I feel like I’m allowing that to have been great, and I’m celebrating it. And I’m sure I’ll have my picture taken for 10 more years, but not as a model anymore. And that’s OK,” said Crawford, who will celebrate her 50th birthday on February 20.

    “I’ve done it. I’ve worked with all these incredible photographers. What else do I need to do?” the model told the magazine.

    Crawford, who was one of the most sought-after models of the ‘90s, was discovered by a model scout in Dekalb, Illinois, when she was just 16 years old. She was named the world’s top-paid model in 1995, earning $6.5 million in annual income.

    She has been featured on countless fashion magazine covers, and also tried her had at acting. She landed a role in the film, Fair Game and showed off her hosting skills on MTV’s House of Style. Cindy Crawford also released an autobiography called Becoming, in which she talks about being told that she always looked like she had chocolate on her face because of her facial mole. In her book, she shared her personal journey from a bullied teen to a confident and successful model.

    Cindy Crawford Hosted the Hit Fashion-Oriented Show, ‘House of Style’

    “What else do I need to do? I can’t keep reinventing myself,” Crawford said. “I shouldn’t have to keep proving myself. I don’t want to,” she explained, knowing she had already proven herself in the entertainment industry.

    Cindy Crawford has two children: Kaia Jordan Gerber, 14, an aspiring model and Presely Walker Gerber. She is married to restaurant owner Rande Gerber, a close pal of George Clooney’s. She was previously married to actor Richard Gere from 1991-1995.

  • Vince Young Says He Is Officially Retired

    Vince Young has finally revealed that he has officially retired from the NFL.

    During a recent radio interview with Brent Carney of KXAN in Austin, Texas, Young made the announcement. “Unless we get a great opportunity, something guaranteed … I’ve already started moving forward. … It’s definitely official, I think, in my book,” he said. “I love the NFL, will love the game always but I’m kind of moving forward and moving on right now.”

    Vince said that he will more than likely go to work for the University of Texas as an ambassador for the university, where he was 30-2 as a starter and then led his team to a national championship. In 2006, he was the number 3 overall pick for the Tennessee Titans. While playing for the Titans, Young was awarded the Rookie of the Year honor and made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2009. However, he was cut from the team in 2011 after falling out with coach Jeff Fisher.

    “If it doesn’t work out,” Young said of the job at the University of Texas, “you still had a great shot at it, still was a Pro Bowler, playoff guy and still got a winning percentage and things like that. If it doesn’t work out it’s in God’s hands. I just stay strong and continue to live my life and enjoy my life, especially taking care of my little ones.”

    Over the past few years, Young has fallen on financial hardships and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2014. “I had my ups and downs,” Young said. “I made the mistake of getting in to it with my coach, and that kind of hurt me a whole lot. When you go to different teams, they already have a bad perception of you. When that’s out there, there’s nothing you can do.”

    Young served as the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles for one season, and was cut in the training camps by the Buffalo Bills in 2012 and then the Green Bay Packers in 2013. “That’s what everyone else focuses on, I don’t focus on that. It wasn’t too bad,” Young said . “I’m very happy and thankful for living the dream I had as a kid.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Rashard Mendenhall Retires from NFL at Age 26

    As a culture writ-large, Americans are obsessed with sports, with the NFL being perhaps the most obsessed sport of all. Our fixation on football, and especially the athletes which play the game, has increased so much over the years that we have developed 24/7 media outlets to cover not only the games themselves, but also potential Fantasy Football lineups and also the stars’ personal lives. All of this intense coverage can become overwhelming and all-consuming. And if you’re Rashard Mendenhall, the entertainment aspect of the game has simply become too overbearing to handle.

    That is why the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals running back is calling it quits after 6 years in the NFL.

    Mendenhall was the 23rd overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008. Coming out of the University of Illinois following his junior year, NFL executives were high on the big, powerful running back: “As a running back he’s the total package. He’s a big, strong, every-down back with speed who can pass block and also catch the ball. I’ve said before: he’s a big man with little-people feet, meaning he can run like he’s 180 [pounds] but also pound the ball like he’s 230,” stated current Arizona Cardinals head coach and former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

    If Mendenhall was the total package as a running back, then why did he decide to retire? The answer is two-fold.

    First and foremost, Mendenhall found himself on the outside looking in on the elite running backs in the league following an ACL injury in 2011. Last year, Mendenhall’s numbers were somewhat paltry – 687 yards and 8 touchdowns, with an average of 3.2 yards per carry. Arizona’s other running back, Andre Ellington, nearly doubled Mendenhall’s output, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Going into the 2014, all signs pointed to the fact that Mendenhall would be riding the pine hard for most of the season.

    While that fact alone would have discouraged many players, Mendenhall’s decision to retire hinges upon ideas much bigger than the scope of football itself:

    “I feel like I’ve done it all. I’ve been to two Super Bowls; made a bunch of money; had a lot of success; traveled all over the country and overseas; met some really cool people; made lasting relationships; had the opportunity to give back to causes close to my heart; and have been able to share my experiences and wisdom with friends, family and people all over the world. Not to mention all the fun I had goofing around at work day after day with my teammates… Along with the joyful experiences I had, came many trials… Imagine having a job where you’re always on duty, and can never fully relax or you just may drown. Having to fight through waves and currents of praise and criticism, but mostly hate. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been called a ‘dumb nigger’.

    Today, game-day cameras follow the most popular players on teams; guys who dance after touchdowns are extolled on Dancing With the Starters; games are analyzed and brought to fans without any use of coaches tape; practice non-participants are reported throughout the week for predicted fantasy value; and success and failure for skill players is measured solely in stats and fantasy points. This is a very different model of football than the one I grew up with.

    So when they ask me why I want to leave the NFL at the age of 26, I tell them that I’ve greatly enjoyed my time, but I no longer wish to put my body at risk for the sake of entertainment. I think about the rest of my life and I want to live it with much quality. And physically, I am grateful that I can walk away feeling as good as I did when I stepped into it.”

    Of course, Mendenhall’s decision has been met with its own fair bit of criticism. However, that criticism will now no longer be of any concern to Mendenhall. Instead of spending his days worrying about having to constantly perform 24/7 for not only his team but also fans and critics, Mendenhall will now be able to pursue his more introverted dreams of writing and travelling – dreams worthwhile for any 26-year-old multimillionaire retiree from the NFL.

    Image via Arizona Cardinals | Twitter

  • John Dingell, Longest Serving Congresssman, Retires

    United States Representative from Michigan John Dingell has announced his intention to retire from the House after nearly 60 years of service.

    Dingell first came to the House in a special 1955 election following the death of his father. Over the past 59 years, Dingell has served with 11 presidents, ranging all the way from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama. And as a congressional historian put it, during his service Dingell was one of the most influential and important Congressmen of all time: “There’s little doubt that John Dingell is one of the most consequential members of Congress in the last century. He’s been involved — and in a significant way — virtually every major social policy advance or chance in America since at least the 1960s.”

    These policies include such pivotal issues as the passage of Medicare in 1965, the Endangered Species Act, the 1990 Clean Air Act, the Safe Water Drinking Act, the Affordable Care Act, and, his self-proclaimed most important legislation of all, the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

    Aside from passing important environmental and social reform, Dingell also spent a large chunk of his time in the House presiding as chairman over the Energy and Commerce Committee from 1981-1995 and once again from 2006-2008. In the position, Dingell was one of the most powerful Congressmen in the world. When people would ask him what exactly he presided over as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Dingell would simply point at a picture of the Earth from space which hung behind his desk.

    Dingell used his powers as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee to fight against political corruption and fraud, investigating both the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration. Dingell also worked to dismantle the monopoly AT&T and the Bell System once held.

    Despite all of these great achievements over the years, Dingell feels as if now is the time to retire:

    “Around this time every two years, my wife Deborah and I confer on the question of whether I will seek reelection. My standards are high for this job. I put myself to the test and have always known that when the time came that I felt I could not live up to my own personal standard for a Member of Congress, it would be time to step aside for someone else to represent this district…. That time has come.”

    At his advanced age of 88, one might think that Dingell simply is not in good enough health to continue the rigors of being a legislator. Dingell would be the first to say that that isn’t quite the reason: My doctor says I’m OK. And I’m still as smart and capable as anyone on the Hill. But I’m not certain I would have been able to serve out the two-year term… I find serving in the House to be obnoxious. It’s become very hard because of the acrimony and bitterness, both in Congress and in the streets.”

    Dingell would not stop there, adding that “This Congress has been a great disappointment to everyone, members, media, citizens and our country. There will be much blaming and finger pointing back and forth, but the members share fault, much fault; the people share much fault, for encouraging a disregard of our country, our Congress, and our governmental system.”

    While John Dingell may be stepping down, the state of Michigan and the House may still have a Dingell serving in the House regardless. As of now, the leading candidate to replace Mr. Dingell is his wife, Deborah Dingell. Mrs. Dingell has served as an executive with GM for many years and has toyed with the possibility of running for Congress before. This may present itself as the perfect opportunity to test her political prowess.

    Now, if only Dingell could convince Mitch McConnell that it is time he considers hanging up the hat as well…

    Image via Facebook

  • Last DC-9 Retired by Delta Airlines

    Following a flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta on Monday, Delta retired the last of its DC-9 aircrafts after nearly 50 years of use.

    The DC-9 was the oldest passenger plane left in service in the United States. It was originally constructed by McDonnell Douglas in 1965, and its production was halted in 1982. Throughout its run, 976 total DC-9 planes were made.

    The small plane gained popularity due to its ability to take off and land on small runways in smaller cities, replacing older and less-efficient propeller-driven planes. Due to its use in smaller airports, it was mainly a passenger plane for smaller airlines, such as Delta, Northwest, and Continental. The plane that made the flight Monday was built in 1978 and flew for North Central Airlines before it was bought by Northwestern Airlines.

    Delta originally retired all of its DC-9s in 1993, but after acquiring Northwest Airlines (who had a stockpile of DC-9s), it put the DC-9 back into commission.

    The DC-9 had several distinctive qualities which made its appearance unique from other passenger planes. First and foremost, it was smaller than most other passenger planes. When Northwest put the DC-9 back into commission in 1995, it completely refurbished the interiors to create more room.

    The DC-9 is also known for its unique T-tail design, a feature that was later adopted by such planes as the McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 and Boeing 717. Along with its T-tail design, the cockpit of the DC-9 contains dials rather than more modern computer systems, making it a “pilot’s airplane,” according to pilot Scott Woolfrey, the man who flew the DC-9s last flight.

    (image)

    As it currently stands, Delta has put all 6 of its DC-9s out of commission. However, it has kept two in reserve to serve as “substitute” planes in case of emergencies or repairs.

    “The DC-9 has been a workhorse in our domestic fleet while providing a reliable customer experience. The aircraft’s retirement paves the way for newer, more efficient aircraft,” stated Nat Pieper, Vice President of fleet strategy for Delta.

    Images via YouTube and Wikimedia Commons

  • Allen Iverson Is Retiring From The NBA

    Allen Iverson Is Retiring From The NBA

    Allen Iverson announced his retirement on Wednesday, October 30. He made the announcement during a press conference in Philadelphia, and it was also publiczied during the first game for the 76ers, when highlights of his career were shown on the screen.

    It has been a while since anyone has seen him playing on the court, but Iverson has officially declared his retirement now, as a member of the 76ers were he spent much of his career. He played on the all-star team a total of 11 times, and was selected on the All-NBA team seven times. He was highly popularized throughout his career, being given multiple nicknames including “A.I.” and “The Answer.”

    For Allen Iverson’s official retirement, he gave a speech that ran more than 10 minutes, thanking his family, coaches, teammates, and he also gave reflections as to how he had an impact on the game, and its culture.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2STsAPK87Iw#t=1

    Essentially, the NBA had already given up on him, since it had been four years after his last game. Allen Iverson played in the league for 14 years, after graduating from Georgetown. He most recently played with the Nuggets, and a season with the Pistons, before returning to the 76ers to finish out his outstanding career.

    Speaking on his decision to finally retire, Iverson said “I never imagined the day coming, but I knew it would come. I feel proud and happy to say that I’m happy with my decision and I feel great.” Iverson was a shooting guard for the 76ers, and was one of the best players in the NBA throughout the mid-90’s and early 00’s.

    Every player has to retire at some point, and some people probably think that it would have been wise for Allen Iverson to retire years ago, when he still seemed relevant. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft by 76ers.

    Allen Iverson, at 38-years-old, is ranked 19th on the career scoring list with 24,368 points. He singled out Michael Jordan as his inspiration, and also thanked both his Georgetown coach John Thompson, and Larry Brown, who coached him in Philadelphia.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edpcotikrbc

    Image via Youtube

  • Millions Unprepared For Retirement

    Millions Unprepared For Retirement

    Millions of business owners are unprepared for retirement. So what are they waiting for? According to the latest research from The American College, the majority of small business owners are concerned but not planning for retirement yet. The American College is the nation’s largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services reports. The new research reports that a third of women and a quarter of men surveyed reveal they have not estimated how much they are going to need when they retire.

    Mary Quist-Newins, Director of the State Farm Center for Women and Financial Services at The American College said, “The lack of retirement planning by so many people is stunning, especially since business owners have no one else to rely on when it comes to putting their retirement in place.” She adds, “When you consider that the mean age of our respondents is just over fifty you have to wonder, ‘What are these individuals waiting for?’ Retirement will be upon them before they know it.”

    @bizpictures
    Sydney Brown    Small Business Owners Are Unprepared For Retirement: Additional findings from the research raise questions about… http://t.co/8CatIbJJ 1 hour ago via twitterfeed ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    The research questions the quality of retirement preparation being done by the majority of small business owners. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed used online calculators, which often have serious limitations in adequately projecting changes. Inflation, taxes, medical expenses and income streams are often not taken into account. Half of the participants use the assistance of a financial professional and the rest use pencil and paper.

    The primary concerns expressed by roughly four out of ten small business owners are increases in the cost of living. Another finding is the potentially dangerous tendency small business owners approaching retirement have to oversimplify an increasingly complicated financial planning situation. Inflation, medical expenses, longevity and asset management as well as the accumulation and distribution of income, long-term care and tax management.