Top 10 doomed sporting comebacks

Stacey Jones has been off the pace in the NRL this year. Photo / Brett Phibbs

American football legend Brett Favre turned his back on retirement for a second time today after agreeing to turn out for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL this year.

Favre could be a sucker for punishment, having already gone through one doomed comeback with the New York Jets last year. But when it comes to giving it "one last shot", it seems the greats just don't know how to say no.

1. Muhammad Ali
One of the greatest athletes the world has seen, Ali retired from boxing after regaining his world heavyweight title from Leon Spinks on September 15, 1978. After two years on the sidelines, he re-laced his gloves at the age of 39 but was badly beaten by world champion Larry Holmes who stopped Ali in the 11th round in October 1981.

2. Stacey Jones
The 'Little General' was coaxed out of retirement by Warriors coach Ivan Cleary at the end of last year to give the club more options at the troublesome halfback position. Jones put on a vintage performance in his first game back to beat defending premiers Manly but has weaved little magic since, with the club battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

3. Michael Schumacher
When Schumacher announced his return last month for the injured Felipe Massa, it was a rare bright spark in what has been a turbulent year for Formula One. However, the Schu's comeback was so brief he didn't even make the track as a lingering neck injury from in a motorbike accident in February forced him to cancel his plans.

4. Jonah Lomu
Following his kidney transplant in 2004, the 63-test All Black announced his desire to return to rugby and the All Blacks for the 2007 World Cup. The blockbusting winger made it back to field with North Harbour in the NPC and with Welsh club Cardiff but his comeback was littered with injury. Lomu's World Cup dream was brought to an end when he failed to receive a Super 14 contract in 2007 - ruining his All Blacks chances. However, Lomu is yet to hang the boots up, signing with French third division side Marseille Vitrolles earlier this year.

5. Mike Tyson
'Iron' Mike's comeback in 1995 after serving three years in prison was somewhat successful. He regained one of the heavyweight titles he first won in 1986 but it all went down hill from there. He lost his much-anticipated fight with Evander Holyfield in 1996 before shocking the boxing world by biting a piece of Holyfield's ear off in their rematch a year later. Tyson went on to fight for the title once more in 2002 but was embarrassed by Lennox Lewis. He retired in 2005 after two consecutive knockout losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.

6. Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz was the greatest swimmer in Olympic history until Michael Phelps eclipsed his record of seven gold medals at a single Games in Beijing last year. Spitz, who retired after his epic feat at Munich in 1972, came out of retirement to try and qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Games but was two seconds slower than the required qualifying time, putting his career to an official end.

7. Brett Favre
Favre's first comeback was deemed a failure after he failed to get the New York Jets into the playoffs last season. One of the NFL's greatest ever quarterbacks, Favre announced his retirement in 2007 but quickly changed his mind. Unwanted by his beloved Green Bay Packers, Favre went to New York and started off with a bang, leading the Jets to an 8-3 record before petering off at the back end of the season and finishing with the most interceptions in the league.

8. Bjorn Borg
Stunned the sporting world when he retired at just 25 after hitting the peaks of tennis. Won 6 French Open titles and 5 Wimbledown crowns before hanging up his Donnay racquet for the first time. Made a doomed comeback in the early 90s when he tried the absurd idea of continuing with a wooden racquet. Never won another match in 10 miserable tournaments.

9. Lance Armstrong
The combative seven-time Tour de France champion couldn't resist another tilt at the greatest cycling race in the world and duly announced his return to the sport last year at the age of 37. He defied the sceptics to finish third in this year's Tour but his efforts were overshadowed by a spat with Astana teammate and eventual winner Alberto Contador. The Texan and the Spaniard exchanged less than complimentary words with Armstrong acidly remarking 'there is no I in team'. Next year's race promises to be an even greater spectacle as Armstrong has decamped to the Radioshack team run by his mentor and close friend Johan Bruyneel.


10. Kevin Keegan
After a decorated career as both a player and coach, Keegan's return to Newcastle last year after a 11-year absence had the club dreaming of the good old days when he had them contending for the Premier League in the early 90s. However, the England manager had a horror start, going winless in his first eight games, and was shown the door eight months later after a dispute with owner Mike Ashley.

- NZ HERALD STAFF, AFP