10 professional athletes who went out in style

In case you somehow missed it, Kobe Bryant ended his NBA career Wednesday night in a manner that just isn’t supposed to happen in real life. In his final game, the "Black Mamba” scored 60 points in the Lakers' 101-96 win over the Jazz, a win that also eliminated the Jazz from playoff contention.

For Lakers fans, who are unaccustomed to dealing with the recent years of frustration, it was the perfect way to watch the career of No. 24 come to an end. Although Kobe himself admitted after the game that a true “storybook” ending would have been to win a championship, 60 jaw-dropping points from the Mamba will just have to do.

With Kobe’s final game fresh in our minds, albeit after a struggle of a season, here are 10 other athletes who went out in style.

1) Peyton Manning

Just this past February, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning ended his historic NFL career with a win in Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. After a tumultuous season in which Manning was left on the bench in favor of teammate Brock Osweiler for a stretch, “The Sheriff” returned under center for the Broncos and guided the franchise on its way to its third ever Super Bowl win. One of the greatest signal callers ever to play the position, Manning went out on top.

2) John Elway

Almost 20 years prior to Manning’s Super Bowl victory with the Broncos, another Denver quarterback had his own classic send-off. After leading the Broncos to a win in Super Bowl XXXII, the writing was on the wall for legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway to ride off into the sunset. Instead, Elway chose to play another year and lead Denver to a second straight Super Bowl victory.

After two straight Super Bowl triumphs (and being named Super Bowl MVP in his final game), Elway finally chose to hang up his cleats.

3) Bill Russell

The living embodiment of a “winner,” former Celtics great Bill Russell ended his legendary NBA career by winning his 11th championship. In seven games, Russell’s Celtics defeated the rival Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. It's an accomplishment made all the more impressive by the fact that Russell was Boston’s head coach as well. 

4) Joe DiMaggio

Along with owning one of the most unbreakable records in sports (56-game hitting streak), New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio was also able end his legendary career with a World Series championship. DiMaggio led the Bronx Bombers past the rival New York Giants in six games and rode off into the sunset with his ninth championship in hand.

5) Ray Lewis

It appeared the career of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis had come to an unfortunate end when he tore his triceps in the 2012 regular season. But through an aggressive rehab treatment, Lewis was able to return to the field for Baltimore as the Ravens made a run toward the Super Bowl. Lewis and the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII, and the future Hall of Fame player was able to end his career with another ring.

6) Ray Bourque

After 23 long seasons, Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque finally lifted Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche. The five-time Norris Trophy winner with the Boston Bruins would have gone down as one of the greatest NHL players never to win a Cup, but in his final season, a 40-year-old Bourque was able to hoist the Stanley Cup into the air as his final moment as professional hockey player.

To add to the emotion, Bourque’s childhood dream was realized in a Game 7 victory.

7) Pete Sampras

Perhaps the greatest American male tennis player of all time, Pete Sampras ended his historic career by winning his 14th Grand Slam title with a win in the 2002 US Open. Sampras' fifth and final US Open championship was made all the more sweet by the fact that he defeated longtime rival Andre Agassi in the finals. It was truly the perfect way for Sampras to end his career.

8) Jerome Bettis

How many professional athletes get to end their careers by winning a championship in their hometowns? Well, there’s at least one in Jerome Bettis.

The Steelers Hall of Fame running back ran for 43 yards in Pittsburgh’s 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Bettis had the unique honor of calling it a career after winning a championship in the city of Detroit, where he grew up.

9) Michael Jordan

The greatest player in NBA history, Michael Jordan ended his career in storybook fashion, hitting the game- and series-winning jumper in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. If anyone tells you M.J. went on to play two more NBA seasons with the Washington Wizards, please, ignore them.

10) Lou Gehrig

Going out on top might not be the most apt way to describe the end of Lou Gehrig’s career, but his final appearance as a Yankee was a special moment nonetheless. Stricken with ALS, Gehrig’s career and life were coming to an end. On July 4, 1939, the Yankees chose to honor Gehrig, proclaiming the date “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day.”

In between a double-header that day at Yankee Stadium, Gehrig delivered one of the most moving speeches in sports history. It was a bittersweet moment but an important one. For one of the greatest players ever to step onto a baseball field, it was an extraordinary way to say goodbye to the game and his fans.