Slideshow: Athletes who played past their prime

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Shaquille O’Neal announced this week, against his better judgment we think, that he will remain in the NBA another season, with yet another team at the tender age of 38. He’s still a young man by most standards, but in the world of sports he is a has-been. With four championship rings to his credit, Shaq’s place in history and the hall of fame is all but assured and yet he can’t walk away.

Sadly, he’s not alone. In basketball, football, baseball and especially boxing our greatest sports heroes have a hard time walking away—even when their skills have clearly diminished. theGrio looks at some of the greatest athletes of all-time who should have quit while they were ahead.