Many, including myself, marvel at the ability of Roger Clemens to still effectively pitch in the major leagues. How old is pitcher Kenny Rogers? 112?

Knee bones grinding on knee bones, regardless of what you think of Barry Bonds, there is virtually no doubt that the man is not and has not been on steriods for the past couple of years and he still went nearly 30 hr's last year after sitting out virtually a full year the year prior and will still out slug 80% of the sluggers this year on % wise basis. (yes I know, it's only because he walks so much...most 42 year olds can't get around on a good fastball anymore much less pick up the seams on a curve plus be able to lay off bad pitches).

Hoyt Wilhelm, Satchel Paige, Lou the toe Groza, Charlie Huff, Ricky Henderson, Kevin Willis, Morten Anderson,  Billy Kilmer, Jon Stenerud,  Bert Blyleven, Martina Navratilova Julio Franco (48), Karch Kiraly (46),(and what geezer doesn't when Julio was a kid with the Texas Rangers and one of the "best young talents of the new breed? Karch was the chosen poster boy of the first Olympic competetive American Vollyball team still competing today). The over 40 professional athletes is hardly unique in terms of every sport usally having a few around (even Kareem made it past 40) but in overall terms of professional sports it's almost always a young mans game.

Hockey player Gordie Howe hung on so many years he got to play with sons in majors. If memory serves he was 52 (as did Bobby Hull?Did he ever play with Brett?) when he scored his last goal.

Depending on who you believe Deke Mutumbo is either 45 or 49 or 59 or 62 and there he was complaining that his season play for Houston Rockets had warranted more playing time in the playoffs than he got.

And don't even mention boxing. Seems like there's a law or something that a fighter who retires must attempt a comeback of some sort or the other after age 40. Or, if you're George Foreman, after age 95.

But the player of them all, the one who played the best for my money was George Blanda. Signed by the Chicago Bears for 600.00 in 1949 after being a star for Bear Bryant at Alabama, Bland emerged as the starting Qb  in 1953, was the place kicker, and chipped in at  linebacker. (when's the last time you heard  of a QB playing LB at any level?)

Injuries forced his first retirement in 1958 but in 1960 he came back to the AFL and led the league in passing several years and was an AFL player of the year.

Cut again in 67, the Raiders picked him up for his placekicking and in a pinch he could punt and did a number of times. At age 43-48 he became America's football hero. He kicked game winning  field goals  from 48-52 yards, he led the league in scoring, then he became the best comeback qb in history to that date (perhaps ever). When the Raiders were in trouble, we started looking for Blanda and sure enough there he'd come. His run was like a guy with one leg 4 shorter than the other and just about as fast as a parapalegic turtle. I was always amazed he wasn't sacked every time he took a drop to pass but I guess the reason he wasn't was because nobody in the league was slow enough to not overrun his drop. Rushing linemen always seemed to be behind him when he threw.

Regardless of who your favorite team was, the talks always seemed to center around Blanda on Monday morning back at the job. In 1970, replacing an injured Lamonica he started 5 consecutive games and won them all with All pro type numbers. His luck ran out in the AFC title game where he was intercepted twice in one last attempt at a miracle  comeback. Those I knew, including myself couldn't believe it. George had lost. That's how reliable the man was. You just expected him to win.

He retired just short of his 49th birthday when cut by the Raiders. I remember his comments when interviewed immediately after being released and while I may not recall them verbatim, as a young man, I was saddened but laughing at what he said. "Thank God, I thought they would never let me leave and my wife wouldn't let me quit. Said she needed the money"

GEORGE BLANDA RECORDS:

(SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Blanda finished his 26 NFL seasons having completed 1,911 of 4,007 pass attempts for 26,920 yards and 236 touchdowns. Blanda also holds the NFL record for most interceptions thrown: 277. He rushed for 344 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground, kicked 335 of 641 field goals, and 943 of 959 extra points, giving him 2,002 total points. Additional stats include 1 interception, 2 kickoff returns for 19 yards, 22 punts for 809 yards, and 23 fumble recoveries.

Blanda holds the following NFL records:

• Most seasons played: 26 (1949-58, 1960-75)
• Most extra points made (943) and attempted (959)
• Most interceptions thrown, single season: 42 (1962)
• Most interceptions thrown, career: 277
• Oldest person to play in an NFL game: 48 years, 110 days
• First player ever to score over 2,000 points
• Oldest quarterback to start a title game

He is the placekicker on the All-Time All-AFL Team, and was one of only 20 players to play all ten years of the AFL, as well as one of only three who were in every AFL game their teams played. Blanda was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, his first year of eligibility, and also was inducted into the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame.

Blanda held the record for most professional football games played with 340 until September 26, 2004, when it was broken by another placekicker, Morten Andersen. Blanda is currently third in career points scored, ranking behind the aforementioned Andersen and fellow placekicker Gary Anderson. It should be noted that this category doesn't count the many passing touchdowns that Blanda threw, only his kicks and his nine rushing touchdowns.

In 1999, he was ranked number 98 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.