ESPN.com - Page2 - <br><br>Ryan Express on comeback track

Ryan Express on comeback track
By Jim Caple
Special to Page 2

ESPN sources reveal that news of Mario Lemieux's surprising comeback has inspired one of America's most beloved athletes to return from retirement as well. Thirty-four years after his first major-league strikeout and seven years after his last game, Nolan Ryan has secretly signed a one-year contract to pitch with the Texas Rangers next season at age 54.


	Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan hasn't pitched in the majors since 1993.

"Mario's return has a lot to do with it," said Ryan, who went into the hospital twice this year due to heart conditions. "But so did Mike Mussina signing for $88.5 million after he went 11-15 last season. My fastball might not be what it once was, but I think I can pitch well enough to lose 15 games, too."

A look ahead at the highlights of Ryan's inspiring comeback:

Jan. 31: Nolan celebrates his 54th birthday by leaving the hospital, eating solid food again and throwing 60 fastballs to next-door-neighbor Harry Spillman, with 10 of the pitches hitting 97 on the radar gun.

Feb. 17: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training and Ryan begins his comeback attempt by throwing 70 pitches with such velocity that he raises blisters on catcher Ivan Rodriguez's glove hand. The NASDAQ gains 240 points in response.

OTHER COMEBACKS

John Elway: Much to the disappointment of Denver fans, Elway quickly ends his comeback when he is sacked on the first play and realizes that he is rich, has two Super Bowl rings and no longer needs to endure anymore pain.

Barry Sanders: The running back returns to the NFL by agreeing to a one-year contract with the Lions that includes a $7 million signing bonus. He cashes the check and retires the next day.

Steve Young: Despite the multiple concussions that drove him from the league, Young announces a return to the NFL. "Inspired comeback Mario's by I'm," Young tells baffled reporters. "Strong is arm my, play can I still and."

Wayne Gretzky: The Great One returns home by putting on his skates for the Oilers, plays like the Gretzky of old and leads Edmonton to the Stanley Cup. Nonetheless, the Oilers move to Portland after the season and Gretzky goes back into retirement.

Bobby Knight: After completing a six-month fellowship with Leo Buscaglia, a kinder, gentler Knight is rehired by Indiana. When point guard Andre Owens gives Knight the finger during a timeout, the coach wraps his player in a bear hug and whispers, "You are a good player, a good person and I love you." Indiana loses every game.

Martina Navratilova: In a match that leaves the Queen and John McEnroe weeping with joy in each other's arms, the greatest woman tennis player returns from retirement to win another Wimbledon title, defeating Venus Williams in straight sets. The world media responds with full-color, full-page cover photos of Anna Kournikova.

Ted Williams: Despite having limited movement due to a stroke several years ago, the Splendid Splinter hits .306 with 22 home runs, 112 RBI and 120 walks, then retires again because he is dissatisfied by his performance.

Bobby Bonilla: No wait, hold on. Evidently, he hasn't retired yet.

Magic Johnson: He abruptly ends yet another return to NBA courts when no one notices he's back.

Michael Jordan: He leads the NBA in scoring, wins the Slam Dunk contest at the All-Star Game, boosts NBC ratings by 250 percent, doubles Nike's stock price and leads the Bulls to a 73-9 season and their seventh world championship.

March 15: Angered by a knockdown pitch from Nolan in a spring training game, Robin Ventura charges the mound. Nolan puts him in a headlock, wrestles him to the ground and spanks him with his cane.

April 4: Nolan's bid to throw an opening day no-hitter ends abruptly when he suffers a heart attack with two out in the sixth inning and is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The team trainer lists Nolan as day-to-day.

April 19: Completing a remarkable recovery from his April 5 double-bypass surgery, Nolan wins his first game in eight seasons. Limited to a 90-pitch count, he pitches 5.2 innings, strikes out eight batters and beats the Red Sox 6-4 to set the record for oldest pitcher to win a major-league game (54 years, three months). The NASDAQ gains 320 points.

April 20: Nolan's record for oldest winning pitcher is wiped away when the Yankees finally reveal Orlando Hernandez's true age, acknowledging El Duque developed his distinctive windup while playing sandlot ball with Luis Tiant.

May 30: Ryan reluctantly contemplates retirement when his record drops to 1-6 and his ERA rises to 8.96 after an embarrassing 19-3 interleague loss to "Alex Rodriguez Presents: His Los Angeles Dodgers." Alan Greenspan responds by raising longterm interest rates.

June 12: Despite the many prayers of fans everywhere, the tragic but inevitable moment everyone dreaded ever since the aging Ryan announced his comeback finally occurs -- Michael Jordan announces that he is coming out of retirement to play baseball again.

July 3: Nolan no-hits the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and strikes out 15 batters. "I didn't have my real good stuff tonight because of my rheumatism, but I'm getting closer to where I want to be," Ryan tells reporters while patiently signing autographs for every fan in the stadium.

July 31: The second-place Yankees arm for the pennant drive by trading for Ryan, Ivan Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro, sending Shane Spencer and Rickey Ledee to the Rangers in return. Commissioner Bud Selig reluctantly approves the trade despite vehement protests from American League opponents who point out that the Yankees traded Ledee to Cleveland the year before.

Aug. 7: Ryan's comeback suffers another setback when the ligaments in his elbow snap apart. Nonetheless, he strikes out 14 and beats the Orioles 7-3 to improve his record to 6-9 and lift the Yankees into first place.

Sept. 28: During a pre-game examination, New York doctors discover that not only are Ryan's ligaments shredded, he no longer has a rotator cuff, either. He shrugs off their concerns and two-hits the Red Sox to clinch another AL East title for the Yankees and finish the season 11-10 with a 4.91 ERA and 211 strikeouts.

Oct. 28: Ryan caps a remarkable comeback season by shutting out his former Mets team in Game 7 of the World Series. He is carried off the field by teammates Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Mike Hampton and Juan Gonzalez.

Nov. 3: To the delight of fans everywhere, Nolan announces he will continue his comeback into next season at age 55, then files for free agency. Agent Scott Boras publishes a 75-page booklet, "Nolan Ryan: A Historical Perspective," outlining why his client is the greatest 53-year-old pitcher in baseball history.

Jim Caple of the Seattle Union Record is a regular contributor to Page 2. He also writes a weekly "Off Base" column for ESPN.com's baseball page.

	comeback crazed

ALSO SEE:
The List: Kenny's comeback

Super comeback: Lemieux confirms return to ice