By Michael Kelley ’14 and Mick Kowaleski ’14

After 26 years at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as the manager of Manchester United. 

Kelley: After news broke of Sir Alex’s retirement, Manchester United shares opened 4.74% down, effectively wiping nearly £95m off the club’s value.

May 19 will bring his final game at the helm of one of the most decorated soccer clubs worldwide. It will be his 1,500thin charge and in his 26 years, Sir Alex has secured 13 Premier League titles, most recently this year.

Throughout Wednesday, notable figures and celebrities worldwide praised the English football legend, although the British Prime Minister expressed his relief.

“Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievement at #MUFC has been exceptional. Hopefully his retirement will make life a little easier for my team #AVFC.”

His tenure leaves behind a large trail of trophies. He won 49 during his career – five FA Cups, four league cups and two Champions League titles, in 1999 and 2008.

Rarely do we see coaches or athletes able to end on their own terms at the peak of their profession. But for Sir Alex, he made that possible and leaves behind a legacy that will be forever remembered.

Kowaleski: For those not familiar with Premier League soccer, let me put Alex Ferguson’s role into an American perspective: he is to Manchester United as Mike Krzyzewski is to Duke University.

That is to say, he’s a universally respected coach (or manager, in this case) who works for a highly successful and universally despised organization.

He’s a guy you hate to love—you wish you could loathe him as deeply as you do his players, but his class, likeability, and way of doing business just seep through and infect you, despite your best efforts.

Like Coach K, Ferguson’s trophy case is bursting at the seams. Mike, you mentioned some of his accolades. What you didn’t mention was his 10 Manager of the Season awards, and that number is likely going to expand to 11 after Man United won the Premier League title with a month to play.

The game will miss him—a true legend who would be considered as such even if he had retired 10 years ago.

Although doctors have cleared him to play, Derrick Rose continues to sit with the Bulls and Heat tied at a game apiece. Will he return this season? 

Kelley: D-Rose has not ruled out a possible return this series, but let’s be real: there is no chance in hell he comes back. To be thrust into a playoff game against the absolute best competition the league has to offer in the Heat is not an ideal situation for his return.

Rose is cleared to play, but appears to be struggling with several psychological barriers. At this point, doctors say playing in a real game is his final step for full rehabilitation.

But who am I to insist an athlete on any level return from an ACL tear when they claim they are not ready? I have never suffered an injury of the sort nor have had to overcome the serious psychological obstacles Rose has been encountering.

Sure, the occasional sprained ankle I suffer is a bummer, but is nothing compared to what Rose faces. Therefore, I think he and only he needs to choose the time when he returns. After all, he knows his body best.

Kowaleski: Mike, I’m not sure these barriers are purely psychological. I think Rose is a bit hesitant to endanger his extremely bright career after an injury like this.

Keep in mind that the team doctors probably don’t have his best interests in mind. Many team doctors make such declarations with the team’s best interests at heart—announcing that a player is ready ahead of schedule makes them look good to the team. They’ll say, “Look, Player A is back already! See how great of a job we did?” and blame his re-injury on a freak accident when in reality they rushed his comeback.

It’s happened with a variety of athletes. Deadspin pointed out that it happened with Grant Hill.

My only cause for concern would normally be whether his toughness would be questioned by his teammates. With a star like Rose, it would be devastating if he lost the locker room due to lack of respect. But with Joakim Noah’s emotional defense of D-Rose, that’s obviously not the case.

Like you said, Rose knows what’s best for himself, and when it feels right, he’ll make his long-awaited return. Then maybe the Bulls can truly challenge the Heat for Eastern Conference supremacy.

I’d rather have that scenario take place then the alternative: Rose returns too soon and robs all NBA fans of what could be a legendary rivalry.