European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 02, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Above Oscar Robertson is hemmed in by opponents As he takes a shot in an old timers game. At right Utah jazz k basketball player Bill Robin zone who committed suicide after retiring. Left Willie Davis As a Green Bay Packer. If after \ to pro sports groan Day Paukei by Michael Shapiro new York times n Willie Davis Day in Oreen Bay wis. The quest of Honor stood on Lamreau fluid where to Hart Pla de lot 12 years. And cried because to realised that this would be the last time people would cheer for him As a professional football player three months alter to was Wai de by the Philadelphia Phillies. Jim Lonborg. A major league Pitcher Lor 15 years was in dental school feeling As if to were in Spring training All Over again when Alan Page let the Minnesota Vikings it was not so much a retirement but a time to begin the Fife Fie had dreamed of Long Belore he dreamed of playing professional football Iho file of a lawyer. When the playing ends a new Lite begins Lor a professional athlete sometimes thai new life in a new Job. Is Welcome sometimes in lakes years to accept that Iho old Hie. The Hie at play is Over despite the occasional report o a retired athlete who lakes his own life because he could not and list to a Hie outside his Sporl the 1982 suicide of a former professional basketball player Bill Robizine. Is one of Iho rare cases most athletes seem Able to manage the transition. They encounter varying degrees of difficulty and in lakes some longer than others. Some continue in a new role in their Sporl As coaches or broadcasters or executives others find a new career and some even reach Levels of Success similar to those they achieved As athletes Davis the Hall of Fame defensive end Lor the Green Bay packers now owns live radio stations and is on the Board of directors of such companies As Sara Lee corp Mem a communications co and Dow chemical co Lonborg practices dentistry in Boson. Pago. The sex defensive tackle is an assistant attorney general in Minnesota Oscar Robertson. The legendary Cincinnati guard owns his own company. Success comes most readily to those who Are the Best educated and who Are most prepared Lor a me in which they will no longer be in the limelight says Don Straiten vice president of Pace sports a counselling service Lor athletes. The company based in san Diogo is under contract with Tho National basketball association to provide counselling Lor players in the league including rookies and aging players near the end of their careers Pace professional athletes career enterprises has worked with More than 1.000 athletes from various sports. 1 he counselling is done primarily by Ron Sayers a former san Diego Charger who has graduate degrees in counselling and family counselling while retirement Lor the Best known players can moan endless autograph signing sessions and celebrity Goll tournaments. Iho adjustment to a me alter sports comes most easily Stralle says to those who May miss the glory but who Haven t bought into Tho permanence of same " what follows Are the stones of Lour successful athletes who have made Tho transition to successful new careers Willie Davis misses football Alan Page does not. Davis who ,13 55. Says that even now. 19 years after his retirement most of his friends Are football people and football fans people who kind of live and die  Davis retired when he was 34, before Iho moment of reckoning he Calls the Lap on the shoulder telling him thai he was being waived he had already begun spending his off seasons working Al a Beer distributorship in California a month after to retired to started his own operation called Willie Davis distributing co in his Fust year in business Davis says he realized he would become much wealthier doing that than he had playing Loo Ball. To has since sold Tho company and alter buying and reviving one failing radio station. Kace in los Angeles he Lias bought Lour More. I had to to successful in thai next  Davis says. In order to feel some Worth and Good about myself 1 had to succeed despite his Success Davis says the void where Loo Ball used to be had not been filled even with the excitement of owning my own continued on Pago 14 monday october 2. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13