Filed under: UFC
LAS VEGAS — I often watch good sports documentaries with equal parts envy and awe, marveling at the telling video footage intermixed with talking heads giving context to events that may or may not have been understood in their day. I often find myself wondering what those documentary subjects will be in 20 or 30 years, with the belief that maybe then, the sports media will truly understand the impact that men like Chuck Liddell had on the landscape of American sports.
Liddell retired Wednesday, exactly three years to the day of his last win. It was a long time coming. It was expected. But it was also sad, the “Iceman,” nearly breaking down as he thanked his fans and family for their warm support of his pursuit of a sport that can be cold at times.
It was also sad that the retirement announcement of an important figure came and went with little fanfare. Perhaps it was because it’s been expected for so long, but that didn’t make it any less impactful. After all, it was the first time that Liddell himself has said he is done. The man saying good-bye is not just a mixed martial arts great. In time, it will be easier to understand that he transcended the sport. But the evidence is there, and it is simple: he helped add an item to the American sports menu.