Most sports fans know that one of the saddest things you can ever witness is a great champion not knowing when it’s time to step aside.

Not many athletes step aside at the top of their game. The yearly intrigue of whether certain players will retire has almost become a punch line in some circles.

Yeah, I’m looking at you Brett Favre.

But these situations don’t always apply to the monied stars we see on television. Sometimes the guy who hangs around too long only lives in some niche universe where only a handful of fans understand the dilemma.

Then there are those who face this dilemma inside themselves. They only disappoint an audience of one when they can’t compete at the level they are accustomed to.

That’s how I felt one day last week on my family’s annual beach vacation. I realized that I might not have the chops to take on the kind of waves I used to in my younger days.

I could blame it on the muscle I pulled in my back at the beginning of the week, but since that injury came from mysterious circumstances – the long car ride is the main culprit – I don’t really have a macho excuse to fall back on.

I made it through the first few days without a problem. When I headed out to the beach on Wednesday, things looked a little different.

A shelf of sorts had formed where the waves ended. Heavy surf pounded forward with a brutal riptide, daring people to get in and test their skills.

Stupidly, I followed some of the younger folks in my family out to see how bad it really was. About five minutes later, I managed to drag myself back to shore, breathing more heavily that I can remember for a long time and feeling like I had just enrolled in one of those fitness boot camp things.

The reality is, I didn’t do that much out there. I didn’t body surf at all. I merely tried to duck under one huge wave after another as they crashed down on us. I barely had time to catch my breath a few times as another surge headed toward me.

As I slogged back toward the shelf, I realized that almost everyone who had headed out before me stayed out. They weren’t having an easy time of it, but they hadn’t given up. I didn’t think I was about to drown or anything, I just needed to go back and read my book like a reasonable adult.

That’s where I fit into the scheme of things now, I guess. I went out in the afternoon when things had calmed down, but I stood at the edge and watched while my nieces and nephews dodged those big waves in the morning.

I didn’t like admitting to myself that I had to retire myself from the really big waves, but I know it’s the best thing for everyone involved. I just wish I had realized it sooner.