Family Circle

We have no reason to doubt that Colin Montgomerie was being truthful when he announced that he won't be playing on the PGA Tour next year because he plans to spend more time with his wife, Eimear (right), and his daughters Olivia, 4, and Venetia, 1. But if past is prologue, the Tour may eventually find itself getting the full Monty.

I'm gone! September '85: Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes loses a decision to Michael Spinks, then says he wants to "spend more time with my family. Boxing can go to hell."

I'm back! April '86: Loses to Spinks again, retires again, comes back again, retires again, comes back again, retires....

I'm gone! August '96: Randall Cunningham retires after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles, saying, "I am looking forward to spending more time with my family."

I'm back! April '97: Cunningham unretires and is now backup quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

I'm gone! June '94: Ryne Sandberg retires from baseball partly because "I want to devote more time to my family.'

I'm back! March '96: The Chicago Cubs' future Hall of Famer is back at second base. (He retires again after the '97 season.)

I'm gone! October '93: Michael Jordan retires from the Chicago Bulls, explaining, "I just wanted to spend more time with my family."

I'm back! February '94: Jordan signs with the Chicago White Sox, plays a full season as an outfielder for the Sox' Double A affiliate, the Birmingham Barons, and returns to the Bulls in March '95.

I'm gone! November '92: About a year after his shocking retirement following 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson—who had briefly returned to the Lakers during the preseason—retires again, partly to continue with his business interests and his charitable projects and partly "because it is important to spend time with my family.