In the spirit of Olympic glory, former USA hockey coach Herb Brooks once said, "You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours."
Eventually, a moment in time gives way to memories. Even the greatest players must step aside because former glory no longer reflects their current abilities.
Monetary factors become the biggest differentiator between continued greatness and those who must move on after falling short of expectations. Some of the league's biggest names own the richest contracts, only to find those deals are based on previous merits.