Famous (and infamous) quitters

Atlanta Falcons

Famous (and infamous) quitters

Gallery is compilation of famous quitters for Petrino coverage.

President Richard Nixon is probably our must famous quitter, resigning in scandal in 1974.

Florida men's basketball coach Billy Donovan accepted a job in 2007 to coach the NBA's Orlando Magic but quit before ever coaching a game. Donovan signed a contract in Orlando on June 1, but sniffle, sniffle, couldn't leave the Gators. The Magic voided his contract five days later and Donovan slinked back to Gainesville.

Soon after taking the music, movie pop world by storm, the Spice Girls' Geri Halliwell, a.k.a Ginger Spice, decided in 1998 to chuck it it in. She cited differences with the group. The Girls have apparently patched up their problems and, yeah!, are back on tour, playing to a half-empty arena near you.

"His Airness" Michael Jordan came down to earth in 1993 when he quit hoops, which he was pretty good at, to try baseball, which he was pretty bad at. He came back to basketball in 1995, quit again in 1998 after winning six championships, came back in 2001 and quit - for good, we think - after 2002-2003 season.

Dapper designer NBA coach Pat Riley faxed the president of the New York Knicks a message in June, 1995: I quit. Riley left with a 5 year, $15 million extension sitting on his, almost assuredly impeccably tidy, desk.

Shelley Long, as Diane Chambers in "Cheers," never could commit to Sam (Ted Danson). She dumped the popular show, too, in 1987 for a movie career that nobody could raise a glass, to.

Georgia's Newt Gingrich was Republican Party's big dog in '94 after GOP won majority of the House of Representatives. In '99, the former Speaker took his gavel, left Congress and adjourned to his front porch.

The Baltimore Colts and moving vans quit Baltimore for Indianapolis in the middle of the night in 1984. Baltimore went 12 years without an NFL team until the Ravens were born from the transplanted Cleveland Browns.

Detroit Lions Barry Sanders, one of the greatest running backs of all time, took his ball and went home after the 1999 season. Sanders was one good season short of breaking the NFL rushing record when he hung them up for good.

Basketball coach Larry Brown: What job didn't he quit! He's coached 11 teams in pro and college. Brown is currently retired but, most likely, looking for the next "perfect opportunity."

David Caruso, the red-headed star of "NYPD Blue," turned in his badge after a little more than one season. The show took off with a bang without him. His movie career: quiet as a silencer.

Nick Saban, now Alabama's coach (as of today), has left the last two teams in the lurch. He quit as coach of LSU to take his "dream" job with Dolphins in 2004. That job was apparently more of a nightmare. He bolted for 'Bama in 2007 to become highest-paid coach in college football.

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President Richard Nixon is probably our must famous quitter, resigning in scandal in 1974.

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