Americans love a hero.
Perfect prototypes come along only so often.
Therefore, we are reluctant to let them go when their time in the limelight comes to an end, knowing that it may be some time before the next one emerges on to the scene. When Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first time, he didn't exactly fade from public view. He simply changed athletic uniforms because he needed a challenge, having mastered his first profession. Due to his extraordinarily competitive nature, he found himself bored with the situation of being without peer. Basketball was too easy for him.