The Greatest Comebacks Ever

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 17, 2009 1:14 PM CDT
The Greatest Comebacks Ever
Spray flies from the head of challenger Joe Frazier, left, as heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali connects with a right in the ninth round of their title fight in Manila, Oct. 1, 1975.   (AP Photo/Mitsunori Chigita, File)

Michael Vick isn’t the first athlete who’s had to claw his way back from the wilderness. Time takes a look at the top sports comebacks ever, including:  

  • Muhammad Ali—The self-proclaimed “greatest of all time” bounced back after losing time for refusing to fight in Vietnam, then lost his rep in his first fight with Joe Frazier.

  • Pelé—The greatest soccer player ever brought the sport to America in his comeback bid.
  • Michael Jordan—After his ill-conceived attempt at baseball, Jordan returned to the Bulls with maybe the greatest press release ever. It read simply, “I’m back.”
  • Brett Favre—When you come back that many times, some of them have to be good.
  • Lance Armstrong—Even after years away from the sport, he managed to finished third in this year's Tour de France.
(More sports stories.)

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