41.   People close to him said that he had been considering retirement for some time and that the economic downturn provided a sensible opportunity to leave the business.

42.   People close to Hampton say that the running back went beyond considering retirement.

43.   Rapp quickly returns to the rotation when Mark Portugal leaves the club and considers retirement.

44.   She struggled in competitions prior to the national championships and said she considered retirement.

45.   Several Democrats in the South are considering retirement or seeking another office, rather than battle for their increasingly Republican districts.

46.   Spielman considered retirement this year after feeling numbness, but he has informed new head coach Wade Phillips that he plans to be back by minicamp.

47.   That was a wonderfully diplomatic response, but the truth would come out later, when he told French Canadian reporters he was considering retirement.

48.   That, plus the fact his girlfriend was pregnant, made him consider retirement.

49.   The deal also could affect forward Charles Barkley, who is considering retirement and has said he wanted to return only if he thought the Rockets were title contenders.

50.   The former Bulls guard has been rehabilitating his knee after undergoing arthroscopic surgery this summer and considering retirement.