(CNN) -- All around the world today, people are in the early hours of trying to keep their New Year's resolutions: Lose that 15 pounds, find that job that will make you happy, move to that city where you've always dreamed of living. There is one kind of resolution, though, that very few of us will ever be in a position to make. Somewhere today, someone at the very pinnacle of his or her career is thinking of doing in 2012 what Tony La Russa did in 2011: Get out on top. Willingly walk away and declare victory. Leave the table while the dice are still hot.
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Bob Greene: At New Year, consider those, like Cardinals' La Russa, who quit while ahead
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He asks: How many of us could make a resolution like that? How many could not look back?
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He says Beatles, Rocky Marciano did. Michael Jordan tried, but came back to what he loved
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Greene: Somewhere someone at top of field is mulling quitting in 2012. it's harder than it looks
@placeholder retired from boxing in 1956 as undefeated heavyweight champion of the world.