By Richard Gardner, Torch specialist

Within the space of two weeks, two legends will return to their respective sports. Tiger Woods and Bret Hart both have had their careers tainted by various factors and both men will attempt to re-capture the form that built their reputations that have subsequently become so tarnished.

Bret Hart has not stepped in the ring since a concussion forced him to retire and Tiger Woods has not played golf since the embarrassing reports of his marital infidelities made international news reports. Both men will be trying to make sure that they are remembered for their ability instead of other factors.

Anyone who has read Bret Hart's excellent autobiography will know that The Hitman suffered one tragedy after another after leaving the WWF. A glorious career petered out in disappointing circumstances. Bret Hart's last WWF match was so controversial that it overshadowed his previous 13 years with the company. The much-discussed "Montreal Screwjob" was a poor way for such a loyal servant to leave the WWF. A subsequent concussion suffered at the hands of Goldberg meant that The Hitman retired as champion of one of the most chaotic major wrestling companies of all time. It is all too easy to remember Bret Hart's career for the controversies at the conclusion.

But "The Hitman" and has been involved in some of the greatest matches in WWE history. In the ring on Monday night, he spoke of his previous WrestleMania performances against Steve Austin, Roddy Piper, Shawn Michaels, and his brother Owen, all of which were classic matches. Other matches against Curt Hennig, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Davey Boy Smith were of the highest quality, contributing to a body of work that would be the envy of most wrestlers. The Montreal Screwjob was just one night, but unfortunately for Bret Hart, it has been by far the most talked about of his career. Tonight, The Hitman has the chance to change history.

Of course, Bret Hart is running the risk of registering the worst match of his career, which is hardly the best way for The Hitman to introduce himself to a new generation of fans. It is obvious that Bret Hart's health issues mean that he will not come close to replicating the level of performance that defined his career, but that does not matter.

The match with Vince McMahon will be storyline-based instead of the wrestling clinics that The Hitman frequently put on during his run in the WWF. Going out at on the biggest wrestling Pay-Per-View of the year is far better than getting screwed at the Survivor Series or fading into obscurity in the dying days of WCW Monday Nitro. Nobody knows exactly how much Bret Hart will be able to do in the ring, but no one can take away his achievements from earlier in his career.

It seemed that Bret Hart's career was always going to be tainted by circumstances beyond his control. By stepping in the ring tonight, Bret Hart is showing the courage to rewrite the end of his story.

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