Mariano Rivera hints at retirement

Mariano Rivera— the greatest closer in major league history— had no comments about the sorry state of the New York Yankees starting rotation or the return of Andy Pettitte but sounded like he was getting ready to call it a career after this season.

Rivera was at the Manhattan restaurant Siro's on Thursday night to pose for photos and promote his April/May Gotham magazine cover.

While he was coy about his future, Rivera told actor Richard Gere— who interviewed the closer for Gotham— and asked him if he would retire after this year: "I don't know.  But I'll tell you . . . it's been a great journey, but I do miss my kids a lot.  It's hard seeing your kids, then you're separated for a few weeks, but at the same time you have your. . .  love for the game, that drive that's always there.  New York has been a blessing for me and my family.  But it's a decision to be made, and hopefully we made the best for everyone."

Rivera is in the final year of a two-year contract and has not made any public announcements about retiring but, from the sound of it, "Enter Sandman" may not be on the Yankee Stadium playlist next season.