I think it stays with you for the most part. The best example I can think of is Young, as when he was, er, young, he dived regularly. Whether or not people still think of him as a diver these days is what I'm unsure about. I'm a United fan and I don't recall him being a regular diver in the past season, but I'm sure opponents will have a better view of his current reputation and whether or not he "escaped" the diver reputation he earned by any degree.