Joe Posnanski's Kansas City Star piece about Bo Jackson's baseball career is getting a lot of play, including here at FanHouse. Jackson could do things that few if any baseball players have ever done, and his baseball career should be lauded.But as a football fan, it makes me sad to think about the time Jackson spent in Major League Baseball. Jackson was probably the most talented football player I've ever seen, and by choosing baseball over football, he deprived football fans of seeing -- and being inspired by -- his gift.
If you didn't know anything about Jackson and looked at his career stats, you'd wonder if there was a misprint. Is it really possible that a running back averaged 5.4 yards a carry -- better than Jim Brown -- but played just parts of four seasons and ran the ball only 515 times? Yes, Jackson was really that good. So good that in 1987, the Raiders had a Hall of Fame running back in his prime, Marcus Allen, and they moved him to fullback when Jackson showed up, even though Jackson had been playing baseball for two years.
Jackson's football career just makes me ask "What if?" What if Jackson had devoted himself full time to football? What if he had been durable enough to carry the ball 20 times a game, 16 games a season, for 10 years?
Jackson did some spectacular things with a baseball bat in his hands. But nothing close to what he did with a football in his hands. It's sad that his NFL career lasted just 38 games.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-28-2007 @ 5:12PM
Scott Smith said...
Bo Jackson was what got me in to football.When I was 12,I remember watching Bo in his final NFL game.I new when he got hit it was his last day of playing.But what he accomplished was the start of a new area.My personal opinion there wouldn't of been a Emitt Smith or a Barry Sanders without this man.I am a Cleveland Browns Fan and I feel he would of surpassed Jim Brown and Walter Payton in all catogories.I'ts just sad that a man like Bo was in the NFL as gotten forgotten in some eyes and I also think if he would of stuck with football he would of walk the walk that so many players wish and dream to walk and thats through DisneyLand.Playing Baseball and Football led the way for others and showed us how talented a man can be.thanks for the memories BO!
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5-28-2007 @ 5:50PM
Tom in Texas said...
Bo made the right choice for himself with baseball over football. The athletes are paid better, the chance of a career ending injury is far lower (remember which sport ended Bo's career), and a player can typically play for 5-6 more years (think of the MLB players who still succeed at or near 40, then compare it to NFL athletes).
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5-28-2007 @ 6:32PM
markthatiger said...
I knew Bo briefly at Auburn, and he was quiet, with a really bad stutter when he was nervous. That's why he always speaks slowly. He is very intelligent, but never seemed to appear that way because of his speech impediment. I saw him do AMAZING things on the football field, but he also ran track(FAST as lightning running against Herschel Walker from UGA). He hit homers ONE HANDED at batting practice(seen him do it). Auburn recruited another Running back same year as Bo named Allen Evans(much higher ranked also...go figure?) but Auburn people knew what he could do..He almost quit after his freshman year because of the pressure being applied, but Lionel James(another great AU back) brought him back from the bus station, and the rest is history. For those who don't know, Tampa Bay owner Hugh Culverhouse(a BIG
Bama fan) had Bo down to Tampa before the draft to show him around(NCAA violation, come to find out). Bo was ruled INELIGIBLE for his senior baseball season at AU. He blamed Tampa(and Bama a bit) for topedoing his season, ans SWORE he would not play for Tampa(who foolishly drafted him anyway). He played pro baseball first because he would NOT play for the Buc's (who then had his rights for several years(Raiders got him in Supplemental draft, remember). It's a shame really, what if he had gone to the Falcons....talk about Vick filling seats....he was, and is a once-a-lifetime athlete. He is also a great person.
War Eagle.
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5-28-2007 @ 7:42PM
nicknice said...
bo jackson would have been the best running back to ever play the game if it wasnt for his hip injury....go raiders
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5-28-2007 @ 9:10PM
Mike Norwood said...
GREATEST ATHLETE EVER!! Would have been a Hall of Famer in two sports. What a shame he never got to fulfull his destiny in sports. I remember hearing Bo Jackson speak early in he college career. He had a terrible stutter. But in what might have been his biggest challenge he overcame his stutter he was pretty well spoken by the time he reached the pros. Kudos to you Bo Jackson.
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5-28-2007 @ 9:35PM
nicknice said...
he played in the pro bowl and all star game... one heck of an accomplishment
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5-29-2007 @ 12:47AM
Anonymous said...
While some of you may have been deprived of seeing Vincent (Bo) Jackson play football, I have to say that I am one of the lucky people who got to see him at every game while he was here playing college football here at Auburn. I also got to see him play baseball and run track. I might add that I am a lifelong Auburn resident and fan. What a treat! :)
I also have to agree that Bo was and still is one of the greatest athletes of all time.
He is one of the most humble and nicest people that you will ever meet.
I too, also understand why he chose to play baseball over football, because there is supposedly a much less risk of injury playing baseball. However, in his case, that didn't prove to be so. While it was a shame to see his career (both football and baseball) end so prematurely, I still say that he was one of the greatest athletes of all time and would have brought both football and baseball fans alike a lot of pride in joy in watching him play the game for years to come. It was just so sad to see it all end so prematurely. Can you imagine what kind of numbers he would have put up if he would have been able to keep playing????!!!! They probably would be astronomical!!!! :)
I wish him well in life, as I know that he has already done very well and will continue to do extremely well.
Thank you for the memories Bo and War Eagle! :) We love you! :)
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5-29-2007 @ 9:36AM
Terri Morrell -Cochran said...
When Bo was playing football at Aubur , I was a student right down the road at Tuskegee. I am proud to say that bo Jackson was my friend. His whole make-up is the stuff that legends are made of. Bo did things that worked for Bo. He was not abuot glitz or fanfare- or even money for that matter. He chose baseball because he felt wronged and he had something that is so rely lacking in athletes of today, INTEGRITY!! When you mention great athletes from the past as well as those that are yet to come, Bo Jackson will always be listed among them and others will only be too glad that they can even be included in his company. Bo was a dazzling spectacle to see. He could run like the wind, hit a baseball clear into the heavens and truck right over linebackers without even batting an eye. One night we went to a club called "the hungry Hunter" and he even won a dance contest. Yep, Bo was phoenominal as an athlete, but he is a stellar person. ... Hey Bo-
W-A-A-A-A-R-R-R-R-R-R-R- EAGLE! Hey
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5-29-2007 @ 9:39AM
rick said...
i'm a huge georgia bulldogs fan so i know a little about auburn sports. since i started watching football in 1974 i would agree that Bo Jackson was, and still is, one of the best to play the sport of football. had his career not ended so early yes he would rank along side the greastest running back in NFL history, Mr. Sweatness himself, Walter Payton!
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5-29-2007 @ 9:41AM
rick said...
i'm a huge georgia bulldog fan so i'm aware of auburn football players also. i must say that since 1975 when i first started watching college football Bo Jackson was and still is one of the best. and yes i agree had he not gotten hurt so early in his career he could have ranked right along side the best all around running back in NFL history, the late great Mr. Sweatness himself, Walter Payton!
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6-02-2007 @ 12:12PM
Craig Herberg said...
Even though his career was cut short, he remains one of football's greatest running backs of all time -- and a darn good baseball player, as well. Go Bo!
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6-03-2007 @ 12:05PM
Stinge said...
The image of Bo Jackson steamrolling Brian Bosworth on his way to the end zone is still fresh in my mind. One of the greatest running backs to ever play the game.
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6-22-2007 @ 3:09AM
mattbhamwareagle said...
I was a big Bo fan as a kid like alot of my other friends, but I liked him even more because my Dad raised me as an Auburn Fan. When I was about 7 Bo was tearing up the sports highlights and my Dad always told me how great bo was at auburn. I was a huge auburn fan so naturally I liked Bo more than my other friends who liked Barry, etc... Then when he got hurt I was really mad for a while but eventually I forgot about him and just realized he retired and never came back. Then When I was a freshman in college in Texas (SWT Texas state) I started researching Bo on the web when I was bored one day at the computer lab. Anyways I was blown away by the highlight videos and realized he was "THAT GREAT". He was just a natural freakish athlete, and also a Great Man. Bo Jackson’s life is something to be looked up to and seen as a good way to be. Great Father, Great Husband, Great role model, Great person. But here is what makes him "BO"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK5SNZqGS-I
There are plenty of Bo raider highlights... These Auburn ones are the best to me because I love Auburn and am a big college football fan.
Reggie Bush or anyone else doesn’t have anything on Bo. Bo is UN doubted the greatest ever....
He ran just as well against NFL defenses. I have several DVD full games with Bo on the raiders and it is so funny watching him kill NFL defenders on every collision. It’s like when he got in the NFL he was way bigger and tried to hurt the defensive player that tried to take him down every time. I had the defenders fearing the impact. He was then able to cut back and other fakes, or moves to just run right by the defenses because of his OLYMPIC like sprinter speed. ESPN says he ran the combine in 4.12...60 yard dash. And he was a smart runner also in the NFL. He made the announcers laugh when he would just run over linebackers play after play. Every play was a huge collision and Bo always got the best end of it. Unless he just glided out of bounds. If the retarded Raiders would have given him the ball more they would have won many more games while they had him. But they had to feed Marcus and he was a sad sight to watch after watching Bo. If it was anyone but Marcus Allen the fans would have boycotted the games until they gave Bo the ball at least 20 a game...
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