11/23/24
November 29, 2007
Bo Knows Best: ...And if you're wondering whether Bo was scared, hell no, Bo was not scared. Not even when that bear got so close Bo and his hunting companion could see the hairs bolt upright like pine needles on the back of its neck. "I wasn't scared," Bo says. "I wasn't scared because I knew I could outrun my white buddy. You've got to think about these things, man."
Great link. Thanks.
posted by yerfatma at 03:33 AM on November 29, 2007
Gary knows good links, Thanks!
posted by jojomfd1 at 04:01 AM on November 29, 2007
I liked the picture of him with the tie, white shirt, vest, and dress pants out in the woods with his bow. Good read.
posted by steelergirl at 06:27 AM on November 29, 2007
Wow. Perhaps the best biographical piece I've read this year. Terrific link, Gary.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:04 AM on November 29, 2007
Can you even imagine how far Bo can drive a golf ball?
posted by cordlesskent at 08:50 AM on November 29, 2007
I will never forget that first ball he hit when he came back from his hip operation. I dont think i have ever seen a ball go that far. It just made a different kinda sound then you are used to hearing a bat make. He was an animal.. what if......... what if...... what if...............
posted by Debo270 at 08:58 AM on November 29, 2007
Ever seen a guy hit a ball so high over the foul pole that the umps had to hold a conference to determine if it was foul or a home run? That's what it was to watch Bo play early in his career.
posted by Tinman at 09:39 AM on November 29, 2007
It is every man's dream to live his life on his own terms. Bo has fulfilled his dream. What a really nice piece of writing this post is.
posted by Howard_T at 11:53 AM on November 29, 2007
I usually try to take everything I read with a grain of salt- but Bo Jackson is way too awesome. Loved that. He was so good at sports, he seems to hold them in disdain. I prefer his story the way it is. No great career numbers, no longevity, no great pull to be the best ever - just instances of absolute dominance and the stories that go with them.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:59 AM on November 29, 2007
A sad reality: Anytime I read about abnormal greatness, somewhere deep within myself, a question about possible steriod use arises, with absoutely no proof or reason to suspect. I imagine I'm not the only one......
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 12:45 PM on November 29, 2007
That's actually the first time I've thought about the possibility of Bo using steroids. I do think that the "disdain" that Weedy brought up sort of goes against the idea of steroids. Using steroids is what people do when they want to be the best at something despite all the warnings. Bo actually walked away from the NFL, which on a much lesser level, reminds me of Ricky Williams. Blessed with a freak of nature body and talent, he almost HAD to play football. Although maybe I just don't want to tarnish my childlike memories of Bo. He was superhuman (hopefully naturally).
posted by kire at 01:10 PM on November 29, 2007
I rather not even think about Bo Jackson + steroids. All I know is what I saw and this guy was the truth. If it was hitting homeruns, making a spectacular catch in the outfield or while playing football, just running over and past people, he was the absolute best. I can still remember those Nike commercials like if it were yesterday. I do think 'what if' when I think about Bo but at the same time, I'm just grateful to have had the privilage to be able to see the man perform at the highest level in both the NFL and MLB. Great post Gary.
posted by BornIcon at 01:25 PM on November 29, 2007
Excellent post.I remember being at a Patriots game in the 80's.And if I remember right,Bo was playing for the Dallas Cowboys when he broke a run for 80 yards and a touchdown down the sidelines where I was sitting.Correct me if I'm wrong since my memory isn't the greatest,but Bo did play for the Cowboys did he not?I believe that game was his rookie year in the NFL.
posted by Ghastly1 at 02:11 PM on November 29, 2007
Just the Raiders, Ghastly. I've always been thankful that I saw him spank a grand salami for the Sox. (live) He was awesome. Enjoyed the read.
posted by tselson at 02:56 PM on November 29, 2007
Great stuff, Gary, thanks. Being the Seattle fan that I am, I remember waiting with anticipation for that Monday Night Football telecast because #1 the Seahawks didn't get much prime time love (and rightly so) in those days and #2 because it was the Raiders, our arch rivals at the time. Watching Bo Jackson completely handle my team with seeming ease and his other-wordly ability was something I still feel priveledged to have watched, even if it was only on TV. That night I became a true believer. My own dad, who had watched a lot of the sports greats said Bo Jackson's ability was off the charts. I try to describe to my sons just what Bo's ability was like. He was beyond Jordan. Kind of mythical when looked back upon with the admitted haze of time. But then you look at the picture from the article of Bo stripped to the waist in his Raiders regalia and you just sort of know. That dude was The Man.
posted by THX-1138 at 03:00 PM on November 29, 2007
"what if......... what if...... what if..............." What if my child-hood favorite NFL team could have somehow talked Bo into playing only football (my favorite sport) Who Knows, they still could be talking about the only NFL team that won championships in every decade since its birth.
posted by bo_fan at 03:57 PM on November 29, 2007
I'm so proud of my username right now.....sniff, sniff.... Great Article justgary!!
posted by BoKnows at 04:04 PM on November 29, 2007
My brush with greatness: in the early 90s my then-girlfriend's rich aunt & uncle lived in Bo's neighborhood (I think they still do). I was there on Halloween one year when Bo and his kids (I assume) came to their door. I didn't know it until he'd already started walking away and the uncle mentioned it.
posted by drumdance at 05:20 PM on November 29, 2007
A sad reality: Anytime I read about abnormal greatness, somewhere deep within myself, a question about possible steriod use arises, with absoutely no proof or reason to suspect. I imagine I'm not the only one...... Actually, you are the only one. I imagine you would also make that statement if we had been discussing Jim Thorpe or Shoeless Joe Jackson or Knute Rockne.
posted by irunfromclones at 07:02 PM on November 29, 2007
A sad reality: Anytime I read about abnormal greatness, somewhere deep within myself, a question about possible steriod use arises, with absoutely no proof or reason to suspect. I imagine I'm not the only one...... posted by Bill Lumbergh You're probably correct, and I think that's sad. There's nothing in the article about steroids or drugs. He was a natural athlete his entire career. The late career improvements that are often pointed at with other athletes don't exist. I simply don't see how you can read that entire column and come away with 'I wonder if he took steroids' as your comment. So I hate even replying to it, but since you did bring it up this is the only thing I could find about Bo Jackson and steroids. The news paper that reported it: Jackson has stated publicly he has never used steroids," the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin said on its Web site. "We retract the quote and the further statement that the speaker personally witnessed this damage to his life. We apologize to Mr. Jackson, without reservation. The supposed source of the info: denied making any statements about Jackson. She provided the lawyer with a videotape of her speech at a Riverside, Calif., sports forum to back up her claim. Bo Jackson: I've got nothing to hide... If anyone wants to check into my medical past, go get blood tests, go check up on those blood tests and see if there was any anabolic steroids in it. You're more than welcome. I'm not going to sit here and say, 'Maybe I did or maybe I didn't' ... I didn't. Never did. Never had to do.
posted by justgary at 12:52 AM on November 30, 2007
Ah, yes, when running from a bear, it is not necessary to be faster than the bear; you only need to be faster than the other guy. Bo knows.