Bo Jackson: an American Hero and Legend in Sports

The athlete that I am going to write about is Bo Jackson. Bo Jackson is arguably the greatest athlete of all time. I decided to write about Bo Jackson because of all of his great accomplishments, and since he is the only man to be an All-Star in baseball and a Pro Football Player. He has had an extremely athletic life, and has been very successful throughout his career. Biograghy.com says," Bo Jackson excelled in baseball, football, and track at an early age." Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson was born on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama. Bo Jackson is now 55, and retiring in 1994. Espn.com tells us, "Bo was The eighth of Florence Jackson Bond's 10 children." His family tells that Jackson was "as wild as a boar hog" Bo says in his book "We never had enough food.

But at least I could beat on other kids and steal their lunch money and buy myself something to eat. But I couldn't steal a father. I couldn't steal a father's hug when I needed one." Bo's family adviously didn't have the greatest financial circumstances, and his dad wasn't there when he needed, or wanted him. I decided to write about Bo Jackson for this assignment, to show how amazing he is and all his accomplishments. Bo Jackson accomplished an incredible feat of becoming the only man to play professional baseball and football. Biography.com also says, "In school, he led his baseball team to victory; became a football MVP and Sugar Bowl champ; and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in track and field." Bo Jackson is an outstanding athlete, and I truly admire him for it. I also admire him for overcoming his tough childhood and becoming the man he now is. Espn.com tells, "Hardly a model student, Jackson showed his prowess in sports. At McAdory High School in McCalla, Alabama, Jackson claimed two state decathlon championships. As a senior, he ran for 1,173 yards on 108 carries and scored 17 touchdowns in football, and slammed 20 home runs in 25 games in baseball." Bo only excelled as an athlete, and became more known. "In college, Jackson ran for 4,303 yards and scored 43 touchdowns in the regular season.

Twenty-one times he rushed for three figures. He culminated his Auburn career in 1985 with four 200-yard rushing games in a 1,786-yard season and won the Heisman Trophy, an achievement Jackson called "my greatest honor." In 1986 The Royals, baseball team, made Jackson a fourth-round pick in the draft. Soon later in the 1987 draft, the Raiders picked him up. Raiders owner Al Davis embraced Bo's baseball career. Davis offered Bo full time money for his part time football work after his baseball season. By 1989, Bo was a baseball all-star. Espn.com also says, "His mammoth home run to center in Anaheim off Rick Reuschel leading off for the American League made him the All-Star Game MVP." In 1990, Jackson gained 698 yards in 10 games, which earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl, though he never played the game, because of his hip injury that ended his football career. After Bo retired in 1995, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Bo Jackson is an incredible man, and a phenomenal athlete.