Baylor Rich

Professor Justin Duckwitz

ENGL 1010

5/5/2020

None Greater: Bo Jackson

Before the game starts, he’s surrounded by reporters asking for explanations. He can’t help but

be extra exasperated by these people who elevate him to a level above human. The reporters

implore Bo to tell them what it’s like to be the greatest athlete of all time. “I’m just another

player, you know?” he modestly explains. The game starts; Royals at Yankees. Bo stands up for

his first at bat of the game and smashes a home run to center field. Second time up, Bo launches

a monster 464-foot home run over the left field fence with ease. Last at-bat was just Bo being

Bo, he sends the ball over the right field fence once again for the third home run of the night.

“You know what?” Royals Hall of Famer Frank White said almost 20 years later, “I really did

play baseball with Superman.” (Posnaski, 1). This is Bo Jackson. He is the greatest of all time

(the G.0.A.T.).

Just by looking at this man you could tell he was something special. Standing 6’1, 230 lbs. Bo

Jackson was the greatest athlete to ever walk this earth. What made him so special? Bo was no

ordinary athlete. Not only could Bo Jackson hit a baseball better than anyone, he could run. He

could tackle. He could jump. Bo Jackson is one of the only athletes in history to simultaneously

play two sports at their highest professional level and excel at both. During spring and summer,
Bo was on the diamond playing baseball in the major league for the Kansas City Royals. During

the Fall and Winter, Bo was on the football field as one of the greatest running backs in the

National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders.

In his years as a baseball player, Bo had a total of 2,393 at-bats and 598 hits for lifetime batting

average of .250. On top of this he smashed 141 homeruns in his eight-season career. On the

football field, as a running back, Bo ran for a total of 2,782 yards with 16 touchdowns during the

span of four seasons. According to author Adam Augustyn, “In 1989 Jackson was named to

the American League All-Star team during a season in which he established career highs with 32

home runs and 105 runs batted in. The following year he rushed for 698 yards and five

touchdowns over 10 games to earn Pro Bowl honours, thus becoming the first athlete to make

all-star teams in two major North American sports.” (1)

His stats demonstrated his greatness as a player, his humbleness and respect for fans and

teammates demonstrated his greatness as a person. Despite his Greek statuesque form herculean

abilities, he never put himself above his teammates or other people. Humbleness to this level in a

real-life superhero like Bo is a once-in-a-blue-moon personality trait. Other superstars let their

fame go to their heads. Bo stayed Bo throughout his career.

I remember back to the time in my life when I was playing little league baseball. One day I was

shown a video highlight of Bo Jackson playing in the outfield. He drifted to catch a pop-fly, but

the ball careened off the wall and rolled quickly away from him as the batter made his way

toward third base. Without hesitation, Bo ran straight to the ball, picked it up on the run and with

one big crow hop and release he threw this ball further than I have ever seen a ball thrown at a

speed that looked inhuman. His arm transformed into a cannon as the ball exploded from his
hand and flew hundreds of feet to arrive ahead of the ill-fated runner attempting to get take third

base. I remember sitting in my bed after watching that video and deciding that I wanted to be like

Bo. From then on, the outfield wasn’t where the worst player on the team played, it became

where Bo played. And where Bo played, I played.

Bo Jackson wasn’t just the G.O.A.T then, but he remains the G.O.A.T. now and for the rest of

the sports history because of his determination and ability to play the games that he loves.

References

Augustyn, Adam. “Bo Jackson.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20

Sept. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Bo-Jackson.

Posnanski, Joe. “Between the Seams | Recalling Bo Jackson's Days in Baseball.” The Seattle

Times, The Seattle Times Company, 8 June 2007, www.seattletimes.com/sports/between-the-

seams-recalling-bo-jacksons-days-in-baseball/.