# How good was Bo Jackson? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 4, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668 "2014-05-04T21:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/21 "2014-05-08T18:33:30Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Bo Jackson was built like a Humvee with the speed of a Vette. He’d’ve wiped the field with Deion Sanders. In fact it was his own strength that he ripped his hip out of its socket trying to get loose from a tackle. Bo had/has avascular necrosis. > **[Avascular necrosis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avascular_necrosis)** > > Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis or bone infarction, is death of bone tissue due to interruption of the blood supply. Early on, there may be no symptoms. Gradually joint pain may develop, which may limit the person's ability to move. Complications may include collapse of the bone or nearby joint surface. > Risk factors include bone fractures, joint dislocations, alcoholism, and the use of high-dose steroids. The condition may also occur without any clear reason. The most commo... His hip was gone anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/22 "2014-05-08T18:37:34Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#): > > Bo had/has avascular necrosis. > > [Avascular necrosis - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avascular_necrosis) > > His hip was gone anyway. The avascular necrosis was the result of his injury. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/23 "2014-05-08T19:27:15Z")
I just saw the ESPN 30 for 30 on Bo. He ran a 4.12 40!?!?’! That is mind-boggling. :eek: What was even more amazing is that he never lifted weights. His physique was basically a gift from God. If you have a chance to catch the ESPN show, I recommend it. Very interesting to go back and hear people that played baseball and football with him. Professional athletes were in awe of him as much as the average fan. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/24 "2014-05-08T19:43:46Z")
[That was before electronic timing](http://edge.si.com/edge/photos/2014/05/07/catch-me-if-you-can-fastest-nfl-draft-picks-history?eref=sihp#20), but even if you assume they jumped the gun he was obviously very fast. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/25 "2014-05-08T20:41:21Z")
Given Bo’s injury and short lived athletic career, it is very hard to do anything more than speculate about his place in history and the “what ifs”. However that being said, I - personally - feel confident saying that he was THE best athlete of his generation and maybe all time. Did you see him run over Bosworth? Did you see him run past Bosworth against a 15 yard angle? Did you see any of his tape measure home runs in KC? Did you ever his one of his OF to Home Plate throws? Did you ever see him run up the wall at Kaufman stadium? The guy was simply amazing. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/26 "2014-05-08T21:07:25Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Given Bo’s injury and short lived athletic career, it is very hard to do anything more than speculate about his place in history and the “what ifs”. > > However that being said, I - personally - feel confident saying that he was THE best athlete of his generation and maybe all time. How do you define “best athlete”? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/27 "2014-05-08T21:26:39Z")
Purely as an ATHLETE, Bo Jackson was a remarkable specimen. I’ve never seen a player that strong AND that fast (there have been faster guys and stronger guys, but never anyone faster AND stronger). I have litle doubt he’d have been a Hall of Fame running back if he’d stayed healthy. In baseball… he would never have been a Hall of Famer. His batting average was too low, and he didn’t draw many walks. But he was a lot of fun to watch. Excellent power (not surprisingly) and every so often he’d make some amazing plays in the outfield. I can’t help wondering how he’d have fared in the Olympic decathlon. ---
**Author:** ![Frapp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@Frapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frapp)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/28 "2014-05-08T21:40:21Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > If you really want to know, play Tecmo Bowl and choose the Raiders. Obligatory YouTube video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkdZesB\_nzE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkdZesB_nzE) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/29 "2014-05-08T23:01:48Z")
I loved the Nike [“Bo Knows”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXVAiFBEpwA) commercial with Bo Diddley. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/30 "2014-05-08T23:09:42Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Given Bo’s injury and short lived athletic career, it is very hard to do anything more than speculate about his place in history and the “what ifs”. > > However that being said, I - personally - feel confident saying that he was THE best athlete of his generation and maybe all time. > > Did you see him run over Bosworth? > **Did you see him run past Bosworth against a 15 yard angle?** > Did you see any of his tape measure home runs in KC? > Did you ever his one of his OF to Home Plate throws? > Did you ever see him run up the wall at Kaufman stadium? > > The guy was simply amazing. That was the _other_ Bo Jackson TD, the one that most people don’t remember, from that MNF game. “The Boz” sure talked a lot (my wife refers to people like him as “Masters of Self-Promotion”) but when the chips were down he was no match for Bo Jackson. In his defense, few opponents were. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/31 "2014-05-08T23:22:18Z")
Here’s a video of the aforementioned 91-yard TD run vs. the Seahawks: [BO JACKSON 91 YARD RUN VS. SEAHAWKS - NOVEMBER 30, 1987 - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQ72rE6iyw) What makes it all the more incredible is that it’s not only “The Boz” whom he outruns on that play (if you look closely enough you’ll see that “The Boz” gets tied up in the middle of the field a bit before he can start his pursuit and never really stands a chance) but also All-Pro (and, in my opinion, right up there with Ronnie Lott as one of the best safeties in the NFL in the '80s) S Kenny Easley. People don’t talk about him much anymore but Kenny Easley was no joke. He was once voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year and he even volunteered to return punts one season. But you can see what happened to him on _this_ play. Was Bo a tremendous athlete? Ask Brian Bosworth and Kenny Easley what _they_ think. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/32 "2014-05-13T01:36:23Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Did you ever see him run up the wall at Kaufman stadium? > > The guy was simply amazing. I thought the wall run was at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. I seem to remember hearing the next day some of the Orioles tried duplicating it at batting practice and couldn’t come close. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/33 "2014-05-19T11:04:39Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Only player to win a championship ring with two different teams in two different sports. > [@BlankSlate](#): > > Sanders didn’t win any championship rings in baseball, unless you count the 1992 NLCS. He did have an excellent World Series that year, batting .553 with 5 stolen bases. But there was someone who did win championships in two different sports: Gene Conley. He was on the 1957 Milwaukee Braves World Series team and won three NBA Championships with the Celtics. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/34 "2014-05-19T16:45:31Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > That was the _other_ Bo Jackson TD, the one that most people don’t remember, from that MNF game. “The Boz” sure talked a lot (my wife refers to people like him as “Masters of Self-Promotion”) but when the chips were down he was no match for Bo Jackson. In his defense, few opponents were. Bosworth wasn’t a particularly good player (though he wasn’t the bust history remembers; he was a decent NFL linebacker who simply couldn’t live up to his hype, not that anyone else would have). He didn’t get “run over” by Bo; he got dragged two yards into the endzone by him. I’ve seen the highlight a dozen times and if it had been any other two players you’d never have heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/35 "2014-05-19T17:20:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Bosworth wasn’t a particularly good player (though he wasn’t the bust history remembers; he was a decent NFL linebacker who simply couldn’t live up to his hype, not that anyone else would have). Couldn’t agree more. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He didn’t get “run over” by Bo; he got dragged two yards into the endzone by him. I’ve seen the highlight a dozen times and if it had been any other two players you’d never have heard of it. Bosworth should take solace in the fact that Bo was strong enough to force his own femur from its socket. I’m just sorry we didn’t all get to see more of Bo Jackson in a professional football uniform. The dude was one-of-a-kind. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/36 "2014-05-19T17:23:53Z")
I remember him being pretty awesome in Tecmobowl! ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/37 "2014-05-25T23:45:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I loved the Nike [“Bo Knows”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXVAiFBEpwA) commercial with Bo Diddley. Yeah, those were awesome. I saw some guy in a parking lot at a game or concert I went to at the time selling tee-shirts that said “Bo knows your girlfriend”. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/38 "2014-05-27T16:13:07Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Here’s a video of the aforementioned 91-yard TD run vs. the Seahawks: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQ72rE6iyw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQ72rE6iyw) > > What makes it all the more incredible is that it’s not only “The Boz” whom he outruns on that play (if you look closely enough you’ll see that “The Boz” gets tied up in the middle of the field a bit before he can start his pursuit and never really stands a chance) but also All-Pro (and, in my opinion, right up there with Ronnie Lott as one of the best safeties in the NFL in the '80s) S Kenny Easley. People don’t talk about him much anymore but Kenny Easley was no joke. He was once voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year and he even volunteered to return punts one season. But you can see what happened to him on _this_ play. Was Bo a tremendous athlete? Ask Brian Bosworth and Kenny Easley what _they_ think. For me, that video doesn’t show the set and the start of that run. It doesn’t matter, as I remember it clearly. Bo just ran toward the sideline and around the line of scrimmage, going farther than the people pursuing him, and flat-out outran them all the way. They were ready for him, too. A Seahawks fan, I remember thinking in that moment, “Well, hell. How is _any_ team supposed to stop this guy?” Regarding baseball: in Ken Burns’ _Baseball_ documentary, legendary [Buck O’Neill](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_O%27Neil) literally mentions Jackson’s hitting in the same context as Josh Gibson’s and Babe Ruth’s. He classes them as the kind of men who make baseball “unkillable.” It’s an _awesome_ quote and deserves to be seen in this thread: [QUOTE=Interviewer] When you think about modern baseball — the huge salaries and artificial turf and television. Do you ever worry that the game might not survive? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=O’Neill] We’ve done a whole lot of things to hurt it, but it’s a type of thing that you just can’t kill it. You can’t kill baseball because when you get ready to kill baseball, something is going to come up, or somebody is going to come up to snatch you out of that. I heard Ruth hit the ball. I’d never heard that sound before, and I was outside the fence but it was the sound of the bat that I had never heard before in my life. And the next time I heard that sound, I’m in Washington, D.C., in the dressing room and I heard that sound of a bat hitting the ball — sounded just like when Ruth hit the ball. I rushed out, got on nothing but a jockstrap, I rushed out — we were playing the Homestead Grays and it was Josh Gibson hitting the ball. And so I heard this sound again. Now I didn’t hear it anymore. I’m in Kansas City. I’m working for the Cubs at the time, and I was upstairs and I was coming down for the batting practice. And before I could get out there I heard this sound one more time that I had heard only twice in my life. Now, you know who this is? Bo Jackson. Bo Jackson swinging that bat. And now I heard this sound… And it was just a thrill for me. I said, here it is again. I heard it again. I only heard it three times in my life. But now, I’m living because I’m going to hear it again one day, if I live long enough. [/QUOTE] edited to add: [link](http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/shadowball/oneil.html) to whole interview ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/39 "2014-05-27T17:35:19Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Regarding baseball: in Ken Burns’ _Baseball_ documentary, legendary [Buck O’Neill](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_O%27Neil) literally mentions Jackson’s hitting in the same context as Josh Gibson’s and Babe Ruth’s. He classes them as the kind of men who make baseball “unkillable.” I’m glad you mentioned the Buck O’Neill quote. I saw Mr. O’Neill give a talk and Q&A back in the mid-late 90’s and he said the exact same thing. He told us that the way the ball sounded coming off the bat of Gibson and Ruth was something rare and that he’d never heard another hitter hit a ball with that sound - until he saw Bo Jackson play. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/40 "2014-05-27T17:44:34Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Here’s a video of the aforementioned 91-yard TD run vs. the Seahawks: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQ72rE6iyw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQ72rE6iyw)… An incredible run, but something that his top-tier contemporaries could also easily have done (e.g. Herschel Walker, Walter Payton). The set-up clocks on that play were perfection, he only had to stiff-arm a guy who was already diving and then it was a simple foot race. I think any RB would have had at least a 30-50 yard run off of that. The frustrating thing about Bo (from my Seahawk fan days back then) was hi unstoppable average runs, he’d always be slipping holds and bowling over defenders with better leverage, Tecmo Bowl was pretty accurate 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668.md?page=3)