# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/41 "2014-05-27T18:17:09Z")
When I was a kid there was a guy who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers, _and Penguins_. His name was Vince Lascheidand he played the organ ---
**Author:** ![Pdfortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@Pdfortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pdfortune)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/42 "2014-12-26T02:25:57Z")
Bo was very talented. He was also good at track. Big and fast a rare combination. He was always fresh in Football, because he only played part of a season. Baseball he was very good, but not great. The MNF game were he had 200+ yards was amazing, but the famous Bosworth play wasn’t that special. The Raiders were at the two or three, and Bo put his shoulder down into Bosworth about the one. Bo drove him about a yard before Bosworth drove them sideways to the ground. He didn’t run him over by any means. Marshawn Lynch dominates players every week more impressively than this. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/43 "2014-12-27T21:23:18Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > (which he wouldn’t have because “Neon” Deion might just be THE biggest pu88y ever to wear an NFL uniform) Andre Rison might [disagree](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW0DnziIYr8). ---
**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:** [December 28, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/44 "2014-12-28T16:39:47Z")
That’s the most misleading YouTube video title ever. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/45 "2014-12-29T09:06:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When I was a kid there was a guy who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers, _and Penguins_. > > His name was Vince Lascheidand he played the organ He still plays for the Pirates and he has been dead for five years. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/46 "2014-12-29T11:58:28Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > If “Neon” Deion had ever tried to tackle Bo Jackson the way “The Boz” did on that Monday Night game that one time (which he wouldn’t have because “Neon” Deion might just be THE biggest pu88y ever to wear an NFL uniform) it would’ve made what “The Boz” did look like Bo had run into a brick wall. Just like Michael Spinks with Mike Tyson - “Neon” Deion would’ve wanted NO part of Bo Jackson!! Who the heck is “Neon” Deion\*? If you’re gonna talk that much shit about an NFL HOFer, at least educate yourself on him. - “Neon” was a name invented by others and was despised by Mr. Sanders. He was, is, and always will be Prime Time (or just Prime if you know him). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/47 "2014-12-29T14:52:15Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Who the heck is “Neon” Deion\*? If you’re gonna talk that much shit about an NFL HOFer, at least educate yourself on him. > > - “Neon” was a name invented by others and was despised by Mr. Sanders. He was, is, and always will be Prime Time (or just Prime if you know him). Irrespective of his skills as a football player, I feel rather sad for Sanders if he actually wants people to address him as “Prime.” Sanders was, of course, a much greater football player than Bo Jackson. Nobody wants to hear that, but it’s true. Jackson was awesome when he could actually play, but he just didn’t last long enough to have an impact. Sanders p;layed 189 NFL games, a pretty long career; Jackson played 38. Sanders had more touchdowns in interceptions and kick/punt returns than Jackson had total, to give you some idea of scale. Hell of a physical specimen, Bo was, but he never really helped a pro team win anything. (Well, the Raiders did win one playoff game with him.) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/48 "2014-12-30T00:45:19Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Irrespective of his skills as a football player, I feel rather sad for Sanders if he actually wants people to address him as “Prime.” From what I’ve heard of the man (from people who played with him and knew him), it isn’t that he WANTS people to address him as Prime as much as it is that he DOESN’T want people to address him as “Neon”. Frankly, if I ever do meet him socially it will be Mr. Sanders or Deion (depending on circumstance). Further, from what I’ve heard, he would be outwardly gracious in any case (Deion, Mr. Sanders, Prime/Prime Time, OR Neon). He’s one of the (seemingly) few that realizes that he got paid a shit-ton of money to play a game because there were lots of people willing to pay hard-earned money to see him play and he’s grateful for it. > [@](#): > > Sanders was, of course, a much greater football player than Bo Jackson. Nobody wants to hear that, but it’s true. Jackson was awesome when he could actually play, but he just didn’t last long enough to have an impact. Sanders p;layed 189 NFL games, a pretty long career; Jackson played 38. Sanders had more touchdowns in interceptions and kick/punt returns than Jackson had total, to give you some idea of scale. As much of a fan as I am, I didn’t realize this. You are, as always, king of the stats! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/49 "2014-12-30T01:12:27Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > From what I’ve heard of the man (from people who played with him and knew him), it isn’t that he WANTS people to address him as Prime as much as it is that he DOESN’T want people to address him as “Neon”. Aye, he doesn’t encourage people to call him Prime (or Prime Time, really) but he does discourage people from calling him Neon Deion. And no, he didn’t give himself the nickname Prime Time. > [@Zakalwe](#): > > Frankly, if I ever do meet him socially it will be Mr. Sanders or Deion (depending on circumstance). Further, from what I’ve heard, he would be outwardly gracious in any case (Deion, Mr. Sanders, Prime/Prime Time, OR Neon). He’s one of the (seemingly) few that realizes that he got paid a shit-ton of money to play a game because there were lots of people willing to pay hard-earned money to see him play and he’s grateful for it. He was a super nice guy in college, too. Very personable, very engaging. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/50 "2014-12-30T02:44:55Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Played in an NFL game and an MLB game in the same day. That was my favorite part of the whole two-sport spectacle of Jackson and Sanders back then. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/51 "2014-12-30T02:56:13Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I was acquainted with Deion while he was at FSU, and I can tell you that he is, without doubt, a better **basketball** player than Bo Jackson. I think Deion was a better fielder than Bo, but Bo was a better hitter. In football, I think they are as close to equivalent as you’ll find given the disparity in positions. > > But, in answer to the OP: Yes, Bo Jackson was the real deal. He was an amazingly talented and gifted athlete, among the best 5 or 6 all-around athletes that we’ve seen in the last century or so, IMO. Do you mean “baseball” player? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/52 "2014-12-30T23:39:29Z")
I looked it up in book by Thomas Boswell; Cracking the show. It was in Baltimore where where he ran up the wall to horizontal and back down again on a routine fly. Then O’s manager Johnny Oats said; “That can’t be done. I know because I went out and tried it a few days later. That was embarrassing.” That’s my favorite Bo moment. What if’s… I think he could have been in Halls of the Very Good. To be mentioned in one sport is a fraction of a fraction of all players. To do in two sports defies belief. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/53 "2014-12-31T01:39:04Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Do you mean “baseball” player? No. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/54 "2015-09-02T02:29:37Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > I looked it up in book by Thomas Boswell; Cracking the show. It was in Baltimore where where he ran up the wall to horizontal and back down again on a routine fly. > > Then O’s manager Johnny Oats said; “That can’t be done. I know because I went out and tried it a few days later. That was embarrassing.” > > That’s my favorite Bo moment. What if’s… I think he could have been in Halls of the Very Good. To be mentioned in one sport is a fraction of a fraction of all players. To do in two sports defies belief. Sorry for the zombie bump, but I just watched the 30-for30 special “You Don’t Know Bo”. Insane athlete, Bo was. But as an O’s fan, Johnny Oates was the Manager of the O’s–he didn’t try it himself. It was O’s All-Stars like Brady Anderson, a great athlete himself and All-Star, who said–“We tried it the next day at batting practice and couldn’t come close.” Throwing out Harold Reynolds was the ultimate show of arm strength for Bo. There’s a great clip of H.Jackson in disbelief. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/55 "2015-09-02T12:43:12Z")
For those who have not watch the 30-for-30 episode, watch it… and the talk of Bo vs Boz is just crazy talk… no linebacker could have stopped Bo on [“that play”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjllemuOh0) A few baseball highlights that come to mind: [Bo runs up the outfield wall](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk3l_L-VJ3w) [Bo throws out runner at home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDb16iGZTLg) [Bo tries to call time out but hits HR anyway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2rbM4r5pf0) ---
**Author:** ![IraqCombatVet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@IraqCombatVet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IraqCombatVet)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/56 "2015-09-15T01:11:24Z")
I remember my Dad took me to a Raiders game (I grew up in LA County) and we saw Bo Jackson run a 90+ yard TD on a play. It was incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668/57 "2015-09-24T17:18:38Z")
This thread has grown pretty fast; so I hope this hasn’t already been posted. [Here’s a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ0292GRh00)of Dieon Sanders talking about being run over by Bo Jackson. [ESPN Debate](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWe1AhCGxVE)on the comparison between Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-was-bo-jackson/687668.md?page=2)