My opinion of Bo and Deion...
Deion had exceptional speed and quick reactions in a sport where there are tons of great athletes..
Deion could cover ANYbody... but when it came to tackling, there are few I've ever seen that wanted it less... he did NOT want to put his shoulder into it.. backpedaling to avoid contact etc..
But he was the Best Coverman (always lots of interceptions every yr) his lack of desire to tackle and make hard contact was covered over and forgiven and very seldom discussed by the media.
But players knew it... and his ego couldn't fit in most rooms, but tv cameras loved him and his big smile!
baseball wise, nothing special that I ever saw...
I don't really ever remember Deion making a highlight-type of catch or throw in baseball...
But I DO remember some of Bo's defensive gems, the incredible jumps he could get on a ball and the strength of some of his throws... and the power he could create on contact.
Bo was a legit All-Star.
Now Bo Jackson... There was a true stud.. absolutely, without question, one of the most exciting athletes to watch every time he touched the ball in football or baseball.
His running over and through Brian Bosworth was a memory that will last a lifetime.
I saw him RUN UP the side of an outfield wall after chasing down a "gapper" at full speed!!
.. unheard of and effortless in appearance.
His combination of Speed and Power in both football and baseball elevated him to the absolute best 2 sport player of the modern era (that I can think of at the moment, didn't go bk thru and check lol)!
Jordan (always athletic, but hitting not his thing) and Deion (great speed, hit for only a little power) paled in comparison.
Actually, Tony Gwynn could have been even more famous for 2 sport achievement, as he was probably the best hitter for the longest time in our era... and was an outstanding basketball guard for SD St ..
I saw him go toe-to-toe with Danny Ainge year after yr and in their Senior Season finale, outplayed the All-American from BYU in a fantastic game as SD St upset the (then) mighty Cougars of BYU.
but that's another story...
Bo Jackson,the best combination of speed and running power (I EVER saw by far) since Jim Brown (and maybe ever). I loved Payton and Sanders the best, but Bo's power was explosive .. like a bull bursting thru at full speed and not slowing down.
His injury was sooo weird, it didn't look like anything at all, a regular tackle just getting tripped up from behind down the sideline.. and that was it, both careers over.. weird.
NO Doubt about it... Bo had God-given athletic talents exceeding most all of humanity..
Strong like Bull ~ Run like Secretariat!!
Thanks for the reminder of that day O.S.!!!
GL ~ LOB
