In 1986, a young man from Bessemer, Alabama, with extraordinary talent had a decision to make. Go with his heart and play baseball, or go for the opportunity to be at the forefront of the National Football League. Jackson signed with the Kansas City Royals, who tabbed him in the fourth round of the MLB draft, over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made him the first overall pick in the NFL draft.
A year later, Jackson made an effort to play both sports, accepting an offer from the Los Angeles Raiders, who had drafted him in the seventh round of the 1987 draft, and, with a helping hand from Nike and its “Bo Knows” campaign, cast himself into American sporting mythology.
Mick Gillispie told the story of Jackson’s decision during the sixth inning of Tennessee’s game with the Chattanooga Lookouts on Saturday.
Andrew Green
James Rowe
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