Born in 1962, in the steel town of Bessemer, Ala., Bo was the eighth of ten children. About his childhood, Bo remarked in his autobiography, “Bo Knows Bo, “We never had enough food. But at least I could beat on other kids and steal their lunch money and buy myself something to eat. But I couldn’t steal a father. I couldn’t steal a father’s hug when I needed it.” Because of a crippling stuttering problem, Bo did not show his talents in the classroom, but on the athletic field as an exceptional baseball and football player.

After accepting a scholarship from Auburn University, Bo was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1985 after rushing for 1,786 yards. When Bo Jackson came out of college as the best football player in the country, he shocked the sports world by deciding to play both professional football and baseball. This was unheard of, but not only did he play two sports, he starred and excelled in both sports.

Unfortunately, at the height of his stardom Jackson’s football career was cut short and his baseball career hindered by a serious hip injury caused in an NFL game. Bo’s hip was eventually replaced and his career as a marquee, all-star athlete was virtually over, although he did play two more baseball seasons with an artificial hip.

Keeping a promise he made to his mother before she died of cancer in 1992, Bo went back to Auburn and earned a college degree in family and child development in 1995. Read More…