Is Bo Jackson a Raiders legend?

[Doyers y Esleigher]

I don't think he is.

He only had 1,000 yards once, only played 7-11 games a season, and loved baseball way more than football. While his legend as a media star is cool, I just don't consider the guy a Raiders legend.

The argument I usually hear for Bo is "well when I was a kid, Bo was the man." He was the man when I was a kid too, but his actual impact wasn't sustained and he unintentionally cost us some great years from Marcus Allen.

Debate/discuss

[ROCKET]

Bo COULD have been a Raider Legend...he was a hell of a lof of fun to watch when he did play though!!!

[Bump]

Bo didn't even break 1,000..

And no, Bo isn't a legend in my eyes...

COULD HAVE been. But wasn't.

If this was some other forum you would have had a million and one "Have you ever seen him play? Because you had to have been there to see it and really understand"

I actually made this same thread on RF.Net and caught hell for it.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

I made this thread there too. And I got a million "DUH DID YOU EVER SEE HIM PLAY" from people from Fargo, ND and Plano, IN. Yes I saw him play you dumb fucks, you're the ones going off highlights and hype.

[yayarea_raider]

No. But still arguably the best athlete to ever play in professional sports. Would have been interesting to see what he could of done full time in the NFL, at least for the ppl who were around then.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

No way is he the best athlete to play professional sports. Great athlete, a freak in his time, but it's tough to say who the best athlete ever is.

[Bump]

Yea I also agree... "Best athlete ever in professional sports" is way to broad to narrow down to one individual person.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

I wonder what would have happened if Bo kept playing baseball? Look at the way his numbers jumped from 1989 to 1990.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksbo01.shtml?redir

It's like he matured in reverse. Usually power is the last thing to come to a player. In Bo's case, his eye didn't come around until age 27. 20 point BA jump and a 30 point OBP jump! Plus he slugged over .500 for the first time.

[Bump]

I wonder what would have happened if Bo kept playing baseball? Look at the way his numbers jumped from 1989 to 1990.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksbo01.shtml?redir

It's like he matured in reverse. Usually power is the last thing to come to a player. In Bo's case, his eye didn't come around until age 27. 20 point BA jump and a 30 point OBP jump! Plus he slugged over .500 for the first time.


It was a patience issue withBo.. he really was starting to work counts the season the injury happened.. Shame.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

Hmmmm...

Bo was in a contract year in 1990. Not saying he wouldn't have sustained success but you can never project off a contract year if the player has never done that before. Baseball FA $ wasn't completely out of control yet, so there's a chance the Royals could have kept him and made him their franchise player.

[Bump]

Hmmmm...

Bo was in a contract year in 1990. Not saying he wouldn't have sustained success but you can never project off a contract year if the player has never done that before. Baseball FA $ wasn't completely out of control yet, so there's a chance the Royals could have kept him and made him their franchise player.

OR Steinbrenner could have thrown him the Brinks truck...

But Steinbrenner was still a competent man and didn't go completely Al Davis until a few years later.

[JRaider17]

Bo was a freak...its said his career is full of "could of's"

[Doyers y Esleigher]

Barry Bonds signed at $43.75 million over 6 years in 1993 and that was a record breaking deal. Close the Brinks truck and bring a briefcase.

[Bump]

Barry Bonds signed at $43.75 million over 6 years in 1993 and that was a record breaking deal. Close the Brinks truck and bring a briefcase.

Good shit Hill....

How soon after that did A Rod get the 220 mil for 10???

2001 if my memory serves me correct.

[yayarea_raider]

No way is he the best athlete to play professional sports. Great athlete, a freak in his time, but it's tough to say who the best athlete ever is.

I said arguably, although I think we can all agree he is top 5, probably top 3 in that category.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

Canseco got 5 years, $23.5 mil from the A's. That was a record at the time too, I believe.

Babe Ruth's first Yankee contract was a record $56,000 a year because when he was a kid, he dreamed of getting $1,000 a week. $56,000 a year for .342/.474/.690 with 714 career home runs.

A-Rod's first year of the deal was 01, but remember he broke the record again when he opted out and got a new deal.

[Sonny Cheeba]

I could be wrong but didn't Kevin Brown get the first $100 million baseball contract? I'll look into it but I'm pretty sure he got a ridiculous deal in the mid 90's.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

I said arguably, although I think we can all agree he is top 5, probably top 3 in that category.

It's tough for me to agree. I feel like there are a lot of guys now who can match Bo's athleticism, but they play against much better athletes so they don't seem as freakishly athletic.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

I could be wrong but didn't Kevin Brown get the first $100 million baseball contract? I'll look into it but I'm pretty sure he got a ridiculous deal in the mid 90's.

7 years, $105 million, fuck you very much Rupert Murdoch.

[Sonny Cheeba]

^^ Yeah I couldn't remember if it was from the Dodgers or Marlins, then I remembered the Marlins have probably never had anything close to a $100 million payroll, let alone player.

[BigPrimo]

i dunno man its hard to say. I put him in teh catagory with Gayle Sayers, maybe 1-2 levels under sayers tho.

Injury cut careers really suck especially with a guy liek Bo. Still tho his overall inpact on football was felt and he did as a Raider.

Now is he a Legend liek Brown, Tatum, Freddie B, Otto, etc... FUck no!!!! But hes still a Raider for life in my eyes!!!

[East Bay King]

The question was is he a Raiders legend. I read people say he was one of the top 3-5 athletes of his time, the fact that he didn't play in a full schedule and still put up good yards per carry numbers, and that he only played for the Raiders help settle the arguement. The fact that Al acquired him for song justs ads to the Raider legend. His Monday Night performance where he destroyed the Bosworth mystique is still considered legendary. Gale Sayers had an injury shortened career as well, and few would disagree that he was a Bears Legend. And, there is no doubt that the injury was the only reason his career was cut short. The fact that we are still talking about him almost 20 years later is just more proof that his career while short, was legendary.

[RaiderSithLord]

Best NFL athlete ever, Jim Thorpe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe)

Olympic gold medal decathlete& pentathlete
Major League Baseball
NFL
Professional basketball
Pro football Hall of Fame
College football Hall of Fame
US Olympic Hall of Fame
Track & Field Hall of fame

[Miklo]

I don't know how I can explain it...Bo's legend draws from his mystique...the questions surrounding his career. I think that he is a legend because of how great of an athlete he was, and cutting his career short due to injury added to his mystique...what if? But a Raiders legend, I can't quite make that argument.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

The question was is he a Raiders legend. I read people say he was one of the top 3-5 athletes of his time, the fact that he didn't play in a full schedule and still put up good yards per carry numbers, and that he only played for the Raiders help settle the arguement. The fact that Al acquired him for song justs ads to the Raider legend. His Monday Night performance where he destroyed the Bosworth mystique is still considered legendary. Gale Sayers had an injury shortened career as well, and few would disagree that he was a Bears Legend. And, there is no doubt that the injury was the only reason his career was cut short. The fact that we are still talking about him almost 20 years later is just more proof that his career while short, was legendary.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SayeGa00.htm

Sayers lead the league in rushing twice, and he played 12-14 game seasons. When you compare them to the other guys in their eras, Sayers stands above his competitors while Bo does not. Remember, Sayers went to 4 Pro Bowls, and was an All-Pro every season of his career.

His YPC numbers were sick and he did make some unbelievable plays, but Bo never accomplished what Gale did.

[silver & black]

Bo was fun to watch. Bo was an incredibly gifted athlete. Bo would have been a better baseball player than a football player, IMO. Bo is a Raiders legend in a different way than the rest of the Raiders' legends, in that he was with us for a short time, and burned so bright in that time. I don't think he is a legend in the true meaning of the word.

[East Bay King]

I'm not sying he ws Gale Sayers, just an incredible athlete who made plays during and injury shortened career. He certainly stood shoulder to shoulder with the players of his era, not only in college but in the professional ranks of two sports. He was not the greatest olympic athlete like Jim Thorpe or even the greatest pro athlete. The question was "Is he a Raiders Legend?" Since people are still recounting things they saw him do, be it sometimes exagerrated, his personna becomes one of legend. He played for the Raiders and so he could be considered a "legendary Raider. " Not the greatest, just a legendary one. Hit up youtube and enjoy the great Raider moments.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

I'm not sying he ws Gale Sayers, just an incredible athlete who made plays during and injury shortened career. He certainly stood shoulder to shoulder with the players of his era, not only in college but in the professional ranks of two sports. He was not the greatest olympic athlete like Jim Thorpe or even the greatest pro athlete. The question was "Is he a Raiders Legend?" Since people are still recounting things they saw him do, be it sometimes exagerrated, his personna becomes one of legend. He played for the Raiders and so he could be considered a "legendary Raider. " Not the greatest, just a legendary one. Hit up youtube and enjoy the great Raider moments.

I don't need YouTube, I saw Bo live plenty of times as a kid.

I think Bo's legend is partially exaggerated by people who weren't around when he was playing. They remember the ads and all the hype and just throw the tag "Raider legend" next to his name. I just don't think he did enough to get the "legend" tag.

[Jake]

A marketing legend maybe.

"Raider legend" are big words to just throw around, Bo doesn't make the cut IMO. Dude was great, but talking about on field not worthy of legendary status.

[East Bay King]

Fair enough. I saw him play as well. I respect your opinion.

[BigPrimo]

Bo was a Raider Great like maybe Nap and Kennedy. The most recent Raider Legends to me are Brown and Wis (and some can debate Wis, i dunno who tho). Maybe before them the last Raider LEgend was Allen? Some of the Older cats around here can school on that one.

Since we are on this topic What about Allen? How does Allen fit in because he did have that awsome SB for us. What do some of the older cats feel about Allen, he a Raider LEgend?

[East Bay King]

Absolutely, he was a standout player on some great Raider teams. What made him a legend was his toughness, his ability to score in short yardage, and his ability to break the big play. Brother could catch too. Yeah, it ended badly with Al. But it always ends badly, that's why it ends. He was a leader in the lockerroom and a star on the field. No matter how bad things got, when he sits back and reflects on it, he achieved the ultimate goal (a Super Bowl Ring) and it says Raiders on it.

[Doyers y Esleigher]

Marcus is both a Raider legend and a "what could have been." Bo is just the latter.

[ROCKET]

Bo was a Raider Great like maybe Nap and Kennedy. The most recent Raider Legends to me are Brown and Wis (and some can debate Wis, i dunno who tho). Maybe before them the last Raider LEgend was Allen? Some of the Older cats around here can school on that one.

Since we are on this topic What about Allen? How does Allen fit in because he did have that awsome SB for us. What do some of the older cats feel about Allen, he a Raider LEgend?

Legend...hands down.

[silver & black]

Allen is, and always will be a Raider... no matter what he, or some fans say. I would put him in the legend catagory.

[cheapshotartist]

I don't think he is.

He only had 1,000 yards once, only played 7-11 games a season, and loved baseball way more than football. While his legend as a media star is cool, I just don't consider the guy a Raiders legend.

The argument I usually hear for Bo is "well when I was a kid, Bo was the man." He was the man when I was a kid too, but his actual impact wasn't sustained and he unintentionally cost us some great years from Marcus Allen.

Debate/discuss

I agree Bo was a part time player and helped cause the problems between Marcus Allen and Al. When you already have one of the best RB's in the NFL way would you go out and get Bo when he never played a whole season? SPEED! Al still has not changed If you have speed you will be a Raider.
:csa:

[Don]

Bo was a flash in the pan, as far as football careers and success go, but managed to be remembered as if he was some sort of legend, otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion. I don't think most of the people who put Bo on a pedestal actually remember his game other than the clip of him driving Boz and flipping him into the endzone, and the Bo Knows commercials, otherwise they'd know that Bo gets an incomplete grade in the legend dept.
Would his legacy have stuck if he hadnt been one of the first Nike sponsored athletes on tv? Would he be as famous if he wasnt a dual sport athlete? I don't think so. Could he have been the best RB to ever live had he avoided his hip injury? Absolutely.

Not a legend, but rather a mini-legacy of what briefly was and what could have been.

[BigPrimo]

I agree Bo was a part time player and helped cause the problems between Marcus Allen and Al. When you already have one of the best RB's in the NFL way would you go out and get Bo when he never played a whole season? SPEED! Al still has not changed If you have speed you will be a Raider.
:csa:

yeah but kinda think about football today and how its played with 2 and now 3 good solid backs. 1for speed, 1 for power, and a shorts distance/goaline back.

Just think about a team with Allen and Jackson in the backfield. If you think about it AL kinda did then what teams are doing now the only problem is he didnt use them right. I would have centered my whole offense around those 2 and ran very heavy giving each 25 carries a game. GAWD WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN.

[cheapshotartist]

yeah but kinda think about football today and how its played with 2 and now 3 good solid backs. 1for speed, 1 for power, and a shorts distance/goaline back.

Just think about a team with Allen and Jackson in the backfield. If you think about it AL kinda did then what teams are doing now the only problem is he didnt use them right. I would have centered my whole offense around those 2 and ran very heavy giving each 25 carries a game. GAWD WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN.

I agree If Allen and Bo were used correctly they would have been the bomb. :csa:

[TheMadEskimo]

Yes, Bo Jackson is a Raider legend!

After Seattle owned us the year before 37-0 on MNF and also beat us the year before that by some crazy lopsided score on MNF (with Marcus). As a Raider fan I was about to jump out my apartment window!

Seattle was like San Diego in now to the Raiders. We needed a Superman to save the day and Bo Jackson was that Superman to make everything in the world seem right again. So F*** YES Bo Jackson is a Raider legend off that one friggin game!!!!!!!!!

Let me ask all of you this? If you were to draft a player from any era of football at the peak of their career, who would be your first pick?? My first pick would be Bo Jackson.....

Simon & Garfunkel need to change the name in Mrs Robinson from Joe Dimaggio to Bo Jackson!

[Boom]

Bo more than likely would've smashed some running back records had he not been injured

[Boom]

And talk about speed! Bo's 40 yard dash time was clocked at 4.12 seconds! That's damn near an animal with four legs!

[Boom]

I know it's hard to believe, but here's proof! It's incredible to run that fast when you are a big man


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Jackson