Named an all-round athlete, Vincent “Bo” Jackson overcame obstacles throughout his life. He was born November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He was one of ten children who depended on his single mother. He grew up in a rough neighborhood where he and his family faced poverty. Vincent Jackson earned the nickname “Bo” because his family described him as stubborn and hard-headed like a boar hog. He was a troublemaker when he hit his teen years. He eventually got his act together by placing all of his pent-up aggression through sports. During high school, Bo was an outstanding athlete. He knew that he had to excel in sports in order to escape the negativity of his hometown. During his senior year, Bo was active in three sports: football, track, and baseball. He received an offer from the New York Yankees to come play for them after high school; however, he turned down the deal to attend Auburn University and get an education like his mother had requested. After this decision, Bo’s entire life did a complete 360. Bo Jackson’s natural athleticism paved the way for his athletic …show more content…
He surpassed all obstacles thrown at him. He turned his life around for his mother. Bo inspires so many young children with his hardships and his foundations. To this day, Bo still holds the record for the fastest time in the forty-yard dash line of 4.12 seconds. Even though he was not the first professional athlete to play more than one sport simultaneously, Bo Jackson has become the most acknowledged person ever to do so. Jackson's speed and clout on both the baseball and the football field were legendary, earning him awards as well as admiration and esteem. His decision to leave the world of professional sports in 1995 shocked people. It left many to wonder, if it were not for injuries that plagued him throughout his career, what could have been for the legendary Bo