Every so often you write about someone—and the experience lets you down. Here's my saga of Bo Jackson, a beloved book project and the Heisman Trophy winner who tried having me banned from stores.
I wonder if "The Last Dance" has become a turning point, where athletes now expect to have input and final authority on books/films about their lives. (And presumably a cut of the money).
"An important thing to add and emphasize: All four bookstore owners told Bo Jackson to fuck off." LOVE to hear that.
Jeff, I absolutely devoured the Bo book. You and I are the same age and I feel about him like you do. I also feel like his trying to ban you in Alabama was totally on character. There were so many moments in the book where the only word I could find to describe him was small. Odd for such a huge figure (literally AND figuratively). He has a history of going out of his way to be a dick to anyone he feels has slighted him, even in the most pedestrian way. No chance Bo could rise above your book because, really, he never rose above much. Thanks for the book and the Yang Yang.
I am only part way through the book so I haven't gotten to his White Sox years I was looking at his baseball reference page. I kind of forgot that he he quite a few home runs His main probalm is he struck out way too much. He obviously didn't learn how to take a walk. He would have been even more valuable if he got on base more. One has to wonder if he had not gotten hurt playing football and just stuck to baseball if he would have approached being a hall of famer I had just read about Tim Scott. No one said anything about Graham when he ran for president about being married. I now there are blacks and gays that are conservative, but for the life of me I don't know why they would want to belong to party that hates them
Tremendous column, Jeff....I read your fantastic and meticulously researched book on Bo. I truly wonder if he did. And, yeah, really disappointing to see how he's responded. Maybe not shocking, though: when I recall the vignette you shared of him demanding cash payment from a former Raider teammate (Greg Townsend, I think?) to sign a few pieces of memorabilia. Bo seems to be all about monetizing, and he clearly projects that trait on others (like you). Kudos, too, to those bookstore managers for not buckling---they gave him the Heisman stiff-arm.
The Bo book is on my shelf. It'll get read. Now I'm even more interested. As a young teenager when he was on my favorite NFL team I was, like most of us, fascinated by him. I'm both shocked and not at all surprised Bo would do this. Thanks for the story.
I wonder if "The Last Dance" has become a turning point, where athletes now expect to have input and final authority on books/films about their lives. (And presumably a cut of the money).
"An important thing to add and emphasize: All four bookstore owners told Bo Jackson to fuck off." LOVE to hear that.
Jeff, I absolutely devoured the Bo book. You and I are the same age and I feel about him like you do. I also feel like his trying to ban you in Alabama was totally on character. There were so many moments in the book where the only word I could find to describe him was small. Odd for such a huge figure (literally AND figuratively). He has a history of going out of his way to be a dick to anyone he feels has slighted him, even in the most pedestrian way. No chance Bo could rise above your book because, really, he never rose above much. Thanks for the book and the Yang Yang.
I wrote about your experience here, Jeff: https://theinsideedge.substack.com/p/bo-knows-bullying
I am only part way through the book so I haven't gotten to his White Sox years I was looking at his baseball reference page. I kind of forgot that he he quite a few home runs His main probalm is he struck out way too much. He obviously didn't learn how to take a walk. He would have been even more valuable if he got on base more. One has to wonder if he had not gotten hurt playing football and just stuck to baseball if he would have approached being a hall of famer I had just read about Tim Scott. No one said anything about Graham when he ran for president about being married. I now there are blacks and gays that are conservative, but for the life of me I don't know why they would want to belong to party that hates them
Tremendous column, Jeff....I read your fantastic and meticulously researched book on Bo. I truly wonder if he did. And, yeah, really disappointing to see how he's responded. Maybe not shocking, though: when I recall the vignette you shared of him demanding cash payment from a former Raider teammate (Greg Townsend, I think?) to sign a few pieces of memorabilia. Bo seems to be all about monetizing, and he clearly projects that trait on others (like you). Kudos, too, to those bookstore managers for not buckling---they gave him the Heisman stiff-arm.
Also I know we're only a few pieces into the us Substack thing since you started charging but this was probably my favorite
The Bo book is on my shelf. It'll get read. Now I'm even more interested. As a young teenager when he was on my favorite NFL team I was, like most of us, fascinated by him. I'm both shocked and not at all surprised Bo would do this. Thanks for the story.