#8216;The Legend of Bo#039; coming to a theater near you

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 14, 2007

It started as a light-hearted conversation among friends, but it appears it may need to become a reality soon.

What I am talking about is an idea I had years ago about making a movie now and then putting it in a vault until the year 2030.

In 2030, I would release the greatest story about the greatest athlete of our time, or maybe ever, and it would, no doubt, make millions.

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The title of the film: The Legend of Bo.

Vincent Edward Jackson, or Bo as we know him, was born in my hometown of Bessemer in 1962.

While growing up in the Bessemer area, Bo set high school records in baseball, football, track and pretty much anything else he did.

In college, Bo did the same at Auburn University and captured the Heisman Trophy in 1985, while also excelling on the baseball diamond.

Bo went on to play professional baseball and football and is still the only player to ever play in both the Pro Bowl and the All-Star game in the same year and is one of only two players to ever steal a base and hit a homerun in the All-Star game.

Although he seemed invincible, Bo's athletic career came to a screeching halt during a football playoff game in 1991 when his hip was torn out of place.

It's hard to explain all the things Bo Jackson did during his high school, collegiate and professional careers, and that is the reason for the movie.

A friend of mine sent me an article yesterday written by KansasCity.com columnist Joe Posnanski entitled &#8220The legend of Bo,” and the article does a tremendous job of detailing just a few of the highlight moments that caught the nation's attention during Bo's illustrious baseball career.

His football career is even more thrilling.

Moments like Bo leaping over the pile of linemen for a goal-line touchdown at Legion Field to end Alabama's nine-game win streak over Auburn in just his freshman year, Bo barreling over and through the Seattle Seahawks' Brian Bosworth for a touchdown on Monday Night Football, Bo setting the record for the longest touchdown run on Monday Night Football on the same night, Bo getting touched by every member of the Denver Broncos' defense but still managing to reverse field at least 10 times for a miraculous score and Bo getting up and walking off the field after having his hip ripped from its socket are moments, when combined with his baseball achievements, that set Bo Jackson above every athlete in history.

Bo is perhaps most famous for his Nike &#8220Bo Knows” campaign, but it was not his acting skills or marketability that made him a legend in our time. It was his pure athletic prowess.

Every child who is a fan of sports, especially in Alabama, should be made to learn the legend of Bo Jackson.

Perhaps, in June 2030, they'll have that chance.

Austin Phillips is The Greenville Advocate sports editor and can be reached by phone at 334-382-3111 ext. 122, by fax at 334-382-7104 or by e-mail at austin.phillips@greenvilleadvocate.com