You'll Know A Different Bo After Reading Book

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - When the book arrived in the mail the other day, my first thought was to put it on the shelf. Maybe save it for a bitter cold week in January while I was home in bed with the flu.

Nothing against Bo Jackson, but having covered him for the past decade, having written enough volumes on the two-sport superstar to fill a home library, I figured there wasn't much else I could learn.

That is, unless he had come up with a cure for cancer in his spare time.

But this time, I was wrong. It wasn't the first time I had underestimated Bo Jackson.

``Bo Knows Bo,'' Jackson's just-completed autobiography (co-authored with ABC sportscaster Dick Schaap and published by Doubleday) is an irresistible book - one you'll find as impossible to put down as it is for NFL defenders to catch Jackson from behind.

The book is brutally honest, but also so sensitive and poignant that the pages will be stained by a trail of tears. You will find out how deeply devoted he is to his mother, Florence Bond. In fact, he dedicates the book to her.

``This book is for the only person I know who is stronger than I am - and more stubborn. My Mom. When I was growing up, she cleaned people's houses during the day and cleaned a motel at night. She also raised 10 children.

``And people tell me that playing two sports is hard.''

The book, written in the first person, although Schaap includes anecdotes and testimonials from Howie Long and George Brett, is a quick read, starting with Jackson's youth and taking you to the present day.

The most interesting information deals with Jackson's impoverished youth. It is amazing, considering the multitude of problems he encountered, that Jackson didn't end up in the Alabama electric chair instead of the NFL and American League.

Jackson tells countless tales of kicking butts from one end of Bessemer to another.

``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 one. I couldn't steal a father's . . . whipping when I needed one.''

Only once does Jackson admit he came up on the short end of a fight. In the seventh grade, he made the mistake of mixing it up with a ninth-grader, who was roughly a foot taller and 30 pounds heavier. The older boy punched Jackson in the nose twice before Bo saw stars.

When he recovered, Jackson ran home, picked up a .22 caliber rifle and was determined to kill the teen-ager who had just brought him to his knees. He found the youngster and began to aim the gun, ready to shoot to kill. But at the last second, Jackson thought about what prison would be like and hit a tree instead of the teen-ager.

``He moved away from Bessemer before I could get even with him,'' Jackson writes. ``But I owe him.''

One of Jackson's toughest decisions in high school - other than deciding who to punch out - was whether to attend Alabama or Auburn. He grew up an Alabama fan, but Paul ``Bear'' Bryant lost him when he said: ``Bo, we'd love to have you. We think you could help in a lot of ways. Offense or defense.''

Of course, Ken Donahue, the Tide's defensive coordinator, didn't help matters by telling Jackson that he probably wouldn't play until he was a junior.

``He said they had some great runners, like Major Ogilive, who had just finished, and Ricky Moore, who just led the team as a freshman, and I'd just have to wait my turn.''

So Jackson chose Auburn.

Jackson tries to shock you with stories about women at Auburn. But, today he is happily married with three children.

``I got all that (sowing my oats) out of my system before I got married. Now, every town I go to, women come chasing after me, calling my room, sending me notes, but I don't pay them any attention. I wouldn't want any woman who chases after me, and I stopped chasing after them once I taught my wife how to fire my pistol.''

There are far too many gems in the book to mention in a single column, but among the other highlights:

-- Jackson has refused to read a single magazine or newspaper article about him since college days.

-- He clearly does not enjoy playing for the Kansas City Royals, in part because he hates the general manager.

-- Neither the Royals nor the Los Angeles Raiders have his home phone number. They must go through Mobile attorney Richard Woods, whom Jackson praises.

-- He has always hated to practice. And once, when Auburn assistant coach Bud Casey grabbed him by the face mask, Jackson shook his hand off and responded: ``Don't you ever to that again! Don't you ever grab me again!'' Casey never did.

-- ``People are always asking me what was my biggest thrill,'' Jackson writes, mentioning the winning touchdown over Alabama, running over Brian Bosworth on Monday Night Football or being named MVP in the All-Star game. ``I got the biggest thrill of my life on August 2, 1988. I watched my son being born.''

For anyone who has wondered about Vincent Edward Jackson, who misunderstood him or laughed at something he did or said, I urge you to check this book out.

You'll never look at Bo Jackson the same way again.