The Last Folk Hero audiobook cover - The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson

The Last Folk Hero

The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson

Jeff Pearlman

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Categories:
Biography & Memoir

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The Last Folk Hero
Early Life & Struggles+
High School Phenom+
College Stardom (Auburn)+
Professional Dual-Sport Career+
The Injury & Comeback+
Life After Sports+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
How did Bo Jackson initially find his way into sports during his youth?
  • A. He was scouted by a prestigious athletic boarding school that offered him a full scholarship.
  • B. He used sports as a coping mechanism to transition away from a troubled childhood of poverty and bullying.
  • C. His father, a former professional baseball player, trained him rigorously from a young age.
  • D. He was mandated to join a local community sports league as part of a juvenile diversion program.
Question 2 of 7
Why did Bo Jackson turn down an offer to play for the New York Yankees straight out of high school?
  • A. He wanted to focus exclusively on his track and field career.
  • B. The Yankees refused to let him play football during the off-season.
  • C. He wanted to be the first person in his family to attend college.
  • D. He felt he was not physically ready for the Major Leagues.
Question 3 of 7
What event caused Bo Jackson to lose his amateur sports eligibility during his senior year at Auburn University?
  • A. He signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Nike before graduating.
  • B. He made an unapproved visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facility.
  • C. He accepted a cash payment from a sports agent representing the California Angels.
  • D. He played in an exhibition game alongside professional MLB players.
Question 4 of 7
Why did Bo Jackson initially choose to sign with the Kansas City Royals instead of playing in the NFL?
  • A. Major League Baseball offered significantly larger starting salaries than the NFL at the time.
  • B. He wanted to avoid playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that drafted him and caused his loss of college eligibility.
  • C. He had suffered a minor football injury and believed baseball would provide a longer, safer career.
  • D. The Royals promised him an immediate starting position in the Major Leagues, bypassing the minor leagues entirely.
Question 5 of 7
What was a significant condition of Bo Jackson joining the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL?
  • A. He insisted on playing strictly as a part-time player, only joining games after the baseball season ended.
  • B. He required the Raiders to draft his former Auburn teammates to play alongside him.
  • C. He demanded to be allowed to play both offensive and defensive positions.
  • D. He required a guarantee that he would be the highest-paid running back in the league.
Question 6 of 7
What medical condition ultimately forced Bo Jackson to permanently retire from professional football?
  • A. A severe concussion that led to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
  • B. A torn ACL and meniscus sustained during a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
  • C. Early avascular necrosis resulting from a severe hip injury.
  • D. A ruptured Achilles tendon that permanently affected his superhuman speed.
Question 7 of 7
Which of the following describes one of Bo Jackson's notable achievements during his retirement?
  • A. He became the general manager for the Chicago White Sox.
  • B. He launched 'Bo Bikes Bama', an annual charity event to raise money for tornado victims.
  • C. He won an Emmy award for his leading role in a network television sports drama.
  • D. He founded a highly successful sports agency representing multi-sport athletes.

The Last Folk Hero — Full Chapter Overview

The Last Folk Hero Summary & Overview

The Last Folk Hero (2022) dives into Bo Jackson's life and career as a multi-sport phenomenon. It details his early childhood days in Bessemer, Alabama, and the feats he accomplished as an amateur and professional player.

Who Should Listen to The Last Folk Hero?

  • People curious about Bo Jackson’s life
  • Football and baseball fans
  • Biography geeks

About the Author: Jeff Pearlman

Jeff Pearlman is a former ESPN and Sports Illustrated writer and now a New York Times best-selling author. He chronicled the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers in his book Showtime, which was later turned into the HBO series Winning Time.

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