Bo Knows, but apparently, the contestants do not in the intellectual game show world.
On a recent episode of the popular high brow quiz show, a trio of “Jeopardy!” contestants blundered a question regarding the definition of a multisport athlete in Bo Jackson.
The Heisman Trophy winner was the subject of a question issued by current host and actress Mayim Chaya Bialik.
Jeopardy! Stumped
The show had a multisport athlete category, and the question veered right into the lane of arguably the best multisport athlete not named Deion Sanders.
“He won the Heisman at Auburn, ran for 221 yards in one game for the Raiders, and was an AL All Star,” host Mayim Bialik said.
However, to the bewilderment of sports fans everywhere, the three contestants didn’t have a clue. None of them even attempted to make a guess; the silence on the studio set was so palpable that the viewers could almost hear their hearts beating with anxiety.
The Backlash Is Real
Although the game show episode continued, Twitter exploded with pure vitriol for the lack of respect for the legacy of Bo Jackson. It sent a clear line between intellectuals and sports lovers who pride themselves on understanding the significant contributions of a two-sort athlete like Jackson.
Pretty early in the game, judging by the scores. Why would you choose that category unless you're already thinking, "Ok, Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders,…"
— HammHawk (@HammHawk) April 1, 2022
I'm a certified nerd with limited sports knowledge but even I know Bo
— I SEE YOU (@DomoShow) March 31, 2022
The chatter reached Bo Jackson, and aside from the humor of not knowing who he was, Jackson was in a forgiving mood.
“I just wanted to let y’all know that I forgive each one of them,” Jackson joked on Twitter Friday.
You Don’t Know Bo?
Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson is a retired former professional baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports. He also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985.
Jackson pioneered the idea of the two-sport athlete on the highest levels.
In football, he played running back for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League. In baseball, he played left field and was a designated hitter for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and the California Angels of the American League in Major League Baseball.
One Of The Best Ever
While at Auburn University, he won the 1985 Heisman Trophy, the prize annually awarded to the most outstanding collegiate football player in the United States. He also ran a 40-yard dash in 4.12 seconds (hand-timed), the fastest verifiable 40-yard dash time ever recorded at any NFL Combine.
However, a hip injury severely impaired his professional baseball career and ended his NFL career.
In 1989 and 1990, Jackson’s name became known beyond just sports fans through the “Bo Knows” advertising campaign, a series of advertisements by Nike that starred Jackson alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Bo Diddley.
It was the progenitor of the cross-cultural integration to promote a lifestyle product; in this case, a cross-training athletic shoe aptly named the Bo Jacksons.
As one of the three people in this video: thank you, Bo.
— Joey Lavarias (@joeylavarias) April 1, 2022
Forgiveness Granted
Bo Jackson is one of the most memorable sports figures of the last five decades.
One of the three contestants, Joey Lavarias, responded to Jackson’s forgiveness tweet with an appreciation for his athletic history oversight.
“As one of the three people in this video: thank you, Bo,” Lavarias posted.
Don’t worry, Bo knows, Joey. Bo knows.
