re: Bo Jackson vs Prime who is better athlete?

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Bo Jackson by a lot.

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Not even close.
Bo was a stud baseball player. Deion was mediocre.
Bo was bigger, stronger more powerful and likely faster.
Deion could run punts and cover. Couldn’t tackle.

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Anytime you ask who's a better athlete it depends on the parameters measured.

Speed is probably equal. Bo is obviously more powerful and we know he has great hand eye coordination but Prime likely wins when it comes to lateral movement and body control. Who can run the faster 10k? Probably a sloth.

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I agree with your premise.

Speed is going to be close.
Agility might be in favor of Deion, but it's not like Bo was dragging cinder blocks out there.
Strength is clearly in favor of Bo.
Acceleration? I'm not sure.

Since they both played baseball, we can evaluate baseball-specific metrics too:
- Deion was a better hitter for average
- Bo was a better hitter for power
- Bo had the better arm
- I am not sure who was the better fielder.
- Both were good base stealers.

What about intangibles? Athletics is not all brute strength and speed.

It's an interesting question. Both are premier athletes.

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Prime wasn’t a great athlete

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I think anyone who plays two different sports professionally can be considered a great athlete.

Let's look at a few things that may compare directly.

Bo

Former NFL executive Ron Wolf remembered Jackson clocking at 4.16, hand-timed. Jackson remembered the time at 4.13 and claimed it was electronically timed, with a tape at the start to begin the countdown and a laser finish line. Not sure if any records otherwise exist.

As an MLB hitter
WAR 8.3
AB 2393
H 598
HR 141
BA 0.250
R 341
RBI 415
SB 82
OBP 0.309
SLG 0.474
OPS 0.784
OPS+ 112

Prime

4.27 40 Time @ NFL Combine
As an MLB hitter
WAR 5.5
AB 2123
H 558
HR 39
BA 0.263
R 308
RBI 168
SB 186
OBP 0.319
SLG 0.392
OPS 0.711
OPS+ 89


I think the answer is obvious.

ETA: Correct 40 time info. Bad info online

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That's sick

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sure, because it didn't happen.

I'm not even sure a 4.1 40 is even physically possible, much less for someone of bo's size. But I guess when you've got coach billy bob manning a stopwatch back in the 1980s anything is possible. I think there are some reports taht Deion also ran a 4.2 backwards

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That's sick

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It's also not real

4.22 is the combine record

*ETA: Bo Jackson didn't even go to the NFL Combine

Bo Doesn't know Diddley. Great ad

LINK

Deion tells his story about Bo.
LINK

Different types of athletes. Both were amazing talents, but different skill sets.

Only one of them was so explosive they were able to rip their own leg out of socket. The other was able to out-shite talk anyone. It’s an impressive skill to have

I don't recall Prime hitting in the park home runs or throwing out guys at home plate from the warning track.