Bo Jackson Revealed As One Of The Anonymous Donors That Paid For The 21 Funerals Of The Uvalde Shooting Victims
ABC - Former sports superstar Bo Jackson helped pay for the funerals of the 19 children and two teachers killed in the Uvalde school massacre in May, revealing himself as one of the previously anonymous donors who covered family costs after one of the deadliest classroom shootings in U.S. history. "I don't know if it's because I'm getting old," said Jackson, a father of three and a grandfather as he nears 60. "It's just not right for parents to bury their kids. It's just not right."
"I know every family there probably works their butts off just to do what they do. ... The last thing they needed was to shell out thousands of dollars for something that never should have happened." Jackson said he felt a personal connection to the city he's driven through many times. Uvalde has been a regular stop for a bite to eat or groceries before a long drive farther west to visit a friend's ranch on hunting trips.
It was his familiarity with the feel of Uvalde's Main Street, leafy town square and the people he'd met on those stops that touched his heart when the news broke on May 24 of the shooting at Robb Elementary. Law enforcement has been heavily criticized for taking more than an hour to enter the classroom where the 18-year-old gunman carried out the attack, and a Texas House investigative report laid blame on the school district, saying a lax safety culture, spotty alert system and unlocked doors also contributed.
Three days later, Jackson and a close friend flew to Uvalde, briefly met with Gov. Greg Abbott and presented a check for $170,000 with an offer to pay for all funeral expenses.
Man, they don't make them like Bo Jackson anymore. That's for sure.
The greatest athlete of all time, not named Jim Thorpe, whose career was cut too short due to shoddy medicine, too many cortisone shots, and a freak injury via a tackle by Kevin Walker.
But before that, the guy used to run up walls like Sonic The Hedgehog in old Kaufman Stadium
Throw guys out at the plate all the way from the warning track in left. On a line.
He was the epitome of a freak.
And he did it all with class.
He was a self-admitted "mama's boy", and even after she passed away he held her near and dear and made his promise to her to finish college a priority.
So it's really no surprise that he stepped up here and took care of something that nobody expected him, of all people, to do.
The world needs more Bo Jacksons.
Take the rest of your Friday off watching these ridiculous highlight reels of a great athlete that is apparently just as great of a man.
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p.s. - now well into retirement, Bo is an accomplished restauranteur and grill master. What the fuck can't this guy do?