Former Dallas Cowboy head coach Jimmy Johnson used to remind his players that, "If you walk the walk, you can talk the talk." Deion Sanders embraced this type of self-promoting, egotistical, blabbering-boxing-esque mindset on his way to becoming the most accomplished two-sport star since Jim Thorpe.
Sanders was special — and he knew it.
There was nothing more distinctly-Deion than when he would return one his NFL record, 19 career returns for touchdowns. He'd wait for the kick by raising his arms up as if to ask the crowd to "look at me." Then, after fielding the punt it was like he was a mouse weaving though a cluster of colossal men. These 300-pound machines futilely trying to catch the mouse with their bare hands. They had no chance. He was gone.
And just as the crowd thought they had witnessed something truly remarkable, Deion would so graciously provide them more time to reflect on what he had just accomplished — as he high-stepped the last few yards and into the end zone.
An eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, Deion Sanders was an extravagant, gaudy, egomaniacal superstar athlete. His combination of talent and his flair to say and do the extreme made him a media-hound.
As a senior at Florida State, he showed up to one game against rival Florida wearing a garish suit as he emerged from a sparkling white limousine.
As the Atlanta Falcons made him their first-round draft pick in 1989, Sanders strutted up to the podium with Mr. T's jewelry and a black suit with the words "Prime Time" so humbly embroidered on.
Deion Sanders was all about the spotlight in his time in the NFL and Major League Baseball. Although far more accomplished in football, Deion was an extraordinary base-stealer (186 SBs) in his nine big-league seasons. If Deion could, he would probably have had the bat-boy roll out a red carpet as he made his way to the batters' box. That was Deion, the man affectionately nicknamed "Prime Time."
Prime Time loved to be first and only.
He was the first and only player to play in a Super Bowl and World Series.
He was the first and only player to hit a home run and score an NFL touchdown in the same week.
He was the first and only player to catch a pass and make an interception in the Super Bowl.
And, he was even the first and only NFL Pro-Bowler to host the Miss America pageant.
Now with the 2005 NFL season upon us, Deion Sanders is 38-years-old. He is well past his prime as his Hall of Fame career is strutting into the sunset. Now a veteran member of the Baltimore Ravens, he isn't the best defensive player on his own team. He isn't even the loudest player on his own team. And, he definitely doesn't come close to the sub 4.3-second 40-yard dash he used to unleash at Florida State.
Prime Time was never known as a good tackler, even when he was considered the greatest cover corner in the sport. And now, at close to 40, Deion is attempting the biggest tackle of his career.
Last week, Deion Sanders asked all professional athletes to donate at least $1,000 apiece to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
"The recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the aftermath of the wrath, there has been a loss of life property, finances, homelessness, and a multitude of atrocities. The people affected by this disaster is astronomical," Sanders said.
Before this, Sanders's most famous involvement with water was when he dumped an ice cooler on broadcaster Tim McCarver for what Deion felt was unfair criticism.
Now, at this time, Sanders is poignantly asking for athletes to forget about personal stats and gripes. Forget about your houses or cars or jewelry, and help people who lost everything in the most devastating natural disaster since arguably the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.
"As citizens of this country, we need to unite to help our brothers and sister in their time of need," Sanders told reporters. "We must all stretch the boundaries of the giving as far as we are able to, knowing we will enrich the lives of others."
This time, however, if Sanders is going to make the greatest tackle of his career, he will have to be assisted. This time, he doesn't care about being the first and only.
Deion Primed For the Cause
September 10, 2005 by Billy Davis • Print Story
October 10, 2005
Robert Keith Hampton II.:
Deion Sanders is 38 years old. He is playing nickel back. This position is much harder to play than corner. Everyone should be honored to see a true athelete like Deion perform on and off of the field. The Baltimore offence sucks, aside from Jamal Lewis. Lets not talk about how Deion is in the twilight of his career, or what he has done in his pre-2004 career. Lets focus on his domination in limited time during the 2004 season, and the fact that his coverage area has been challenged less than any other defensive backs’ on the Ravens roster. He is far from a has been on the field. He is a pro-bowler if the Ravens could score points. Aside from the field, thank God that players like Deion Sanders, Peyton and Eli Manning and Warrick Dunn who have stepped up and testified on behalf of the hurricane victoms.