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Barry Sanders played his hand
today, revealing his desire to retire.
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- Barry Sanders will retire.
- The day before training camp.
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He didn't have a press conference,
he sends a fax in.
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Fax machine?
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He does not want to talk
to anybody, doesn't want to see anybody.
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Shocking announcement
has thousands of fans feeling flustered.
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People are very disgusted
with the way Barry handled this.
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I've got an email that says,
"Until yesterday,
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O.J. was my least favorite NFL runner,
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00:00:47,590 --> 00:00:49,467
but he only stabbed
two people in the back.
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There's all these conspiracies
of why he did that.
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00:01:01,812 --> 00:01:04,482
- Well, I've heard a number of things.
- A lot of it doesn't make sense.
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00:01:04,482 --> 00:01:07,026
Was Barry frustrated
playing for a losing team?
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Is this possibly a bargaining ploy?
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- Everybody's trying to figure out why.
- I don't remember if I asked him why.
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- Yo, you walked away early.
- It was the right time for me.
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I'm a little part of the reason
why Barry retired.
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Was it friction with his coach,
Bobby Ross?
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He's always had bad coaching.
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I had called Barry perhaps ten times,
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wrote him three to four
personal handwritten letters.
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Whether it's coaching or whether it's
front office, whether it's ownership.
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Was he just plain burned out?
Who knows?
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To walk away at the height of his career,
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we might have had two or three or four
more good years left. That takes guts.
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I mean, he has his dad talk
for him and his coach talk for him.
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Can't he talk?
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All we know is Sanders ran
to daylight again, taking off for London.
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Barry Sanders is in London.
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Turns out somebody found out
he was going to be there.
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And so he actually had cameras
waiting for him.
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What the fuck? Wow.
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I've seen every documentary
on Barry Sanders that there is to see,
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{\an8}and I've never walked away feeling
like I knew why he walked away.
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♪ Who could catch lightning in a bottle ♪
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♪ Set fire to water
coming out the nozzle ♪
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♪ On the fire hose
Flyer than swatters ♪
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Still to this day,
everybody talks about him.
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He's the greatest running back
to ever play the game.
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And I know that he walked away at a time
when he could have broken
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every single record there ever was
and ever will be.
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So why did he walk away?
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♪ Catching lightning, he struck it
Screamed shut up at thunder ♪
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♪ And flipped the world upside down
and made it rain upward ♪
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♪ Cinderella man, Cinderella man
Cinderella man ♪
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You know,
I don't take that question lightly.
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It's really hard to explain.
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♪ He's the shit right now ♪
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♪ Cinderella man, Cinderella man
Cinderella man, Cinderella man ♪
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♪ Cinderella man ♪
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I always view Barry as...
it's like an artist
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will convey their personality
in their work.
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They may not be dynamic,
but what they do is dynamic.
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Barry was every bit Picasso or Rembrandt
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or whoever you want to throw out.
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He was an original.
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He was somebody that when you watched him,
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you added the words
because Barry didn't describe himself.
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He didn't want to. Didn't care to.
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{\an8}He left it up to your interpretation
of what you saw.
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{\an8}And that always fascinated me.
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He didn't have a brand.
He didn't need to be famous.
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He was going to be famous.
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But he didn't really care
about telling you about being famous.
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{\an8} You are looking live
at the Marriott Marquis ballroom
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{\an8}just a couple of ticks past noon
Eastern time here in New York City,
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{\an8}as the 1989 NFL draft is about to begin.
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{\an8}The 1989 draft class
was one of the best in NFL history.
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Troy Aikman, Hall of Famer.
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Derrick Thomas, Hall of Famer.
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Neon Deion!
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{\an8}Cowboys select
Troy Aikman, quarterback, UCLA.
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{\an8}Next up, the Green Bay Packers.
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{\an8}Tackle Tony Mandarich, Michigan State.
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Next up, Detroit Lions.
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{\an8}I had a pretty good idea
that I was coming to Detroit.
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Coach Fontes was like, "Young man,
if you're coming out of college,
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we're going to pick you."
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Detroit Lions.
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Detroit Lions select...
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- Barry Sanders.
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Running back of Oklahoma State.
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Barry Sanders, the Heisman Trophy winner,
the true junior that came out.
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And he goes to the Detroit Lions.
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Our Dan Patrick has been with Sanders
out in Wichita.
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{\an8} Well, I thought
we had an agreement on draft day.
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I said, "Look, I'm going to come out
and we need to do an interview."
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And he said, "Okay."
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And then I got out there, he got drafted,
and then we couldn't find him.
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{\an8}The Atlanta Falcons first round choice,
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{\an8}Deion Sanders, cornerback, Florida State.
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I was kind of scared.
I thought Detroit was going to take me.
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I woulda asked for so much money,
they'd have had to put me on layaway.
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On layaway, uh-huh.
No baseball leverage there.
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{\an8} So now ESPN is going, "I thought
you had a relationship with him."
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{\an8}I go, "I do." And then they would say,
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{\an8}"Well, let us know
when you found Barry Sanders."
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I mean, it sounds strange to say...
I couldn't find him.
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And people in his family
that weren't quite sure where he was.
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Like, it was just odd.
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But then that's... that's Barry.
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Back here in Wichita,
and we're finding out
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{\an8}Barry Sanders is just as elusive
off the field as he is on the field.
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We finally tracked him down
after a couple of hours.
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We had sightings of you going to church.
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We had sightings of you
going to the airport to go to Detroit.
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- Where have you been?
- I've been at home, uh,
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watching the draft. First, I watched...
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{\an8} And there was part of me
when I did the interview,
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{\an8}like, I was a little bit pissed at him
because it's like, help me out here.
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And I'm like... It came back to...
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he just wanted to go play football.
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You're one of the shyer persons
I've ever met,
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and you didn't want to
meet the media today.
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You didn't want to go to Detroit
to meet the media up there.
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Pretty tough to be a pro athlete
and stay out of the spotlight there, bud.
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It's a... I think I'm being...
I'm being read wrong, I think.
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{\an8}It's not that I'm shy.
You know, I'm not shy.
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{\an8}Uh, well, like I say, I don't...
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{\an8}I mean, some things
are just unnecessary, you know?
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And I'm not trying to downplay
what you guys do, you know.
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But you have to respect my judgment
and the way I am as a person, too.
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You know, uh, I mean,
every individual is different, you know?
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And I don't... I'm learning now,
the people in these...
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in situations like this,
people don't really...
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They don't really care about you,
you know? And that's all I'll say.
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They don't really care about you.
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They just pretty much want
what they can get out of you.
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But I don't know.
That's just something I have to deal with.
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I mean,
it's certainly something,
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when you talk about the spotlight.
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I think for some people
that's almost second nature
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and that's something they enjoy.
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Um, and me, on the other hand,
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I mean, that's not something
I naturally do and naturally,
136
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you know, sort of gravitate towards.
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It just was not important to me.
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{\an8}Barry was never interested
in promoting himself.
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00:08:08,989 --> 00:08:12,409
{\an8}That role was reserved specifically
for William Sanders.
140
00:08:13,744 --> 00:08:17,414
Barry may be exceptionally humble,
but his father makes up for it.
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He's one of Barry's greatest fans
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who is very proud
of his son's accomplishments.
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I'm so proud
of what's happened to Barry.
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{\an8}I know Barry don't...
Barry don't want it.
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{\an8}If he wants it,
he wants it for his father.
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Because he know how I feel about him
and my friends back home in Wichita.
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My dad. One thing you
know about him is he's his own man.
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He was opinionated, you know,
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and he was going to
let his voice be heard.
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He craved the spotlight.
He wanted to talk to us.
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He liked when we'd come around
with the cameras and reporters.
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He always would give somebody something.
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{\an8}What make him so special
is 'cause he's a Sanders.
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He's my son.
That's what make him special.
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Dad was a handyman,
which included roofing and painting
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and doing, you know, remodels.
157
00:09:07,256 --> 00:09:10,926
Most of my free time
was spent working with Dad,
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starting when I was maybe ten,
12 years old.
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It wasn't that he needed help, but it
was just that he wanted to make sure
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me and my brother were with him
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just because that's what he felt
like we needed to do.
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He was such a stickler
for doing things perfect.
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{\an8}He wanted things done right and perfect,
and you had to make sure you did it right.
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{\an8}Daddy would say,
"I'm your father, not your friend."
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{\an8}So we wouldn't get it twisted
or mixed up.
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We had eight-foot ceilings in the house,
and Barry could jump,
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and every time he come to a door,
he want to jump up and touch the ceiling.
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And that was one of our little pet peeves.
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After I threatened
to break his arms and legs
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for doing that, he stopped.
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Certainly he was
a passionate football fan
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and a lot of my love for the game
definitely comes from him.
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- Look at him! Look at that strut!
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Look like I used to run.
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I knew he was gonna say that.
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He was always probably my
biggest fan, but also my biggest critic.
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He couldn't outrun me.
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And I told Barry if I had...
if I put him in my offense,
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he might have never touched the ball.
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Dad is true to form.
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He's always said...
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00:10:23,874 --> 00:10:25,709
who he thought
were the best running backs.
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We all knew that since he was a kid.
Top three running backs: Jim Brown,
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{\an8}Mr. Sanders, and then Barry.
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00:10:32,299 --> 00:10:35,552
Me, I wouldn't do too bad now in a 40.
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00:10:35,552 --> 00:10:38,722
And he would remind Barry,
no matter how great you are,
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{\an8}you'll never be better than Jim Brown.
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{\an8}He never wanted me to get too high
or too low in what I was doing.
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He's definitely different.
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00:10:47,981 --> 00:10:50,359
But I can...
I mean, I can tell he's more relaxed.
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He's definitely not like a superstar
like you would expect.
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- Greg, if he did, I'd kill him.
- Would ya?
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But he was thrilled,
you know, to have his son being, um,
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you know, the number one guy
on a team in the NFL.
195
00:11:01,453 --> 00:11:04,206
- Yeah, Barry!
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00:11:04,206 --> 00:11:05,791
All right, Dad.
197
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I had, you know,
really known and heard about Detroit,
198
00:11:11,755 --> 00:11:13,548
really just through the news.
199
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For me, it felt almost overwhelming.
200
00:11:16,093 --> 00:11:19,805
You know, it was a much bigger city
than I'd ever been in or lived in.
201
00:11:19,805 --> 00:11:22,140
The late '80s, you know, it wasn't...
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00:11:22,140 --> 00:11:25,852
You know, it wasn't sort of a,
you know, the greatest time for like,
203
00:11:25,852 --> 00:11:27,312
you know, Detroit proper.
204
00:11:28,146 --> 00:11:31,024
It was a rough time for the city.
There was a lot of crime.
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00:11:31,024 --> 00:11:33,819
Detroit had a very negative perception
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00:11:33,819 --> 00:11:37,823
{\an8}because nationally, the only time you saw
Detroit really spoken about
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00:11:37,823 --> 00:11:40,867
{\an8}in the national news
was when the murder rate was released.
208
00:11:41,827 --> 00:11:45,372
Because usually Detroit
was somewhere in the top three.
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00:11:46,665 --> 00:11:50,210
We were just so used to
being the national joke.
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00:11:52,838 --> 00:11:55,507
It was kind of the same for the Lions.
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00:11:59,344 --> 00:12:02,639
Their reputation, um, was not very good.
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00:12:08,311 --> 00:12:13,316
{\an8}Every bad stat that you don't want,
the Lions are the number one.
213
00:12:18,613 --> 00:12:23,785
1957, that's the last year the Lions
won a world championship.
214
00:12:25,328 --> 00:12:26,663
You had to go there, didn't you?
215
00:12:26,663 --> 00:12:28,623
You grow up in a darkness.
216
00:12:30,250 --> 00:12:33,003
Frustrating afternoon
for the Detroit Lions.
217
00:12:33,003 --> 00:12:36,631
You're watching all
these incredible other teams go
218
00:12:36,631 --> 00:12:40,385
{\an8}and you just stay right here.
219
00:12:41,261 --> 00:12:43,263
Eight turnovers.
220
00:12:44,514 --> 00:12:48,018
And the second one
that goes for a touchdown.
221
00:12:48,018 --> 00:12:50,395
Decades of darkness.
222
00:12:50,395 --> 00:12:54,733
The identity of the Lions
going into 1989,
223
00:12:54,733 --> 00:12:58,653
{\an8}it was same old Lions.
They were 4-12. They're horrible.
224
00:12:58,653 --> 00:13:01,031
- But there was a level of hope
225
00:13:01,031 --> 00:13:04,826
because Wayne Fontes had taken over
as head coach.
226
00:13:05,619 --> 00:13:09,331
And Wayne was one of the best salesmen
that you could ever meet.
227
00:13:09,331 --> 00:13:13,043
{\an8}I want to sell the people in Michigan,
228
00:13:13,043 --> 00:13:17,005
{\an8}in Detroit area,
that the Detroit Lions are for real.
229
00:13:17,005 --> 00:13:20,050
I want them back. We need the people back.
230
00:13:20,050 --> 00:13:23,929
He sold the Lions gonna be different,
and he sold it on,
231
00:13:23,929 --> 00:13:25,430
"We got Barry Sanders."
232
00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:30,101
Ladies and gentlemen,
233
00:13:30,101 --> 00:13:33,605
I'd like at this time to introduce to you
234
00:13:33,605 --> 00:13:36,483
one of the finest running backs
in the United States of America
235
00:13:36,483 --> 00:13:40,403
and our number one pick, Barry Sanders.
236
00:13:41,446 --> 00:13:43,907
When I was drafted,
I guess I would have been 20,
237
00:13:43,907 --> 00:13:47,452
but I was so excited
and I was looking forward
238
00:13:47,452 --> 00:13:51,122
to the challenge of playing in the NFL.
239
00:13:51,122 --> 00:13:53,667
It's really good to be here in Detroit.
240
00:13:53,667 --> 00:13:56,127
I really feel... I feel good
241
00:13:56,127 --> 00:13:59,965
and I feel it's a privilege
to be one of the players
242
00:13:59,965 --> 00:14:03,468
that will help
restore the roar in the Dome.
243
00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:06,888
Get drafted.
244
00:14:06,888 --> 00:14:10,976
{\an8}And then I signed
the week of the first game.
245
00:14:10,976 --> 00:14:14,396
{\an8}The plan was not to play the first game.
246
00:14:14,396 --> 00:14:17,691
Just to put my uniform on,
let the fans see me.
247
00:14:17,691 --> 00:14:21,069
That's... at least, that's
what I was told going into the game.
248
00:14:21,069 --> 00:14:23,863
{\an8}Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.
249
00:14:23,863 --> 00:14:27,492
{\an8}Crowd of about 40,000,
half-filled here at the Silverdome.
250
00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:31,162
Those kids can move up,
there are some empty seats.
251
00:14:31,162 --> 00:14:33,039
Join the crowd.
252
00:14:33,039 --> 00:14:36,334
And they didn't see him
in the backfield to start the game,
253
00:14:36,334 --> 00:14:39,879
that's when they started.
Barry, Barry, Barry!
254
00:14:39,879 --> 00:14:42,716
Barry!
255
00:14:42,716 --> 00:14:46,511
Waiting in the wings
on the sideline is Barry Sanders.
256
00:14:46,511 --> 00:14:51,349
{\an8}Signed a $9 million contract plus,
the highest paid Lion in history.
257
00:14:51,349 --> 00:14:53,435
Cardinals look like they're ready to come.
258
00:14:54,019 --> 00:14:57,188
Paige. A loss on the play of a couple.
259
00:14:57,188 --> 00:15:00,609
Tony Paige. He doesn't have nearly
the speed Barry Sanders has.
260
00:15:00,609 --> 00:15:03,570
Obviously.
He runs about a 5.1 40.
261
00:15:03,570 --> 00:15:06,615
But you could feel
the uneasiness with the fans, like,
262
00:15:06,615 --> 00:15:08,366
{\an8}"Come on, man, what's going on?
263
00:15:08,366 --> 00:15:11,494
{\an8}What are you doing?
What point are you trying to prove?
264
00:15:11,494 --> 00:15:13,038
Put him in there."
265
00:15:13,038 --> 00:15:16,541
Barry Sanders is primed
in case his number is called.
266
00:15:16,541 --> 00:15:18,335
He didn't get in before half.
267
00:15:18,335 --> 00:15:20,003
And there were some boos.
268
00:15:22,547 --> 00:15:25,759
{\an8} I wouldn't be surprised if we
don't see Sanders on in the second half.
269
00:15:25,759 --> 00:15:29,220
I don't think the Lions
can beat the Cardinals without him.
270
00:15:29,220 --> 00:15:31,514
The first part of the game
pretty much went as planned.
271
00:15:31,514 --> 00:15:33,516
I watched the game.
272
00:15:34,434 --> 00:15:35,810
The Lions went to the dressing room.
273
00:15:35,810 --> 00:15:39,314
The crowd started chanting,
"Barry, Barry." We heard it again here.
274
00:15:44,152 --> 00:15:46,404
Around the end of the third quarter,
275
00:15:46,404 --> 00:15:51,660
Coach came to me and asked me,
did I want to go in the game?
276
00:15:53,370 --> 00:15:56,790
And I wasn't going to turn that down.
So I said, "Absolutely."
277
00:15:57,791 --> 00:15:59,626
He's coming up to Fontes.
278
00:15:59,626 --> 00:16:03,046
So they showed me
a few running plays on the sideline...
279
00:16:03,046 --> 00:16:05,674
You'll hear the cheer.
280
00:16:05,674 --> 00:16:08,468
After I guess they felt
I had a pretty good handle on it,
281
00:16:08,468 --> 00:16:09,803
you know, they sent me in.
282
00:16:09,803 --> 00:16:12,472
- Here it is.
283
00:16:29,197 --> 00:16:33,618
What kind of play might be
best for a Barry Sanders in his debut?
284
00:16:37,205 --> 00:16:38,998
And he gets the call.
285
00:16:38,998 --> 00:16:43,962
Cuts it back, reverses field, 25, 20!
He's to the 15! Barry Sanders!
286
00:16:43,962 --> 00:16:47,841
On his first NFL carry,
goes 19 yards!
287
00:16:47,841 --> 00:16:50,051
I was off
and running in more ways than one.
288
00:16:50,051 --> 00:16:53,221
Well, you talk about
restoring the roar.
289
00:16:53,221 --> 00:16:55,515
Barry Sanders does it in one carry.
290
00:16:55,515 --> 00:16:57,892
That Silverdome crowd really woke up,
and it was...
291
00:16:57,892 --> 00:17:00,562
To that point, I feel like
it had been a pretty boring game,
292
00:17:00,562 --> 00:17:02,439
but they came alive after that.
293
00:17:04,190 --> 00:17:08,278
This 40,000 crowd
sounds as if there are 70,000.
294
00:17:13,533 --> 00:17:18,163
Handoff Barry Sanders, left side!
Sanders breaks a tackle! Touchdown, Lions!
295
00:17:19,330 --> 00:17:20,874
Barry Sanders!
296
00:17:21,791 --> 00:17:25,128
- Listen to this crowd!
297
00:17:26,713 --> 00:17:28,673
What a debut.
298
00:17:31,843 --> 00:17:32,969
From the end zone,
299
00:17:32,969 --> 00:17:35,513
Barry Sanders is gonna
shake off two tackles.
300
00:17:35,513 --> 00:17:38,767
And now he knows exactly
how to get into that pay dirt.
301
00:17:39,642 --> 00:17:42,312
Reaching pay dirt,
getting my first touchdown,
302
00:17:42,312 --> 00:17:44,189
it was such a thrill, man.
303
00:17:44,189 --> 00:17:49,110
It was as much a surprise to me
as it was to everyone else.
304
00:17:49,694 --> 00:17:52,113
But it was also, I guess, almost a relief.
305
00:17:52,697 --> 00:17:54,991
It has been years
since the Detroit crowd
306
00:17:54,991 --> 00:17:56,910
has been this excited about the Lions,
307
00:17:56,910 --> 00:18:00,038
and Barry Sanders
has given them a shot in the arm.
308
00:18:01,748 --> 00:18:04,542
{\an8}Right then and there, you knew
that we had something special
309
00:18:04,542 --> 00:18:07,337
{\an8}and something to build around
and something that was unique.
310
00:18:07,337 --> 00:18:09,214
And that's Barry.
311
00:18:09,214 --> 00:18:13,009
It was lightning
from the first snap that he took.
312
00:18:13,009 --> 00:18:16,429
And because of that,
Detroiters were just all-in.
313
00:18:31,444 --> 00:18:34,531
Rolling right, draw play.
Barry Sanders... Touchdown, Lions!
314
00:18:40,078 --> 00:18:42,372
Barry was the messiah
when he came here.
315
00:18:42,372 --> 00:18:46,626
{\an8}Thank the football gods
for letting Barry fall into the hands
316
00:18:46,626 --> 00:18:50,338
{\an8}of the Detroit Lion fans
and the Detroit Lion organization.
317
00:18:54,592 --> 00:18:57,720
I was very satisfied with,
you know, how the season started,
318
00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,181
but I wasn't really paying attention to,
319
00:19:00,181 --> 00:19:02,851
you know, how popular,
this, that, and the other.
320
00:19:02,851 --> 00:19:05,186
For me, it was I had to continue to go out
321
00:19:05,186 --> 00:19:07,105
and continue to prove myself,
I felt like.
322
00:19:07,105 --> 00:19:10,149
Another flag here
in the late going. Here's Sanders. Draw.
323
00:19:10,149 --> 00:19:12,402
Ran right around Bubba Baker!
324
00:19:12,402 --> 00:19:16,990
And with those 13 yards,
rookie Barry Sanders
325
00:19:16,990 --> 00:19:20,869
is over a thousand yards
and gets a standing ovation.
326
00:19:23,288 --> 00:19:25,582
I just remember
he was so unassuming.
327
00:19:25,582 --> 00:19:29,502
The spotlight was on him,
but he never reacted to the spotlight.
328
00:19:30,253 --> 00:19:34,549
I did a story his first year in Detroit,
329
00:19:34,549 --> 00:19:37,635
and he agreed to do an interview.
330
00:19:37,635 --> 00:19:40,179
He said, "The only thing I ask,
331
00:19:40,179 --> 00:19:44,309
the only thing, when I get out of my car
in the parking lot,
332
00:19:44,309 --> 00:19:49,188
I don't want you to have a camera there
following me down the tunnel,
333
00:19:49,188 --> 00:19:51,983
the loading dock,
where the players would go in."
334
00:19:51,983 --> 00:19:55,111
He said,
"I don't want the veterans to see that.
335
00:19:55,111 --> 00:19:58,156
I don't want them to think
that I'm getting special treatment."
336
00:19:58,156 --> 00:20:01,117
I mean, he was cognizant of those things.
337
00:20:01,117 --> 00:20:04,913
He was cognizant of being,
"Can I just blend in?"
338
00:20:04,913 --> 00:20:10,168
The best example of what kind of person
Barry is, is his rookie season.
339
00:20:11,377 --> 00:20:13,796
When he had a chance
to take home the rushing title.
340
00:20:15,131 --> 00:20:18,259
Of course,
All-Pro rookie Barry Sanders,
341
00:20:18,259 --> 00:20:21,596
going today for the '89 season
rushing title.
342
00:20:32,899 --> 00:20:35,568
Sanders now with 133.
343
00:20:37,487 --> 00:20:39,155
Oh, there it is again!
344
00:20:39,155 --> 00:20:42,617
Sanders going out to
the right again and he will score again!
345
00:20:43,284 --> 00:20:44,869
Sanders on the delay.
346
00:20:47,330 --> 00:20:50,416
Inside the ten! Touchdown!
347
00:20:50,416 --> 00:20:53,878
Barry only needed nine yards
to win the rushing title.
348
00:20:53,878 --> 00:20:59,217
{\an8}We had got word on the sideline
that the Kansas City game was over with
349
00:20:59,217 --> 00:21:02,971
{\an8}and Barry was only nine yards
behind Christian Okoye.
350
00:21:02,971 --> 00:21:05,348
{\an8}We had a whole quarter left.
351
00:21:06,724 --> 00:21:12,480
{\an8}As a rookie in the league, I would think
you would want to win the rushing title,
352
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,149
{\an8}but we didn't know that records
didn't matter to Barry.
353
00:21:15,817 --> 00:21:17,568
Barry's not after records.
354
00:21:17,568 --> 00:21:19,570
If they have kept track of Barry's career,
355
00:21:19,570 --> 00:21:21,364
Barry just take himself
out of ballgames.
356
00:21:25,827 --> 00:21:28,037
It was North High in Wichita.
357
00:21:28,037 --> 00:21:31,624
We were playing against
the crosstown rival East High.
358
00:21:31,624 --> 00:21:34,043
It was the last regular season game,
359
00:21:34,043 --> 00:21:36,713
and I had a chance
to get the city rushing title.
360
00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,590
We were up by two or three touchdowns,
361
00:21:39,590 --> 00:21:42,051
and I remember calling him over
in the third quarter saying,
362
00:21:42,051 --> 00:21:43,469
"Hey, we got the game in hand.
363
00:21:43,469 --> 00:21:46,723
{\an8}Do you want to get in and get some...
get some numbers on that stats
364
00:21:46,723 --> 00:21:50,351
{\an8}to win the thing, or not?
Or should I let the young kids play?"
365
00:21:50,351 --> 00:21:51,853
And he said, "Let the young kids play."
366
00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,731
It had been pretty much
mission accomplished.
367
00:21:54,731 --> 00:21:56,733
I mean, it had been a great season.
368
00:21:56,733 --> 00:21:59,444
And being that the game
was already over, no.
369
00:21:59,444 --> 00:22:01,362
You know,
those few extra yards, just...
370
00:22:02,113 --> 00:22:03,823
{\an8}just was not important to me.
371
00:22:08,411 --> 00:22:11,622
{\an8}Now Sanders is going off the field.
372
00:22:12,457 --> 00:22:14,500
This is unbelievable.
373
00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:16,919
Sanders is not in the game.
374
00:22:17,587 --> 00:22:22,050
Man, we begged Berry to go back
in the game to get that nine yards
375
00:22:22,050 --> 00:22:26,137
because that meant something to us,
you know, to have the rushing king,
376
00:22:26,137 --> 00:22:29,724
you know, that's a lot
to an offensive line.
377
00:22:29,724 --> 00:22:32,769
So I walk over the bench.
I said, "Barry, you're five yards away
378
00:22:32,769 --> 00:22:35,646
{\an8}from leading the league in rushing.
You want to go back in?"
379
00:22:35,646 --> 00:22:38,524
{\an8}He goes, "No, Coach."
He said, "That's not important to me."
380
00:22:38,524 --> 00:22:41,986
{\an8} Why is he not in the game,
unless he's injured?
381
00:22:41,986 --> 00:22:43,988
{\an8} It's hard to understand it.
382
00:22:43,988 --> 00:22:45,323
{\an8} Unbelievable.
383
00:22:45,323 --> 00:22:48,785
{\an8} To me, that says a great deal
about his character
384
00:22:48,785 --> 00:22:51,162
and the fact that
he was all about team success.
385
00:22:51,162 --> 00:22:53,915
He really didn't
care much about individual awards.
386
00:22:53,915 --> 00:22:56,250
I don't feel like
I've ever been one
387
00:22:56,250 --> 00:22:59,253
who's really pinpoint focused
on the record
388
00:22:59,253 --> 00:23:02,507
as much as just the performance.
389
00:23:02,507 --> 00:23:05,176
You know,
the performance will tell you everything.
390
00:23:06,469 --> 00:23:10,098
I don't think it's that
different from being an actor,
391
00:23:10,098 --> 00:23:11,432
or Hollywood,
392
00:23:11,974 --> 00:23:14,060
which is all about fame.
393
00:23:14,060 --> 00:23:18,481
What athletes, you know,
they become larger than life instantly.
394
00:23:18,481 --> 00:23:23,319
At running back from
Oklahoma State, number 20, Barry Sanders!
395
00:23:23,319 --> 00:23:26,489
There are a lot of actors who live
396
00:23:26,489 --> 00:23:30,368
for between "action" and "cut".
397
00:23:31,619 --> 00:23:33,287
I'm one of those guys.
398
00:23:33,287 --> 00:23:35,123
That's where it's at for me.
399
00:23:35,123 --> 00:23:39,168
That's the exciting part.
That's the thing I love to do.
400
00:23:39,168 --> 00:23:44,423
Action. And then you're on the ride
all the way to cut, and then you're done.
401
00:23:44,423 --> 00:23:48,386
Everything else,
I don't... I'm not interested in.
402
00:23:49,053 --> 00:23:51,305
And so I completely get that.
403
00:23:51,305 --> 00:23:54,934
He loved game starts, game's over.
404
00:23:54,934 --> 00:23:57,979
You know, you could tell that
that's what he loved doing.
405
00:23:57,979 --> 00:24:00,815
It was like when the play started,
boom, the ball's in his hands.
406
00:24:00,815 --> 00:24:02,733
That's his action,
407
00:24:02,733 --> 00:24:06,654
all the way to either getting tackled
or a touchdown. Cut.
408
00:24:07,446 --> 00:24:10,491
That's it. That's all you get.
409
00:24:10,491 --> 00:24:14,036
Looking back,
I never remember thinking when I was a kid
410
00:24:14,036 --> 00:24:19,125
that ballplayers are famous or,
you know, they get a lot of money.
411
00:24:19,125 --> 00:24:20,835
Everyone knows who they are.
412
00:24:20,835 --> 00:24:23,588
That was never really
a big attraction for me.
413
00:24:23,588 --> 00:24:28,176
I felt like I had had enough attention...
growing up.
414
00:24:28,176 --> 00:24:30,595
You know, I had, you know,
ten brothers and sisters.
415
00:24:30,595 --> 00:24:34,265
I had enough people around me all my life.
So I don't know.
416
00:24:34,265 --> 00:24:37,476
So it was just really weird going places
and, you know,
417
00:24:37,476 --> 00:24:39,687
people stop and you,
saying that you're a star.
418
00:24:39,687 --> 00:24:41,189
Can you please sign this?
419
00:24:41,189 --> 00:24:44,150
He was a perfect superstar
in many ways.
420
00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:49,030
And I know that a lot of people love
athletes who have bolder personalities.
421
00:24:49,030 --> 00:24:51,032
Thanks a lot, Barry.
Good luck this year.
422
00:24:51,032 --> 00:24:53,993
But I think what added
to the allure of Barry
423
00:24:53,993 --> 00:24:58,623
and what gave him
an even sort of greater status,
424
00:24:58,623 --> 00:25:01,417
not just in the city of Detroit,
but I would just say everywhere
425
00:25:01,417 --> 00:25:06,172
across the nation is that he was a dude
that let his play speak for itself.
426
00:25:07,089 --> 00:25:11,969
How do you juke people, spin,
make adults fall down,
427
00:25:11,969 --> 00:25:13,179
get to the end zone
428
00:25:13,179 --> 00:25:16,849
{\an8}and just give the ball to the ref?
429
00:25:18,935 --> 00:25:20,811
That's a decompression
430
00:25:20,811 --> 00:25:24,982
that 99.9 percent of us just don't have.
431
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:29,737
I doubt that
the phrase was coined
432
00:25:30,488 --> 00:25:33,115
when he started
just handing the ball to the ref.
433
00:25:33,115 --> 00:25:36,577
But it was the first time that I heard,
434
00:25:36,577 --> 00:25:38,704
"Act like you've been there before."
435
00:25:39,664 --> 00:25:43,876
After going from sideline
to sideline and disappearing...
436
00:25:43,876 --> 00:25:45,962
Watch out the other way!
437
00:25:45,962 --> 00:25:48,547
I don't think anybody
in football can do that.
438
00:25:48,547 --> 00:25:52,093
I don't have the energy to dance
and plus I don't have that kind of rhythm.
439
00:25:52,093 --> 00:25:54,262
Maybe I should work with Deion
to see if maybe he could
440
00:25:54,262 --> 00:25:56,055
give me one of his spare dances.
441
00:25:56,055 --> 00:26:00,518
It just made him
so much more likable.
442
00:26:00,518 --> 00:26:02,687
The fact that he was that good.
443
00:26:02,687 --> 00:26:07,775
I've never seen somebody be that good
at something and be so humble.
444
00:26:07,775 --> 00:26:12,071
I think probably because he knew,
I don't have to say this,
445
00:26:12,071 --> 00:26:14,448
you know, you can... you can see.
446
00:26:16,158 --> 00:26:20,079
My dad, you know, I think
there was a time when I did... I scored,
447
00:26:20,079 --> 00:26:22,123
I may have done something, you know,
448
00:26:22,123 --> 00:26:24,959
that was other than just
giving the ball to the ref.
449
00:26:24,959 --> 00:26:27,295
And he just said, "No, you don't...
You don't gotta do that.
450
00:26:27,295 --> 00:26:31,173
I don't want you doing that.
I don't want you doing anything extra."
451
00:26:32,049 --> 00:26:35,636
But it's just really something
that I took as my own.
452
00:26:41,225 --> 00:26:44,729
From a very early age,
I was exposed to sports.
453
00:26:45,521 --> 00:26:48,899
When I was in diapers, you know,
my dad had season tickets
454
00:26:48,899 --> 00:26:51,193
to OU football games.
455
00:26:51,193 --> 00:26:54,822
He was going down there
to Oklahoma watching the Sooners.
456
00:26:55,698 --> 00:26:59,035
He was an OU fan.
We all, you know, we all knew that.
457
00:26:59,035 --> 00:27:01,620
{\an8}I didn't know how serious it was.
458
00:27:01,620 --> 00:27:06,042
Oh, man. I used to get mad
at my wife a lot. When they lose a game,
459
00:27:06,042 --> 00:27:09,670
I wouldn't show up at the barber shop,
I would get mad at my wife and family.
460
00:27:09,670 --> 00:27:13,716
I wouldn't even talk to nobody.
I was a serious Oklahoma fan.
461
00:27:14,258 --> 00:27:17,720
There was no greater name on the planet...
462
00:27:18,846 --> 00:27:21,724
{\an8}than Barry Switzer, in my dad's mind.
463
00:27:21,724 --> 00:27:25,728
{\an8} A national championship season
for the Sooners of Oklahoma.
464
00:27:28,022 --> 00:27:31,442
All my life,
he continued being a big OU Sooner fan.
465
00:27:31,442 --> 00:27:34,028
If one of my sons
coulda went to Oklahoma, OU,
466
00:27:34,028 --> 00:27:36,697
I coulda laid down and died in peace.
That's the way I feel.
467
00:27:36,697 --> 00:27:38,824
- That's the way I feel about the Sooners.
468
00:27:40,201 --> 00:27:43,412
{\an8} North High School, it's a familiar
sight to see Coach Dale Burkholder
469
00:27:43,412 --> 00:27:46,332
{\an8}on the phone, you know,
answering college recruiters' questions
470
00:27:46,332 --> 00:27:47,833
about his prize player.
471
00:27:47,833 --> 00:27:50,336
{\an8}Well, I've been getting letters,
but, you know, Coach says
472
00:27:50,336 --> 00:27:53,422
{\an8}there's going to be more,
so I can't just focus on one school yet.
473
00:27:53,422 --> 00:27:55,132
{\an8}They're just now finding out about him.
474
00:27:55,132 --> 00:27:57,635
{\an8}You know, they've seen the stats
and their seasons are over
475
00:27:57,635 --> 00:28:00,721
{\an8}and they're having a chance
to look at who's done well.
476
00:28:00,721 --> 00:28:02,723
And so now they're starting to focus in
on Barry Sanders.
477
00:28:02,723 --> 00:28:04,558
I didn't have a flood of offers.
478
00:28:05,309 --> 00:28:10,231
My three offers were Iowa State,
Tulsa and Oklahoma State.
479
00:28:10,231 --> 00:28:12,775
Tulsa tried. They tried really hard.
480
00:28:12,775 --> 00:28:17,071
But in the end, I knew Barry
wanted to play... Big Eight back then.
481
00:28:17,071 --> 00:28:18,697
Who wouldn't want to play the Big Eight?
482
00:28:18,697 --> 00:28:21,242
That's our big show
in the middle of the country.
483
00:28:21,242 --> 00:28:23,786
When you grew up in Kansas,
you're thinking, "Okay,
484
00:28:23,786 --> 00:28:25,913
that's where like the real athletes are."
485
00:28:30,251 --> 00:28:32,503
Oklahoma State,
when I visited there,
486
00:28:32,503 --> 00:28:34,463
I just loved being there.
487
00:28:35,005 --> 00:28:36,966
Something about it felt like home.
488
00:28:37,883 --> 00:28:41,137
For me, it was a clear picture
I was going to Oklahoma State.
489
00:28:41,971 --> 00:28:44,890
For my dad,
I was playing against his team.
490
00:28:45,516 --> 00:28:48,644
Oklahoma State was like the little brother
in the state of Oklahoma,
491
00:28:48,644 --> 00:28:50,187
compared to University of Oklahoma.
492
00:28:50,187 --> 00:28:53,399
Of course, his dad's like,
"Man, you gotta go to Oklahoma."
493
00:28:55,276 --> 00:28:59,572
{\an8}Barry Sanders, to me, Ron, is exactly
what you would want your son to be
494
00:28:59,572 --> 00:29:02,074
{\an8}if you want your son
to be a wholesome youngster.
495
00:29:02,575 --> 00:29:04,702
The coach from Oklahoma State
comes to the house
496
00:29:04,702 --> 00:29:07,621
going through
the whole signing day routine.
497
00:29:07,621 --> 00:29:11,292
And Dad comes out of the bedroom.
Coach tries to greet my dad.
498
00:29:11,292 --> 00:29:13,169
My dad wouldn't shake his hand,
499
00:29:13,169 --> 00:29:15,754
and he just says, "You know,
I think he's making a mistake."
500
00:29:15,754 --> 00:29:17,923
And he just walks out of the house.
501
00:29:17,923 --> 00:29:20,676
And I just, I couldn't believe
I was experiencing this.
502
00:29:20,676 --> 00:29:24,722
I mean, it was, you know...
I don't know. It was tough, man.
503
00:29:24,722 --> 00:29:27,308
That was a tough morning. Um...
504
00:29:27,308 --> 00:29:29,894
He wasn't too thrilled about that.
And so...
505
00:29:29,894 --> 00:29:32,605
Uh, and so he let me know it.
506
00:29:36,817 --> 00:29:39,820
A lot of guys like myself
have two years under their belt.
507
00:29:39,820 --> 00:29:43,782
And, um, to have a record
of below .500 for two years,
508
00:29:43,782 --> 00:29:45,993
for me, it doesn't sit well.
509
00:29:45,993 --> 00:29:49,163
And maybe it's not anything
that the coaches can do.
510
00:29:49,163 --> 00:29:53,292
Maybe we have to take it upon ourselves
to say, "Hey, we're sick of the way
511
00:29:53,292 --> 00:29:56,378
things have been going. We're going to do
something on our own to change it."
512
00:29:58,005 --> 00:29:59,507
Sanders.
513
00:30:01,509 --> 00:30:02,718
Touchdown!
514
00:30:03,928 --> 00:30:08,682
All I saw today was the impact of
a superstar player on a football team.
515
00:30:08,682 --> 00:30:12,019
When Barry Sanders was announced
that he was going to start for the Lions,
516
00:30:12,019 --> 00:30:14,522
{\an8}you could see the entire squad
getting a lift.
517
00:30:15,773 --> 00:30:19,068
{\an8} I think the team that they
predicted us to be the previous year
518
00:30:19,068 --> 00:30:21,695
{\an8}finally showed up that year,
my third season,
519
00:30:21,695 --> 00:30:23,822
and we kind of just got on a roll.
520
00:30:28,536 --> 00:30:30,663
Sanders turned around the defender,
521
00:30:31,455 --> 00:30:33,499
and he's going to score. Touchdown!
522
00:30:34,375 --> 00:30:37,753
Look at Peete with his hands up.
He knows it's going to be a touchdown.
523
00:30:37,753 --> 00:30:42,299
{\an8} Oh, yeah.
It's vintage Barry Sanders.
524
00:30:42,299 --> 00:30:44,552
{\an8} We started
to build up a little momentum.
525
00:30:44,552 --> 00:30:47,471
Barry's running wild,
we're winning games.
526
00:30:47,471 --> 00:30:51,600
Pitch out to Barry.
35, 40, Barry on the run to the 50!
527
00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:53,894
{\an8}To the 45! To the 40! Look out! 30!
528
00:30:53,894 --> 00:30:56,772
{\an8}They'll never catch him! See you later!
529
00:30:57,606 --> 00:31:00,818
Because the Lions
have such a negative history,
530
00:31:00,818 --> 00:31:03,237
it was almost like people
couldn't believe it.
531
00:31:03,237 --> 00:31:06,031
Like, Detroit's actually good?
532
00:31:06,031 --> 00:31:09,910
We're considered a favorite in something?
533
00:31:09,910 --> 00:31:11,579
This was not sold out today.
534
00:31:11,579 --> 00:31:14,206
{\an8}There were many disbelievers
even here in Michigan.
535
00:31:14,206 --> 00:31:16,000
{\an8}Any word for them?
536
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,170
Me personally, we can't spend our time
worrying about what other people think
537
00:31:20,170 --> 00:31:22,798
and whether they believe in us or not.
We know we have the talent
538
00:31:22,798 --> 00:31:26,427
to go on and be in postseason play
and that's all that matters.
539
00:31:30,723 --> 00:31:35,352
Fall of '91, I feel like we
had arrived in the division.
540
00:31:36,228 --> 00:31:39,273
The Lions have been kicked around
for a lot of years.
541
00:31:39,273 --> 00:31:41,066
It had always been someone else.
542
00:31:42,651 --> 00:31:44,612
The Vikings had had their time.
543
00:31:44,612 --> 00:31:48,824
{\an8} The Vikings were chasing
Barry Sanders all day long.
544
00:31:48,824 --> 00:31:51,410
{\an8} Obviously,
the Bears had dominated.
545
00:31:51,410 --> 00:31:55,789
They're playing a good team
in the Bears and they're beating them.
546
00:31:55,789 --> 00:31:59,376
{\an8}I think they're proving to themselves
that, "Hey, we belong."
547
00:32:00,336 --> 00:32:02,713
{\an8}It was kind of a new kid on the block
within the division.
548
00:32:03,422 --> 00:32:09,094
{\an8} Everybody had a sense of hope
and felt like this might be the year.
549
00:32:09,887 --> 00:32:12,640
You had people coming to school
wearing Lions gear,
550
00:32:13,557 --> 00:32:17,686
And just that sort of camaraderie
around the Lions.
551
00:32:17,686 --> 00:32:20,439
Um... there was such excitement.
552
00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,276
{\an8} The Lions have a shot
at the NFC Central Division title
553
00:32:24,276 --> 00:32:25,235
{\an8}with a victory today.
554
00:32:27,112 --> 00:32:29,823
Going into that game,
the Lions winning the division
555
00:32:29,823 --> 00:32:32,242
was just, you know, it was crazy.
556
00:32:32,242 --> 00:32:34,370
Trying to tie this game up.
557
00:32:34,370 --> 00:32:38,832
- Kramer. But Barry spins free, touchdown!
- Oh, wow!
558
00:32:38,832 --> 00:32:40,501
- Lions!
- Wow!
559
00:32:41,460 --> 00:32:47,049
Barry Sanders with a move
that Mikhail Baryshnikov couldn't make!
560
00:32:48,050 --> 00:32:52,262
Normal joints don't move the way
Barry Sanders' joints move. I'm sorry.
561
00:33:08,112 --> 00:33:10,322
And this gives the Detroit Lions,
562
00:33:10,322 --> 00:33:12,866
{\an8}for the first time in franchise history,
563
00:33:12,866 --> 00:33:14,827
{\an8}they've won 12 games.
564
00:33:16,036 --> 00:33:19,289
The Lions will host
a playoff game in Detroit.
565
00:33:24,795 --> 00:33:27,506
{\an8}Lions, Sanders! Detroit is back!
566
00:33:27,506 --> 00:33:31,218
- RFK! Here we go!
- RFK, we'll be there. Next week, man.
567
00:33:31,218 --> 00:33:33,512
- Lions number one!
- RFK!
568
00:33:33,512 --> 00:33:36,098
- Super Bowl!
- Go, Lions, go!
569
00:33:36,098 --> 00:33:40,310
- Are you ready for the showdown
570
00:33:40,310 --> 00:33:42,730
in Motown?
571
00:33:42,730 --> 00:33:45,441
The Lions entertain the Dallas Cowboys.
572
00:33:45,441 --> 00:33:48,986
Sold out, and as loud
as we have ever heard it.
573
00:33:50,946 --> 00:33:54,575
- Super Bowl! Super Bowl!
574
00:33:54,575 --> 00:33:56,326
This city is starved.
575
00:33:56,785 --> 00:33:59,079
They're starved for a championship.
576
00:33:59,079 --> 00:34:02,624
It's been 1957 since they had one. Okay?
577
00:34:03,333 --> 00:34:06,170
So when they went to that game,
that was the next step.
578
00:34:06,170 --> 00:34:08,756
We get this one,
we go to the NFC champion.
579
00:34:08,756 --> 00:34:11,383
Then we're only one game away
from a Super Bowl.
580
00:34:14,636 --> 00:34:16,889
{\an8}How you feeling?
What's going on inside you today?
581
00:34:16,889 --> 00:34:19,266
{\an8}- You nervous, excited? You ready to go?
- I'm nervous. No, I'm nervous.
582
00:34:19,266 --> 00:34:20,517
{\an8}I'm always nervous.
583
00:34:20,517 --> 00:34:22,770
A little more today than usual.
584
00:34:28,317 --> 00:34:31,612
When I think back
to that first playoff game,
585
00:34:32,613 --> 00:34:35,908
man, it was so loud and electric.
586
00:34:35,908 --> 00:34:36,950
Um...
587
00:34:38,786 --> 00:34:42,080
It was like they had been starved,
which they had,
588
00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:44,374
and it had just exploded.
589
00:34:49,463 --> 00:34:51,131
We had such an advantage.
590
00:34:51,131 --> 00:34:53,634
I'm pretty sure that impacted the Cowboys.
591
00:34:55,052 --> 00:34:59,139
To be going against one of
the storied franchises in the NFL,
592
00:34:59,139 --> 00:35:02,309
there was a sense
that this was the Lions' destiny,
593
00:35:02,309 --> 00:35:04,728
that this was finally their time.
594
00:35:04,728 --> 00:35:07,064
Jimmy Johnson
told us last night,
595
00:35:07,064 --> 00:35:10,150
Barry Sanders is not going to beat us.
596
00:35:11,235 --> 00:35:13,946
The defense's priority
would have been to stop me.
597
00:35:13,946 --> 00:35:18,116
And so it hadn't been a great day for me
statistically, I understood that.
598
00:35:18,116 --> 00:35:20,744
Sanders has eight yards,
four carries.
599
00:35:20,744 --> 00:35:25,165
I knew that eventually I'd have
an opportunity to try to make a play.
600
00:35:25,791 --> 00:35:31,004
Sweep! Watch the sweep!
Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
601
00:35:31,004 --> 00:35:33,632
Barry off the right.
Barry to the 45.
602
00:35:33,632 --> 00:35:37,135
And bumps to the 40, breaks it, 35, 30!
603
00:35:37,845 --> 00:35:40,389
He's gone! Unbelievable!
604
00:35:41,849 --> 00:35:44,560
Just kind of an off-tackle play
to the right.
605
00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,646
It's looking like I'm just going to
maybe get four or five yards,
606
00:35:47,646 --> 00:35:50,691
and I end up bouncing off of the tackler.
607
00:35:50,691 --> 00:35:53,193
You think you got him tackled?
608
00:35:53,193 --> 00:35:56,154
Tony Casillas, kind of looking
around like, "Okay, this guy
609
00:35:56,154 --> 00:35:58,490
is still running down the field.
I thought we had him."
610
00:36:04,580 --> 00:36:08,375
Every time we talk about
Barry, we say, "That's the greatest run.
611
00:36:08,375 --> 00:36:11,712
That's the greatest run."
That might have been the greatest run.
612
00:36:17,426 --> 00:36:20,637
And I just remember the crowd
just absolutely went nuts.
613
00:36:24,433 --> 00:36:28,520
It was such a moment, given the Lions'
history and given the city's history.
614
00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:33,400
For a lot of people in Detroit,
it was just like, "Wow, this is real."
615
00:36:34,067 --> 00:36:35,611
It was just a great feeling,
616
00:36:35,611 --> 00:36:38,113
a great way to cap off
the first playoff win
617
00:36:38,113 --> 00:36:39,573
in however many years.
618
00:36:39,573 --> 00:36:43,327
78,000 people
have been waiting 35 years,
619
00:36:43,327 --> 00:36:46,079
and there's probably a million more
in the Detroit area.
620
00:36:47,247 --> 00:36:49,917
{\an8} And, you know,
after he'd done something like that,
621
00:36:49,917 --> 00:36:52,336
{\an8}everyone around him gets excited.
622
00:36:52,336 --> 00:36:54,880
Barry Sanders does not throw the ball.
623
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:57,299
He doesn't dance,
he doesn't do spikes.
624
00:36:57,299 --> 00:37:01,053
He scores, his feeling is one of relief.
625
00:37:04,348 --> 00:37:06,850
And this is about
as much as you get out of him.
626
00:37:12,230 --> 00:37:14,149
Sweet running, Barry,
sweet running.
627
00:37:14,149 --> 00:37:17,319
You know,
that was the expectation and the thought
628
00:37:17,319 --> 00:37:19,863
that, um, this is just the beginning.
629
00:37:19,863 --> 00:37:22,574
Have you guys got another
one or two of these left in you?
630
00:37:22,574 --> 00:37:26,662
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
I mean, today was a pretty decisive win.
631
00:37:26,662 --> 00:37:30,499
It wasn't like we were just hanging on
by the skin of our teeth.
632
00:37:30,499 --> 00:37:33,835
We executed well, played well,
despite all the injuries.
633
00:37:33,835 --> 00:37:37,214
And I feel like we can go into Washington
and get a win.
634
00:37:43,887 --> 00:37:47,808
Barry! Barry! Barry! Barry!
635
00:37:48,684 --> 00:37:52,020
I was really looking forward
to playing that game.
636
00:37:52,020 --> 00:37:54,898
At that point,
they were the class of the league.
637
00:37:56,483 --> 00:38:00,821
The best record in the NFC
was the Washington Redskins.
638
00:38:04,282 --> 00:38:06,076
I knew that would be
a great test for us,
639
00:38:06,076 --> 00:38:08,704
but I know I was thrilled to go play.
640
00:38:12,916 --> 00:38:14,918
Things didn't go as planned.
641
00:38:20,465 --> 00:38:23,802
I was frustrated thinking,
"Can we back...
642
00:38:23,802 --> 00:38:25,387
{\an8}Can we... what can we do?"
643
00:38:25,387 --> 00:38:29,266
{\an8}That was the last game before
they were going to go to the Super Bowl.
644
00:38:29,266 --> 00:38:31,518
I just... Anyway.
645
00:38:38,108 --> 00:38:40,736
The only thing you could say
that was good about that
646
00:38:40,736 --> 00:38:44,573
was we did lose to the eventual
Super Bowl champion.
647
00:38:44,573 --> 00:38:47,701
{\an8}We were one game away. One game away.
648
00:38:50,454 --> 00:38:54,374
{\an8} I was dejected, man.
I felt that one for a while.
649
00:38:55,667 --> 00:38:57,377
{\an8} That's a competitor.
650
00:38:57,377 --> 00:39:01,757
Something bad has happened to him
and he can't do anything about it.
651
00:39:03,216 --> 00:39:04,760
But I also felt like,
652
00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:07,471
and assumed after that game,
653
00:39:08,472 --> 00:39:10,849
that we'd have, you know,
I'd have another chance
654
00:39:10,849 --> 00:39:13,810
to play to go to the Super Bowl. Um...
655
00:39:13,810 --> 00:39:18,690
That that wouldn't be my only time
playing in the NFC Championship game.
656
00:39:18,690 --> 00:39:21,443
I mean, that was my third season.
657
00:39:21,443 --> 00:39:27,032
I felt like we were on the rise
and we'll be back.
658
00:39:27,032 --> 00:39:28,992
We'll be back
to the NFC Championship game.
659
00:39:28,992 --> 00:39:32,037
And we'll be back for a chance
to play to go to the Super Bowl.
660
00:39:35,499 --> 00:39:38,543
Everybody always thought
that Detroit and Dallas
661
00:39:38,543 --> 00:39:40,504
would be the big rivalry
662
00:39:40,504 --> 00:39:43,256
because they had the two best
running backs in the game.
663
00:39:43,256 --> 00:39:45,425
It was the era for great running backs.
664
00:39:46,676 --> 00:39:49,763
Dallas had Emmitt, and Detroit had Barry.
665
00:39:49,763 --> 00:39:53,517
{\an8}With Barry back there, I thought we
were going to compete head-to-head
666
00:39:53,517 --> 00:39:55,519
{\an8}for many, many more years.
667
00:39:55,519 --> 00:39:57,354
{\an8} What a ride it's been.
668
00:39:57,354 --> 00:40:01,191
{\an8}From the absolute worst
to the absolute best!
669
00:40:02,109 --> 00:40:05,654
{\an8} The Lions end
the regular season at 5-11.
670
00:40:05,654 --> 00:40:07,155
{\an8}It's been a long, tough year.
671
00:40:07,155 --> 00:40:09,574
{\an8}A lot to be done for the Detroit Lions.
672
00:40:09,574 --> 00:40:12,577
You would have assumed that, you know,
673
00:40:12,577 --> 00:40:15,831
we would have been right there with them,
you know, for many years to come.
674
00:40:15,831 --> 00:40:18,166
{\an8} Your Cowboys
are still champions.
675
00:40:18,166 --> 00:40:21,294
{\an8}Two in a row. How sweet it is.
676
00:40:21,294 --> 00:40:22,754
{\an8} Packers down by three.
677
00:40:22,754 --> 00:40:26,633
{\an8} Somehow we leave Sterling Sharpe
uncovered with under a minute to go.
678
00:40:26,633 --> 00:40:28,468
{\an8} Touchdown!
679
00:40:30,137 --> 00:40:32,556
{\an8}There's certainly residual sort of
680
00:40:32,556 --> 00:40:35,016
frustration and disappointment.
681
00:40:35,016 --> 00:40:37,561
{\an8} Cowboys win
another Super Bowl title.
682
00:40:37,561 --> 00:40:40,272
{\an8} Obviously,
we know what they went on to do,
683
00:40:40,272 --> 00:40:43,817
{\an8}but just being very surprised,
looking back,
684
00:40:43,817 --> 00:40:46,653
that we didn't fare better
in the playoffs.
685
00:40:46,653 --> 00:40:49,781
{\an8}
686
00:40:49,781 --> 00:40:51,908
{\an8} That is the most points
the Eagles
687
00:40:51,908 --> 00:40:53,410
{\an8}have ever scored in a playoff game,
688
00:40:53,410 --> 00:40:55,495
{\an8}and they've done it in the first half!
689
00:40:55,495 --> 00:41:01,334
Barry had this organization
that was known for being incompetent.
690
00:41:02,169 --> 00:41:05,630
Emmitt had better coaching,
better organization.
691
00:41:05,630 --> 00:41:10,010
Hall of Fame line, Hall of Fame
quarterback, Hall of Fame receivers.
692
00:41:10,010 --> 00:41:12,220
I don't want to speak down
about Emmitt Smith.
693
00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:14,472
Emmitt Smith was amazing, right?
694
00:41:14,472 --> 00:41:16,349
Um, but he had a team.
695
00:41:17,017 --> 00:41:21,855
If we had a team like the Cowboys had
and we had Barry, fuck.
696
00:41:23,273 --> 00:41:24,441
We'd have been unstoppable.
697
00:41:24,441 --> 00:41:27,527
You swap Barry
and Emmitt right now, my God,
698
00:41:27,527 --> 00:41:29,779
Barry woulda had them three Super Bowls.
699
00:41:30,322 --> 00:41:33,116
When you start trying to go to,
"How many playoff games did he win?
700
00:41:33,116 --> 00:41:35,410
How many Super Bowl did he win?"
701
00:41:35,410 --> 00:41:38,205
You'll get into a fistfight
with a Detroiter talking about that.
702
00:41:38,205 --> 00:41:41,041
You don't even want to know
about Barry Sanders, man.
703
00:41:41,041 --> 00:41:44,085
Like a cannon ball
loose inside a pinball machine.
704
00:41:44,085 --> 00:41:48,298
Bing, bing, bing, bing,
bing, bing, bing, bing.
705
00:41:48,298 --> 00:41:51,593
Sometimes I...
I still see it when I sleep.
706
00:41:53,762 --> 00:41:57,724
Every time he got the ball, it was like
he's going to score a touchdown.
707
00:41:58,475 --> 00:42:00,060
I mean, that's how it felt.
708
00:42:00,060 --> 00:42:03,063
And the give to Barry Sanders,
cut back over the middle at the 15,
709
00:42:03,063 --> 00:42:07,275
breaks a tackle to the ten!
Barry to the five! Touchdown!
710
00:42:07,275 --> 00:42:11,029
There will be plays where, like,
ten guys jumped on him.
711
00:42:11,655 --> 00:42:12,948
Barry Sanders.
712
00:42:12,948 --> 00:42:14,950
You're like, "Oh, he's down."
And all of a sudden,
713
00:42:14,950 --> 00:42:16,868
he comes shooting out from the pile.
714
00:42:16,868 --> 00:42:19,746
He breaks it,
and he'll go all the way!
715
00:42:19,746 --> 00:42:21,539
Touchdown, Detroit.
716
00:42:23,041 --> 00:42:26,503
Sometimes there are
individuals that come along,
717
00:42:26,503 --> 00:42:29,130
superlatives just don't fit.
718
00:42:29,130 --> 00:42:30,924
Like, what the fuck?
719
00:42:30,924 --> 00:42:32,717
♪ Who can catch lightning in a bottle ♪
720
00:42:32,717 --> 00:42:34,886
♪ Set fire to water
coming out the nozzle ♪
721
00:42:34,886 --> 00:42:37,055
♪ On the firehose
Flyer than swatters ♪
722
00:42:37,055 --> 00:42:42,435
♪ Cinderella man, Cinderella man
Cinderella man, Cinderella man ♪
723
00:42:42,435 --> 00:42:44,896
♪ Smash an hourglass
Grab the sand, take his hands ♪
724
00:42:44,896 --> 00:42:46,564
♪ And cup 'em
Spin a rhyme to freeze the clock ♪
725
00:42:46,564 --> 00:42:47,565
♪ Take the hands... ♪
726
00:42:47,565 --> 00:42:49,484
It was literally
like watching a video game.
727
00:42:49,484 --> 00:42:50,694
♪ Cinderella man ♪
728
00:42:50,694 --> 00:42:52,654
The way he improvised
on so many plays
729
00:42:52,654 --> 00:42:54,489
and was able to take it all the way.
730
00:42:54,489 --> 00:42:56,449
Quintessential Barry Sanders.
731
00:42:56,449 --> 00:42:59,536
{\an8}That's what endears us.
It's not even all those plays.
732
00:42:59,536 --> 00:43:01,663
{\an8}It's some of the plays
where he might've just gained a yard,
733
00:43:01,663 --> 00:43:05,083
but he dodged ten players, you know,
those are some of the greatest.
734
00:43:05,083 --> 00:43:09,004
You know, behind the line of scrimmage,
he get the ball... ah!
735
00:43:09,004 --> 00:43:10,672
They be right there on him.
736
00:43:11,923 --> 00:43:13,842
Running 40 yards
to get three yards.
737
00:43:13,842 --> 00:43:15,802
Barry will reverse his field.
738
00:43:15,802 --> 00:43:18,179
And he's running back and forth.
You know what I'm saying?
739
00:43:20,223 --> 00:43:23,852
Everybody kept saying
they've never seen anybody like him.
740
00:43:24,728 --> 00:43:25,895
And I agree.
741
00:43:29,524 --> 00:43:32,402
I mean, for this second he's here,
742
00:43:32,402 --> 00:43:35,280
and then 1,001, he's not here anymore.
743
00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,783
He's over there and you're tackling air.
744
00:43:39,743 --> 00:43:43,204
Watch what he does.
He just put a move on Reggie White.
745
00:43:44,622 --> 00:43:45,790
Unbelievable.
746
00:43:46,750 --> 00:43:48,793
He could go
from here to over there,
747
00:43:48,793 --> 00:43:51,338
like, don't even get
a finger on him.
748
00:43:52,047 --> 00:43:56,134
♪ Cinderella man ♪
749
00:43:57,719 --> 00:44:00,472
I think sometimes
you just have to look at something
750
00:44:00,472 --> 00:44:04,017
and just enjoy it. I mean,
there's no one else in football
751
00:44:04,017 --> 00:44:05,393
that can make these moves.
752
00:44:05,393 --> 00:44:07,771
♪ Cinderella man, Cinderella man ♪
753
00:44:07,771 --> 00:44:11,024
When God created Barry Sanders,
754
00:44:11,024 --> 00:44:13,360
even He didn't know what He made.
755
00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:19,449
♪ Cinderella man, Cinderella man
Cinderella man, Cinderella man ♪
756
00:44:22,744 --> 00:44:24,371
Playing for the Lions,
757
00:44:24,371 --> 00:44:27,415
Barry Sanders won
the team MVP award every year.
758
00:44:27,415 --> 00:44:32,379
And one year he leaves the banquet
and leaves his award on the table.
759
00:44:32,379 --> 00:44:35,340
{\an8}I pick it up, take it on the bus,
give him his award.
760
00:44:35,340 --> 00:44:37,425
{\an8}He leaves it on the bus.
761
00:44:37,425 --> 00:44:38,885
{\an8}He said, "Oh, take it home."
762
00:44:38,885 --> 00:44:43,098
{\an8}I take it home, and Barry,
William White, and Bennie Blades
763
00:44:43,098 --> 00:44:45,141
would come over to our house on Thursdays.
764
00:44:45,141 --> 00:44:46,768
My wife would cook for 'em.
765
00:44:46,768 --> 00:44:50,063
Lomas Brown's wife would cook
on different days for 'em.
766
00:44:50,063 --> 00:44:55,193
And he left his MVP trophy
in my apartment the entire year.
767
00:44:55,193 --> 00:44:56,778
And would not take it home.
768
00:44:57,612 --> 00:44:59,948
Of course,
Barry didn't want the MVP trophy.
769
00:44:59,948 --> 00:45:02,575
He's never really cared about accolades.
770
00:45:04,494 --> 00:45:09,082
He did the same thing at Oklahoma State
after having the most magnificent
771
00:45:09,082 --> 00:45:12,460
college season I have ever
seen in my life.
772
00:45:13,670 --> 00:45:19,175
Let's see how they answer.
How about Barry Sanders to midfield!
773
00:45:19,175 --> 00:45:20,760
He might go!
774
00:45:24,389 --> 00:45:26,433
And doesn't Dad love it?
775
00:45:26,433 --> 00:45:30,019
His dad, his heart was a Sooner,
but he jumped...
776
00:45:30,019 --> 00:45:34,399
He jumped on the wagon pretty quick
once he saw Barry run at Oklahoma State.
777
00:45:42,949 --> 00:45:45,493
His junior year, OSU,
778
00:45:46,619 --> 00:45:49,414
he just came out of nowhere.
779
00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:03,761
As far as a school rushing record,
he broke the record that Thurman set
780
00:46:03,761 --> 00:46:07,015
against Iowa State last year with 293.
That was 300 and something.
781
00:46:08,808 --> 00:46:11,978
I thought, "He really is good."
782
00:46:13,188 --> 00:46:15,523
{\an8} Barry Sanders,
the storybook year.
783
00:46:15,523 --> 00:46:18,776
{\an8}24 NCAA records.
784
00:46:20,153 --> 00:46:21,613
{\an8} We went into that season
785
00:46:21,613 --> 00:46:24,574
{\an8}and all the hoopla and fanfare
786
00:46:24,574 --> 00:46:27,535
and Heisman talks
involved Troy Aikman and me.
787
00:46:28,411 --> 00:46:31,664
Then you start to hear the name
Barry Sanders.
788
00:46:31,664 --> 00:46:33,833
He hated that notoriety.
789
00:46:33,833 --> 00:46:36,252
I mean,
he did not want to win the Heisman.
790
00:46:36,252 --> 00:46:37,879
I heard him say that.
791
00:46:39,088 --> 00:46:41,049
He was hoping Rodney Peete got it.
792
00:46:42,717 --> 00:46:46,930
The Heisman Trophy is
the highest honor in college football.
793
00:46:47,847 --> 00:46:51,226
It's the biggest award you can get,
hands down.
794
00:46:52,352 --> 00:46:56,523
{\an8} I happened to be in Japan
during Heisman Trophy ceremonies.
795
00:46:56,523 --> 00:46:58,733
As far as the team is concerned...
796
00:46:58,733 --> 00:47:02,612
I was there to play a game,
and it just so happened that the game
797
00:47:02,612 --> 00:47:05,114
was on the same day as the ceremonies.
798
00:47:05,823 --> 00:47:07,617
Oklahoma State scheduled that game,
799
00:47:07,617 --> 00:47:09,577
not thinking they'd have
a Heisman Trophy candidate.
800
00:47:10,370 --> 00:47:13,122
For some of Barry's sisters,
it seemed like forever
801
00:47:13,122 --> 00:47:15,166
before the announcement was made.
802
00:47:15,166 --> 00:47:18,836
- That's the living room in the back.
803
00:47:18,836 --> 00:47:20,964
I can't take it!
804
00:47:20,964 --> 00:47:24,092
{\an8}We didn't understand
the magnitude of the Heisman Trophy.
805
00:47:24,092 --> 00:47:27,345
We just understood
it was just another award.
806
00:47:28,221 --> 00:47:30,765
{\an8}I didn't know a lot
about what Heisman was.
807
00:47:30,765 --> 00:47:33,184
It was really a nice affair.
808
00:47:33,184 --> 00:47:35,687
I'm on the other side of the world.
809
00:47:35,687 --> 00:47:38,022
And because of
the 13-hour time difference,
810
00:47:38,022 --> 00:47:41,985
it means I had to get up at, I don't know,
three in the morning or whatever it was.
811
00:47:41,985 --> 00:47:43,820
I was halfway asleep.
812
00:47:46,990 --> 00:47:49,659
It is my special privilege to announce
813
00:47:50,493 --> 00:47:51,828
with great joy,
814
00:47:52,954 --> 00:47:57,750
the 1988 winner of the Heisman Award,
815
00:47:57,750 --> 00:48:00,461
the John W. Heisman Memorial Trophy,
816
00:48:00,461 --> 00:48:05,466
and the winner, and I know him now
as you will know him...
817
00:48:09,053 --> 00:48:12,307
- is Barry Sanders...
818
00:48:15,184 --> 00:48:18,396
...of Oklahoma State University.
819
00:48:22,775 --> 00:48:25,528
It was typical Barry, when they announced
his name as the winner,
820
00:48:26,446 --> 00:48:31,659
it was almost as if he was embarrassed
to get that kind of attention.
821
00:48:31,659 --> 00:48:34,912
Thank you, Barry.
Thank you very, very much. Thank you.
822
00:48:36,414 --> 00:48:38,374
Congratulations to you.
823
00:48:38,374 --> 00:48:40,960
You know, I'd like
to thank William and Shirley Sanders
824
00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:43,296
for being so inspirational in my life
825
00:48:43,296 --> 00:48:46,257
and bringing me up
the way they know I should be brought up.
826
00:48:46,257 --> 00:48:47,216
Thanks a lot.
827
00:48:49,594 --> 00:48:52,055
Barry, I love you,
and have a great game tonight.
828
00:48:53,431 --> 00:48:57,602
Pops was lighting it up,
smiling ear-to-ear, holding court.
829
00:48:58,645 --> 00:49:01,147
We might just store it in the living room
and just look at every day.
830
00:49:05,693 --> 00:49:07,695
For him to be able to come in
and do the things he did
831
00:49:07,695 --> 00:49:10,239
{\an8}without having any
of the widespread media attention
832
00:49:10,239 --> 00:49:12,909
{\an8}that I did receive in Los Angeles
is amazing.
833
00:49:14,035 --> 00:49:17,413
Finally, a guy won the award
on just sheer ability,
834
00:49:17,413 --> 00:49:19,666
without having to receive any publicity.
835
00:49:20,458 --> 00:49:23,002
And I'd come from nowhere
to win the Heisman Trophy.
836
00:49:23,002 --> 00:49:26,005
And I was now someone
that people recognized.
837
00:49:26,589 --> 00:49:29,425
You know, that's something we can all
take with us, you know, for a lifetime.
838
00:49:30,843 --> 00:49:34,681
{\an8}That was one of those markers
where a lot changed after that.
839
00:49:40,770 --> 00:49:41,979
Hey, Coach.
840
00:49:44,607 --> 00:49:47,151
{\an8}I appreciate you
telling the people the truth.
841
00:49:47,151 --> 00:49:49,696
- I told them, man.
842
00:49:49,696 --> 00:49:52,365
- Absolutely.
- You know what, Barry?
843
00:49:52,365 --> 00:49:56,828
- We had every piece but the core.
- You think so?
844
00:49:56,828 --> 00:50:00,957
- Everybody knows that.
- Right, right, right. Yeah.
845
00:50:00,957 --> 00:50:03,042
- We didn't have it...
- It would have been interesting
846
00:50:03,042 --> 00:50:06,337
just to be a part of some of y'all
conversations about that.
847
00:50:06,337 --> 00:50:08,005
I can only...
848
00:50:08,005 --> 00:50:11,592
Joe Montana called,
called me at my desk.
849
00:50:11,592 --> 00:50:13,219
I'm telling the truth.
850
00:50:13,761 --> 00:50:16,431
He called me and said, "I'd love to play
with you and Barry Sanders."
851
00:50:16,431 --> 00:50:18,641
- Wow.
- I said... I jumped off my desk
852
00:50:18,641 --> 00:50:22,228
{\an8}and I went and saw Chuck Schmidt
and I said,
853
00:50:22,228 --> 00:50:24,772
{\an8}"We got a chance to get Joe Montana."
854
00:50:24,772 --> 00:50:30,903
And Chuck Schmidt said, "He's too old.
He's over the hill.
855
00:50:30,903 --> 00:50:34,449
He's done, another year..."
I went back to Joe, "I'm sorry."
856
00:50:34,449 --> 00:50:36,909
- He goes to Kansas City, and plays...
- Lit it up.
857
00:50:36,909 --> 00:50:40,955
- Yeah, he lit it up.
- So I said let's get Warren Moon.
858
00:50:42,039 --> 00:50:43,499
Said, "He's too old."
859
00:50:47,754 --> 00:50:51,090
- Wow. That's amazing.
- Yeah.
860
00:50:54,427 --> 00:50:56,262
The Lions finished
this past year, 5-11.
861
00:50:56,262 --> 00:50:58,389
That's their worst performance
in four years.
862
00:50:58,389 --> 00:51:02,268
But Wayne Fontes is now a Paper Lion,
he is in the team's record book.
863
00:51:02,268 --> 00:51:06,230
But he is no longer the head coach.
That's right. It happened.
864
00:51:06,230 --> 00:51:08,524
Fontes had more resurrections
than a televangelist,
865
00:51:08,524 --> 00:51:11,444
but he was fired today
by team owner William Clay Ford.
866
00:51:12,653 --> 00:51:16,741
And without much further ado,
I'll introduce you to our new coach,
867
00:51:16,741 --> 00:51:19,452
Bobby Ross. Thank you.
868
00:51:21,746 --> 00:51:23,956
If you haven't gotten yourself
to the playoffs
869
00:51:23,956 --> 00:51:29,712
and ultimately to the Super Bowl,
there is an empty feeling inside.
870
00:51:29,712 --> 00:51:33,007
And I can tell you
from this very moment on,
871
00:51:33,007 --> 00:51:36,969
that that's going to be the direction
and the goal of our football program
872
00:51:36,969 --> 00:51:38,930
here with the Detroit Lions.
873
00:51:39,847 --> 00:51:43,059
1997 started out
very, very slow.
874
00:51:43,059 --> 00:51:45,269
You know,
I chalk it up to being a new offense.
875
00:51:55,154 --> 00:51:58,950
The first two games,
I think I had a total of 50 yards,
876
00:51:58,950 --> 00:52:00,827
53 yards or something like that.
877
00:52:00,827 --> 00:52:03,496
And Bobby Ross was like,
"We gonna get Barry a fullback."
878
00:52:03,496 --> 00:52:05,206
I'm like, "No, we not."
879
00:52:05,206 --> 00:52:08,751
You mess with the other 52 guys,
leave Barry alone.
880
00:52:09,544 --> 00:52:12,338
What is the basic problem
with the system?
881
00:52:12,338 --> 00:52:15,508
{\an8}The bad offense
they're running him out of.
882
00:52:16,217 --> 00:52:19,804
{\an8}In fact, there's no...
it's a nonexistent offense.
883
00:52:20,763 --> 00:52:23,766
He was used to seeing me
in the run and shoot.
884
00:52:23,766 --> 00:52:25,852
He felt like that was
a better offense for me.
885
00:52:25,852 --> 00:52:28,312
Detroit has been
stymied offensively so far,
886
00:52:28,312 --> 00:52:30,940
especially this man, Barry Sanders.
Stymied again.
887
00:52:30,940 --> 00:52:33,025
Only 20 yards rushing today.
888
00:52:33,025 --> 00:52:35,486
He's not going to set
many records today.
889
00:52:35,486 --> 00:52:37,905
I just remember the rumblings about,
you know,
890
00:52:37,905 --> 00:52:42,076
me being in my ninth year,
maybe losing a step. Uh...
891
00:52:42,076 --> 00:52:45,913
If they want changes, they can...
they can kiss Barry Sanders goodbye,
892
00:52:45,913 --> 00:52:49,000
number 20 goodbye. That's a promise.
893
00:52:51,335 --> 00:52:53,421
I can't sit here
and say what clicked.
894
00:52:54,005 --> 00:52:56,173
But for those guys up front,
895
00:52:56,173 --> 00:53:00,553
they always were talking about,
"Let's not get too cute with the offense.
896
00:53:00,553 --> 00:53:02,054
Run the freaking football."
897
00:53:06,517 --> 00:53:08,644
Barry Sanders,
cut back over the middle.
898
00:53:08,644 --> 00:53:11,314
Back free to the 25, 30!
He's off to the races!
899
00:53:11,314 --> 00:53:14,859
40, midfield 40!
It's a foot race to the 30!
900
00:53:16,485 --> 00:53:20,197
He slowed up, keeps going to the ten,
five, and touchdown!
901
00:53:20,197 --> 00:53:21,991
80 yards!
902
00:53:23,701 --> 00:53:26,787
Barry Sanders, cut back over the middle
to midfield, right side 45.
903
00:53:26,787 --> 00:53:28,956
Barry in the open, 35, 30,
off to the races.
904
00:53:28,956 --> 00:53:33,419
20 to the 15 to the ten
to the five, touchdown Lions!
905
00:53:44,847 --> 00:53:49,018
{\an8} And he moves into second
on the all-time rushing list.
906
00:53:50,061 --> 00:53:52,438
Now he only has
one more running back to catch,
907
00:53:52,438 --> 00:53:54,273
the former Bear, Walter Payton.
908
00:54:04,617 --> 00:54:07,495
Also, aiming for 2,000 yards.
909
00:54:07,495 --> 00:54:13,501
And he has to average this week
and next week 144.5 yards a game
910
00:54:13,501 --> 00:54:15,336
to get to 2,000.
911
00:54:17,338 --> 00:54:22,593
I just remember there just being
this campaign of Barry Sanders
912
00:54:22,593 --> 00:54:24,720
has got to get this 2,000 yards.
913
00:54:24,720 --> 00:54:27,723
But people wanted that for him
in the sense of
914
00:54:27,723 --> 00:54:30,267
you're never going to get to
the level of success
915
00:54:30,267 --> 00:54:32,520
as a team that you deserve to have.
916
00:54:32,520 --> 00:54:33,813
You gotta get this.
917
00:54:34,772 --> 00:54:39,026
{\an8}2,000 yards rushing
for a running back in a season
918
00:54:39,026 --> 00:54:41,070
{\an8}is one of the most notable records
919
00:54:41,070 --> 00:54:44,240
because at that time
only two players had done it.
920
00:54:44,949 --> 00:54:46,701
It'll be 2,000 this year, Barry.
921
00:54:46,701 --> 00:54:49,745
To be able to eclipse 2,000 yards,
922
00:54:49,745 --> 00:54:53,749
um, it just is such an elite mark
for a running back.
923
00:54:54,333 --> 00:54:57,294
And it almost seemed
to feel like it was impossible.
924
00:54:57,294 --> 00:54:59,547
Or if not impossible, not likely.
925
00:55:00,506 --> 00:55:03,926
{\an8}That was probably the first time
we had seen him
926
00:55:03,926 --> 00:55:07,013
{\an8}get excited about a personal goal.
927
00:55:07,013 --> 00:55:09,473
We all told everyone on the team,
"Don't mention it.
928
00:55:09,473 --> 00:55:13,144
Don't ask him anything about it.
If it happens, it happens."
929
00:55:14,770 --> 00:55:16,772
{\an8} There were a lot
of the sort of storylines
930
00:55:16,772 --> 00:55:19,108
{\an8}going into that last game
against the Jets.
931
00:55:21,068 --> 00:55:23,779
We needed the win
to get into the playoffs.
932
00:55:23,779 --> 00:55:27,033
We were playing against
one of the toughest run defenses.
933
00:55:27,033 --> 00:55:29,201
Bill Parcells was the head coach.
934
00:55:30,494 --> 00:55:33,289
Bill Belichick
was the defensive coordinator.
935
00:55:33,998 --> 00:55:36,542
{\an8}That was actually an all-star staff
when it comes to the coaching staff.
936
00:55:37,918 --> 00:55:39,795
And good afternoon, everybody. Welcome.
937
00:55:39,795 --> 00:55:45,092
As the Detroit Lions and New York Jets
are prepared to kick it off here.
938
00:55:45,092 --> 00:55:49,096
Barry Sanders, 131 yards away from 2,000.
939
00:55:51,599 --> 00:55:55,186
Sanders has a hole
and it closes in a hurry.
940
00:56:00,107 --> 00:56:03,694
They did a pretty good job
of shutting us down the first half.
941
00:56:03,694 --> 00:56:07,907
Trapped, tries to get away,
and their gain is only two.
942
00:56:07,907 --> 00:56:11,035
But as a defensive player,
you don't want that on your resume,
943
00:56:11,035 --> 00:56:12,495
that Barry got the 2,000 yards.
944
00:56:13,788 --> 00:56:18,334
It did not look like I was gonna
be able to get the 130 to get 2,000.
945
00:56:18,334 --> 00:56:21,921
The New York Jets with a 10-3 lead
on the Detroit Lions at halftime.
946
00:56:21,921 --> 00:56:24,965
Barry Sanders, we've been talking
about him all weekend long,
947
00:56:24,965 --> 00:56:27,676
in the first half today,
eight carries for 20 yards.
948
00:56:27,676 --> 00:56:31,472
We had it in the bag on both parts.
He wasn't going to get his 2,000,
949
00:56:31,472 --> 00:56:32,973
- and we were going to win.
- And the fact,
950
00:56:32,973 --> 00:56:35,059
{\an8}he has only 20 yards in the first half,
951
00:56:35,059 --> 00:56:37,770
{\an8}gives the Jets defense very high marks.
952
00:56:37,770 --> 00:56:41,524
{\an8}Gotta do it up front now, let's go!
It's gotta be done up there, okay?
953
00:56:41,524 --> 00:56:43,400
The running game has gotta get going!
954
00:56:54,703 --> 00:56:55,871
Sanders.
955
00:56:57,331 --> 00:57:00,960
Inside the ten-yard line,
a gain of nine more.
956
00:57:00,960 --> 00:57:04,171
When in doubt, give it to Barry.
957
00:57:14,932 --> 00:57:19,728
Barry to the 15,
to the ten, five, touchdown!
958
00:57:20,604 --> 00:57:25,025
The curtain has finally raised
on the Barry Sanders show.
959
00:57:35,661 --> 00:57:37,371
2:15 to go.
960
00:57:37,371 --> 00:57:39,623
Will he get it here?
961
00:57:39,623 --> 00:57:44,295
Barry. Off the right side to the 44.
962
00:57:44,712 --> 00:57:47,756
And that should be it.
That should be 2,000.
963
00:57:50,134 --> 00:57:52,386
So, yes, it is 2,000 officially.
964
00:57:52,386 --> 00:57:54,763
And Barry Sanders will get the football.
965
00:57:54,763 --> 00:57:57,516
Officially, 2,000 yards.
966
00:58:02,521 --> 00:58:05,524
Right on the button, 2,000 yards.
967
00:58:05,524 --> 00:58:07,693
Now, if Barry
loses a yard in the next carry,
968
00:58:07,693 --> 00:58:10,321
- do they go take the ball away?
- I don't know.
969
00:58:16,452 --> 00:58:18,412
Second down and eight.
970
00:58:20,206 --> 00:58:22,208
Barry cut back. Now he's got it!
971
00:58:22,208 --> 00:58:25,336
50, 40, 30! Look out!
972
00:58:25,336 --> 00:58:29,215
Right side, 20, 15 to the ten to the five!
973
00:58:29,215 --> 00:58:31,717
He's well over 2,000 now!
974
00:58:31,717 --> 00:58:35,221
Holy mackerel! Aaron Glenn with the stop!
975
00:58:35,221 --> 00:58:38,349
They can't take that ball away from him!
976
00:58:44,563 --> 00:58:48,525
- Once again, Sanders, as good as they get!
- [announcer 1] Whoa, nelly!
977
00:58:48,525 --> 00:58:51,195
Barry gets 2,000 and then some!
978
00:58:51,195 --> 00:58:56,951
A 53-yard run, 2,053 yards!
979
00:58:56,951 --> 00:58:59,495
The Lions are gonna head to the playoffs.
980
00:59:07,002 --> 00:59:10,172
That was the loudest
that I've ever heard the Silverdome,
981
00:59:10,172 --> 00:59:13,634
when Barry broke for that 53-yard run
at the end of the game.
982
00:59:18,055 --> 00:59:20,266
Now you've downplayed this all week.
983
00:59:20,266 --> 00:59:22,935
In fact, all season,
and you've always been very modest.
984
00:59:22,935 --> 00:59:25,354
But beneath this all,
we're told that you really did want this.
985
00:59:25,354 --> 00:59:28,232
- How much of a thrill is this for you?
- Well, don't get me wrong.
986
00:59:28,232 --> 00:59:31,527
I want to go into each game
and run for as many yards as I can.
987
00:59:31,527 --> 00:59:34,571
And... but I just needed
to focus on what was important,
988
00:59:34,571 --> 00:59:37,283
and, you know, playing a complete game.
989
00:59:37,283 --> 00:59:41,245
And if that means blocking
and catching, running routes,
990
00:59:41,245 --> 00:59:45,040
- whatever, running, then so...
- And to have your father here with you.
991
00:59:45,040 --> 00:59:48,585
Well, you know, that didn't hurt any.
Having my father and my brother here.
992
00:59:48,585 --> 00:59:52,506
I think it meant more to everyone else
than it did him.
993
01:00:07,896 --> 01:00:12,901
Every franchise wants to be able
to point to greatness.
994
01:00:12,901 --> 01:00:16,822
You want to be able to go,
"That's when we were great.
995
01:00:16,822 --> 01:00:20,576
That's when we were
excellence personified."
996
01:00:21,243 --> 01:00:23,704
Barry Sanders gave us that.
997
01:00:26,540 --> 01:00:29,626
Papa watching on
the sidelines, William.
998
01:00:30,127 --> 01:00:33,130
He was so... just beyond himself.
999
01:00:34,882 --> 01:00:39,094
He probably enjoyed it more than
anyone else in the world.
1000
01:00:39,094 --> 01:00:42,806
To be on the sideline cheering me on,
1001
01:00:42,806 --> 01:00:44,308
it really meant the world to him.
1002
01:00:44,308 --> 01:00:47,061
And it meant a ton to me, as well.
1003
01:00:48,103 --> 01:00:51,106
Congratulations, B.
Great job, man. Great job.
1004
01:00:54,818 --> 01:00:57,780
Thank you, appreciate it. Thanks. Thanks.
1005
01:00:57,780 --> 01:01:01,408
- Congrats, Coach. Congratulations.
- Very proud for you.
1006
01:01:02,910 --> 01:01:05,954
What happened to the shoes
I was wearing that day?
1007
01:01:05,954 --> 01:01:07,998
Um, I don't know.
1008
01:01:09,917 --> 01:01:13,670
Let me think.
Who has my shoes from that day?
1009
01:01:13,670 --> 01:01:15,005
Um...
1010
01:01:18,133 --> 01:01:19,927
One of my teammates?
1011
01:01:19,927 --> 01:01:22,304
{\an8}I walked over to Barry and I said...
1012
01:01:22,304 --> 01:01:24,264
{\an8}I didn't say,
"Congratulations, great job."
1013
01:01:24,264 --> 01:01:28,394
{\an8}I said, "Can I get those shoes?"
And actually had him sign those.
1014
01:01:28,394 --> 01:01:32,314
Put "December 27th", signed both pair
of shoes by Barry Sanders
1015
01:01:32,314 --> 01:01:34,733
for the shoes he broke 2,000 yards with.
1016
01:01:34,733 --> 01:01:36,110
I have those shoes.
1017
01:01:36,110 --> 01:01:37,611
{\an8}- No...
- Everybody else gonna tell you...
1018
01:01:37,611 --> 01:01:39,488
{\an8}- Jocko, that's not...
- Everybody gonna tell you
1019
01:01:39,488 --> 01:01:41,949
{\an8}that Barry Sanders
is better than Jim Brown.
1020
01:01:41,949 --> 01:01:43,575
- Them guys don't know.
- Well...
1021
01:01:43,575 --> 01:01:46,161
- I know football, too.
1022
01:01:46,161 --> 01:01:50,332
Mr. Sanders, what does that mean
to you from your son?
1023
01:01:50,332 --> 01:01:52,751
Jocko, it...
1024
01:01:52,751 --> 01:01:56,046
It means you the third leading...
second leading ground gainer.
1025
01:01:56,046 --> 01:01:58,132
Second leading ground gainer.
1026
01:01:58,132 --> 01:02:00,843
And it probably don't mean
anything to him now,
1027
01:02:00,843 --> 01:02:04,221
it probably won't mean anything to him
till maybe ten or 15 years down the road,
1028
01:02:04,221 --> 01:02:06,932
and he's through playing,
he look back through the history books
1029
01:02:06,932 --> 01:02:09,017
and see the things
he accomplished on the football field.
1030
01:02:09,017 --> 01:02:10,602
What does it mean to you, though?
1031
01:02:11,728 --> 01:02:13,021
Jocko...
1032
01:02:14,773 --> 01:02:16,024
Believe me...
1033
01:02:17,526 --> 01:02:20,988
I don't feel good for me.
I feel good for the city of Detroit.
1034
01:02:20,988 --> 01:02:23,574
Because this means
they can go on another day,
1035
01:02:23,574 --> 01:02:26,285
they can go to another playoff game.
1036
01:02:26,285 --> 01:02:29,997
I feel good, but I'm not...
It don't mean... it don't mean much to me
1037
01:02:29,997 --> 01:02:32,791
as it should to you people in Detroit.
1038
01:02:32,791 --> 01:02:36,879
I think it's a great honor to have this.
1039
01:02:36,879 --> 01:02:39,465
And your son gave it to you.
And I think it's... it's great.
1040
01:02:39,465 --> 01:02:41,758
- We're all a part of that.
- That's true.
1041
01:02:41,758 --> 01:02:44,052
The entire Sanders family.
1042
01:02:45,554 --> 01:02:48,265
The biggest thing about that game,
1043
01:02:48,265 --> 01:02:50,726
{\an8}and that game is off the charts for me
compared to any other game,
1044
01:02:50,726 --> 01:02:52,227
{\an8}was the Reggie Brown situation.
1045
01:02:56,190 --> 01:02:58,817
- Murrell.
-
1046
01:02:58,817 --> 01:03:02,196
{\an8}Close to the 30, a gain of about three.
1047
01:03:02,196 --> 01:03:04,615
11:45 left in the 4th.
1048
01:03:04,615 --> 01:03:06,867
Reggie Brown, the injured Lion.
1049
01:03:06,867 --> 01:03:10,412
And from the action
of coaches and players,
1050
01:03:10,412 --> 01:03:13,707
uh, it's not an ordinary injury.
1051
01:03:15,459 --> 01:03:19,588
You get a young linebacker going in,
making a routine tackle.
1052
01:03:19,588 --> 01:03:21,757
And all of a sudden he falls
and he doesn't get up.
1053
01:03:23,258 --> 01:03:26,261
There is an awfully
scary situation going on.
1054
01:03:26,261 --> 01:03:28,931
Reggie Brown is lying motionless.
1055
01:03:32,017 --> 01:03:35,521
They had to do CPR right there
on the field to revive him.
1056
01:03:36,605 --> 01:03:40,275
I mean, this was a life and death
situation that was occurring
1057
01:03:40,275 --> 01:03:42,444
and unfolding right in front of us.
1058
01:03:42,444 --> 01:03:43,737
We were all just praying
1059
01:03:43,737 --> 01:03:46,240
and hoping for
Reggie's safety and recovery.
1060
01:03:46,240 --> 01:03:49,868
Reggie had a serious neck injury.
1061
01:03:49,868 --> 01:03:52,955
I had hoped we would never,
ever see this again.
1062
01:03:53,830 --> 01:03:57,334
It definitely brought back memories,
you know, with Mike Utley.
1063
01:04:01,547 --> 01:04:05,551
{\an8} So that '91 season,
we're playing the Rams.
1064
01:04:05,551 --> 01:04:09,388
{\an8}And on a freak play, Mike Utley goes down.
1065
01:04:09,388 --> 01:04:12,975
Mike Utley
is down for the Lions.
1066
01:04:12,975 --> 01:04:17,145
And we can only hope
that it's not as serious as it appears.
1067
01:04:18,605 --> 01:04:21,275
He hits the turf, hits in an awkward way,
and he's paralyzed.
1068
01:04:22,359 --> 01:04:26,863
And the scary thing about this
is, is Mike has not moved at all.
1069
01:04:26,863 --> 01:04:31,034
Mike kept pounding his chest,
and said, "I can't feel my body.
1070
01:04:31,034 --> 01:04:33,078
I can't feel my body."
1071
01:04:33,078 --> 01:04:36,873
A lot of us were just frozen
in disbelief, stunned.
1072
01:04:36,873 --> 01:04:42,004
It was a reality check
that there are some dangers involved.
1073
01:04:42,004 --> 01:04:45,340
It was tough. It was tough to see that.
It was tough to experience it.
1074
01:04:45,340 --> 01:04:49,886
The impact of it, um,
I think, stayed with us.
1075
01:04:51,847 --> 01:04:55,517
{\an8}Over his career,
I mean, he'd seen two of his teammates
1076
01:04:55,517 --> 01:04:58,729
{\an8}suffer serious spinal cord injuries.
1077
01:05:00,188 --> 01:05:04,610
{\an8}He was beginning to wonder,
"Should I continue?
1078
01:05:04,610 --> 01:05:08,947
{\an8}And if I continue,
why should I continue?"
1079
01:05:09,781 --> 01:05:14,578
We were on vacation,
and just kind of offhandedly, he said,
1080
01:05:14,578 --> 01:05:17,998
"You know,
I've thought about hanging it up."
1081
01:05:18,915 --> 01:05:22,711
It's like, "Really? Um... why?"
1082
01:05:22,711 --> 01:05:25,589
He said, "You know, um,
1083
01:05:25,589 --> 01:05:30,886
I'm really wrestling with
continuing to... to do this.
1084
01:05:31,720 --> 01:05:32,721
Uh...
1085
01:05:32,721 --> 01:05:34,681
It's kind of a grind."
1086
01:05:36,767 --> 01:05:38,769
What started sort of happening,
1087
01:05:38,769 --> 01:05:42,272
guys end up going elsewhere, you know,
1088
01:05:42,272 --> 01:05:45,817
guys like Chris Spielman, you know, Lomas.
1089
01:05:45,817 --> 01:05:49,071
Chris Spielman became
a salary cap victim
1090
01:05:49,071 --> 01:05:50,906
the same year I did.
1091
01:05:51,907 --> 01:05:54,910
I left kicking and screaming.
I didn't want to go.
1092
01:05:54,910 --> 01:05:56,995
Like Ray Crockett, for instance,
1093
01:05:56,995 --> 01:06:00,749
Jerry Ball, even Erik Kramer.
1094
01:06:00,749 --> 01:06:03,460
And you go to war
and go to battle with those guys,
1095
01:06:03,460 --> 01:06:05,879
you form a bond, obviously.
1096
01:06:05,879 --> 01:06:08,757
Some of the guys they may have brought in
to replace those guys,
1097
01:06:09,424 --> 01:06:11,051
just not the same.
1098
01:06:11,051 --> 01:06:14,596
But you got to take the field
with the guys that you practice with.
1099
01:06:15,389 --> 01:06:17,182
Quietly just labors away.
1100
01:06:17,182 --> 01:06:21,687
He has had just constant shuffling
on the offensive line in front of him.
1101
01:06:21,687 --> 01:06:23,480
As every year passed,
1102
01:06:23,480 --> 01:06:27,109
and they didn't quite duplicate
the success that they had in '91,
1103
01:06:27,109 --> 01:06:31,154
there was a intense feeling
among the fan base
1104
01:06:31,154 --> 01:06:35,075
that here they have this great
generational player in Barry Sanders,
1105
01:06:35,075 --> 01:06:37,828
and they are wasting his time.
1106
01:06:37,828 --> 01:06:40,706
Had that group stayed...
been able to stay together somehow,
1107
01:06:40,706 --> 01:06:42,666
yeah, we definitely
could have done much better
1108
01:06:42,666 --> 01:06:45,001
and definitely won some playoff games,
1109
01:06:45,001 --> 01:06:47,671
you know, because a lot
of those guys went other places
1110
01:06:47,671 --> 01:06:51,049
and did win playoff games
and win Super Bowls.
1111
01:06:52,008 --> 01:06:56,722
Toward the end of my ninth season,
Kevin Glover pulled me aside,
1112
01:06:56,722 --> 01:06:57,681
and he says,
1113
01:06:57,681 --> 01:07:01,435
"I think, you know, I'm probably
not going to be here next year."
1114
01:07:01,435 --> 01:07:04,730
And I said, you know, I just thought,
there's no way that's going to happen.
1115
01:07:04,730 --> 01:07:07,858
I mean, why would... why would
we do something like that?
1116
01:07:07,858 --> 01:07:10,444
{\an8}Contract was up, and...
1117
01:07:10,444 --> 01:07:13,864
{\an8}Yeah, I don't want to
get into all the details.
1118
01:07:14,614 --> 01:07:16,992
The franchise tag was put on me.
1119
01:07:16,992 --> 01:07:19,661
It was taken off after the cutoff date,
1120
01:07:19,661 --> 01:07:22,456
so it wasn't handled properly.
1121
01:07:22,456 --> 01:07:24,666
I just... I'll leave it at that.
1122
01:07:24,666 --> 01:07:27,878
To see Kevin go
was definitely tough
1123
01:07:27,878 --> 01:07:30,505
just because of how
he solidified the locker room
1124
01:07:30,505 --> 01:07:33,175
and was so much a part of my career.
1125
01:07:33,175 --> 01:07:37,304
And so when that actually happened,
to me that was a blow.
1126
01:07:38,555 --> 01:07:41,975
They underestimated the fact
that when you start getting rid of
1127
01:07:41,975 --> 01:07:46,396
the leaders of your team,
like a Kevin Glover and a Lomas Brown,
1128
01:07:46,396 --> 01:07:48,982
and it's not a lot of money,
1129
01:07:48,982 --> 01:07:51,777
you're sacrificing the opportunity
for a franchise
1130
01:07:51,777 --> 01:07:53,153
to go from good to great.
1131
01:07:53,153 --> 01:07:56,740
I think we looked at the dollars and cents
of it, more so than we looked at,
1132
01:07:56,740 --> 01:07:58,950
you know what,
sometimes you just got to pay.
1133
01:07:58,950 --> 01:08:01,745
These guys both know football,
that's what we brings.
1134
01:08:01,745 --> 01:08:04,790
Them suckers don't know more
about the game than I do.
1135
01:08:05,707 --> 01:08:08,919
The Lions attempts at rebuilding
only made things worse.
1136
01:08:10,212 --> 01:08:14,966
And the '98 season played out
just like every other one before it.
1137
01:08:16,676 --> 01:08:18,887
And he did not
find running room there.
1138
01:08:18,887 --> 01:08:20,847
Goes up the middle! 40-50.
1139
01:08:20,847 --> 01:08:22,724
Barry was one of the best backs
in the league
1140
01:08:22,724 --> 01:08:24,100
and the team just couldn't win.
1141
01:08:24,100 --> 01:08:25,602
30, 20, ten!
1142
01:08:25,602 --> 01:08:29,147
They'll never catch him!
Touchdown, Lions! Barry Sanders!
1143
01:08:29,147 --> 01:08:32,108
That puts Barry
over a thousand yards
1144
01:08:32,108 --> 01:08:36,029
for the tenth straight season.
Nobody's ever done that.
1145
01:08:36,029 --> 01:08:39,491
By most standards,
it was an okay year, individually.
1146
01:08:39,491 --> 01:08:42,202
Career rushing,
and Sanders second all-time
1147
01:08:42,202 --> 01:08:44,329
on the heels of Walter Payton.
1148
01:08:44,329 --> 01:08:47,541
If he stays healthy,
he will be the leading running back
1149
01:08:47,541 --> 01:08:50,001
in the history of the NFL.
1150
01:08:50,877 --> 01:08:53,922
But team wise, we didn't play very well.
1151
01:08:53,922 --> 01:08:55,590
They lost that game in Chicago.
1152
01:08:55,590 --> 01:08:58,718
They blew a 17-point lead,
and I'm not lying.
1153
01:08:58,718 --> 01:09:01,054
I've never seen Barry
so dejected in my life.
1154
01:09:01,054 --> 01:09:04,432
You look over
what the team has lost free agent wise.
1155
01:09:04,432 --> 01:09:06,768
{\an8}It's pretty devastating.
The guys that were there
1156
01:09:06,768 --> 01:09:08,687
{\an8}that made up the backbone of the team,
1157
01:09:08,687 --> 01:09:11,648
{\an8}-the Spielmans, the Perrimans... Glover.
- Glover.
1158
01:09:11,648 --> 01:09:14,651
{\an8} Guys that have gone
other places have done well.
1159
01:09:14,651 --> 01:09:17,529
Somewhere along the line,
I definitely felt like,
1160
01:09:17,529 --> 01:09:19,239
you know, just that drive,
1161
01:09:19,239 --> 01:09:23,201
um, you know,
and that passion to play the game,
1162
01:09:23,201 --> 01:09:25,120
you know, it was different.
1163
01:09:25,912 --> 01:09:28,915
What's his level of enthusiasm
for football right now?
1164
01:09:28,915 --> 01:09:31,459
I think it's like about zero.
1165
01:09:36,006 --> 01:09:40,343
{\an8} The Baltimore game,
there was really nothing to play for.
1166
01:09:40,343 --> 01:09:41,678
The season was over.
1167
01:09:43,221 --> 01:09:44,639
It was a tough game.
1168
01:09:44,639 --> 01:09:48,602
You know, we didn't play well,
had a couple of fumbles and...
1169
01:09:48,602 --> 01:09:50,687
And it just wasn't a good game.
1170
01:09:55,525 --> 01:09:58,278
Sanders loses another yard.
1171
01:09:58,278 --> 01:09:59,863
I mean, I just remember
1172
01:09:59,863 --> 01:10:01,907
walking off the field,
1173
01:10:01,907 --> 01:10:05,869
I pretty much knew
this great journey was over.
1174
01:10:39,778 --> 01:10:43,490
I definitely couldn't
hold back a few tears.
1175
01:10:51,915 --> 01:10:55,001
Kevin Glover had moved on.
I think he was in Seattle at that time.
1176
01:10:55,001 --> 01:10:59,798
But he's from the Baltimore area,
and I remember he had come to that game.
1177
01:10:59,798 --> 01:11:03,426
Somebody on staff came and got me
and asked me to come in the locker room.
1178
01:11:03,426 --> 01:11:07,013
I said, "Well, I'm not really on the team,
so I'm not going in the locker room."
1179
01:11:07,013 --> 01:11:10,642
He said, "No, we need you to come in
and talk to Barry."
1180
01:11:10,642 --> 01:11:13,687
I said, "What's going on?" He said, "Well,
he's in the back of the locker room.
1181
01:11:13,687 --> 01:11:15,522
He won't talk to anybody."
1182
01:11:15,522 --> 01:11:20,068
And I went in and he's sitting back
by the lockers, by himself.
1183
01:11:20,068 --> 01:11:21,987
Everybody else was gone.
1184
01:11:21,987 --> 01:11:24,656
I said, "Man, you had another solid year."
1185
01:11:24,656 --> 01:11:27,951
I said, "Hey, when you break the record
next year, no matter where I am,
1186
01:11:27,951 --> 01:11:30,245
I'll be at that game.
I'm coming to see it.
1187
01:11:30,245 --> 01:11:31,746
I want to witness it for myself."
1188
01:11:31,746 --> 01:11:35,959
And he said, "I don't know
if there's going to be a next year."
1189
01:11:42,048 --> 01:11:44,676
I decided to get away
from everything,
1190
01:11:44,676 --> 01:11:47,137
that I was going to get away
for a few days.
1191
01:11:47,137 --> 01:11:49,431
So I go out to Metro Airport.
1192
01:11:49,431 --> 01:11:52,934
I came to the gate as I was heading
to London, and several of the passengers
1193
01:11:52,934 --> 01:11:55,437
were like, "Man, I think that's
Barry Sanders over there.
1194
01:11:55,437 --> 01:11:58,982
Don't the Lions have training camp
starting, like, tomorrow?"
1195
01:11:58,982 --> 01:12:01,651
'Twas the night before training camp
and all through the town,
1196
01:12:01,651 --> 01:12:04,571
word traveled like lightning
that Barry Sanders won't be around.
1197
01:12:04,571 --> 01:12:08,700
{\an8} It was hysteria in the newsroom.
It was just...
1198
01:12:08,700 --> 01:12:10,118
Find Barry.
1199
01:12:11,327 --> 01:12:14,706
And so people found out
that I was on this plane,
1200
01:12:14,706 --> 01:12:16,249
including the media.
1201
01:12:16,249 --> 01:12:19,210
And some media members
ended up coming to the gate.
1202
01:12:20,003 --> 01:12:22,797
Pretty odd going off to Europe
as you announce your retirement.
1203
01:12:22,797 --> 01:12:25,800
Well, he wanted... It was funny,
he wanted to get away from everything.
1204
01:12:25,800 --> 01:12:28,470
And it turns out somebody found out
he was going to be there.
1205
01:12:28,470 --> 01:12:30,346
And so he actually had cameras
waiting for him.
1206
01:12:30,346 --> 01:12:31,389
That's funny.
1207
01:12:31,389 --> 01:12:34,768
So, I boarded a plane
and flew to London.
1208
01:12:36,436 --> 01:12:39,022
♪ Jet plane headed up to the sky ♪
1209
01:12:39,022 --> 01:12:42,859
♪ Spreading wings
in the clouds getting high ♪
1210
01:12:42,859 --> 01:12:46,446
♪ We ain't hit a rave in a while ♪
1211
01:12:46,446 --> 01:12:48,490
♪ So take me back to London ♪
1212
01:12:48,490 --> 01:12:52,035
On the day that the Lions
opened camp, Barry Sanders is in London,
1213
01:12:52,035 --> 01:12:53,787
and he sends word that he's retiring.
1214
01:12:53,787 --> 01:12:56,539
I actually was on the way
to training camp
1215
01:12:56,539 --> 01:12:58,958
and I'm walking
by the sports bar in the airport.
1216
01:12:58,958 --> 01:13:04,672
There must have been 60 guys
crowded around the TVs in the sports bar,
1217
01:13:04,672 --> 01:13:07,258
and I'm walking by, like,
"What's happening?"
1218
01:13:07,258 --> 01:13:11,179
As Sanders announced his retirement
from the NFL at age 31.
1219
01:13:11,179 --> 01:13:15,016
And I just stood there and kind of smiled
and shook my head. It's like, that's B.
1220
01:13:15,016 --> 01:13:18,561
♪ So take me back to London ♪
1221
01:13:18,561 --> 01:13:21,397
We're in London
with my dad, Barry Sanders.
1222
01:13:21,397 --> 01:13:24,442
{\an8}Uh, I'm assuming something
on his retirement.
1223
01:13:24,442 --> 01:13:26,236
I do not know the story.
1224
01:13:26,236 --> 01:13:29,072
Was Barry frustrated
playing for a losing team? Who knows?
1225
01:13:29,072 --> 01:13:33,743
All we know is Sanders ran to daylight
again, taking off for London.
1226
01:13:33,743 --> 01:13:36,037
I really don't know why we're here.
My dad don't talk about, you know,
1227
01:13:36,037 --> 01:13:38,873
{\an8}football a whole lot or retirement really.
1228
01:13:38,873 --> 01:13:44,212
{\an8}I know he retired and he came here,
so that's pretty much all I know.
1229
01:13:44,212 --> 01:13:45,922
♪ So take me back to London ♪
1230
01:13:45,922 --> 01:13:49,759
{\an8}I'm here with my dad and my brothers.
He retired in 1999.
1231
01:13:49,759 --> 01:13:53,513
He came over here to London. I'm sure
that was a pivotal point in his life.
1232
01:13:53,513 --> 01:13:55,974
Spending ten years in NFL
and then just calling it quits.
1233
01:13:55,974 --> 01:13:58,518
We got a couple of questions
for him to see what happened.
1234
01:13:58,518 --> 01:13:59,936
♪ So take me back to London ♪
1235
01:14:03,481 --> 01:14:06,484
In '99, it was so chaotic,
1236
01:14:06,484 --> 01:14:09,946
and I knew that I had left, I don't know
if you want to call it a mess.
1237
01:14:09,946 --> 01:14:11,531
So it feels nice to be back.
1238
01:14:11,531 --> 01:14:14,200
♪ So take me back to London ♪
1239
01:14:15,785 --> 01:14:17,620
You come to London. Why London?
1240
01:14:17,620 --> 01:14:20,456
Why London?
I had been there before.
1241
01:14:20,456 --> 01:14:22,584
Um, it's a different country.
1242
01:14:22,584 --> 01:14:24,961
But, you know,
I kind of knew how to get around.
1243
01:14:24,961 --> 01:14:29,632
I knew that it would be crazy back home
and I just wanted to get away.
1244
01:14:29,632 --> 01:14:33,219
- And London seemed like a good idea.
- Did you tell Grandma and Grandpa?
1245
01:14:33,219 --> 01:14:35,680
I mean, I'm sure Grandpa had
something interesting to say about that.
1246
01:14:35,680 --> 01:14:39,225
I called Mother and told her
that I was retiring,
1247
01:14:39,225 --> 01:14:42,437
and I was going to head to London
for a few days.
1248
01:14:42,437 --> 01:14:44,981
No Grandpa? Where's Grandpa come in?
1249
01:14:44,981 --> 01:14:47,901
- He found out eventually.
- Oh, okay.
1250
01:14:51,404 --> 01:14:53,740
{\an8} How many people
have called you today?
1251
01:14:54,699 --> 01:14:59,621
Oh, at least... maybe 25 or 30.
God, I did so many interviews today.
1252
01:15:00,830 --> 01:15:03,791
Grandpa Sanders, man,
he thought I was out of my mind.
1253
01:15:03,791 --> 01:15:08,171
In particular, he was just very shocked
and surprised and disappointed,
1254
01:15:08,171 --> 01:15:11,674
you know, as to why... why I would retire.
1255
01:15:11,674 --> 01:15:14,844
But he was definitely
caught off guard by that.
1256
01:15:14,844 --> 01:15:16,763
- He was probably...
- So that's why... So that's why
1257
01:15:16,763 --> 01:15:18,932
I called my mom and told her.
1258
01:15:18,932 --> 01:15:21,392
I wasn't going to tell him.
1259
01:15:21,392 --> 01:15:23,102
{\an8}They had a good relationship,
1260
01:15:23,102 --> 01:15:26,564
{\an8}but he was pissed
when Barry quit football.
1261
01:15:26,564 --> 01:15:29,484
You talked to him last year,
he was considering it even then?
1262
01:15:29,484 --> 01:15:33,947
Considering it last year and I talked...
I talked him into playing one more year.
1263
01:15:33,947 --> 01:15:38,868
- But what did he say?
- I can't tell you.
1264
01:15:38,868 --> 01:15:41,329
It was... it wasn't nice.
1265
01:15:41,329 --> 01:15:44,499
He don't know why the hell he did this.
He could have played, this and that.
1266
01:15:44,499 --> 01:15:48,878
Barry Sanders played his hand
today, revealing his desire to retire.
1267
01:15:48,878 --> 01:15:51,589
A shocking announcement
has thousands of fans feeling flustered.
1268
01:15:51,589 --> 01:15:54,801
People are very disgusted
with the way Barry handled this.
1269
01:15:54,801 --> 01:15:56,010
I think rightfully so.
1270
01:15:56,010 --> 01:16:00,181
They're insulted the star running back
simply faxed in his retirement.
1271
01:16:03,643 --> 01:16:07,480
I think it was his idea
to release it by fax.
1272
01:16:07,480 --> 01:16:10,817
So I crafted a statement with Mark.
1273
01:16:10,817 --> 01:16:13,820
I was working
at the Wichita Eagle at the time
1274
01:16:13,820 --> 01:16:19,742
and we were faxing a retirement letter
back and forth under his pseudonym,
1275
01:16:19,742 --> 01:16:23,871
which was first initial B.,
last name Abernathy.
1276
01:16:23,871 --> 01:16:26,624
I don't know where we came up with that.
1277
01:16:26,624 --> 01:16:32,505
It was important to him
that his hometown paper get that story.
1278
01:16:32,505 --> 01:16:35,341
Who's the big loser
in this Barry Sanders fiasco?
1279
01:16:35,341 --> 01:16:37,260
{\an8}Undoubtedly, it's the fans.
1280
01:16:37,260 --> 01:16:38,720
{\an8}Tears.
1281
01:16:40,179 --> 01:16:42,140
{\an8}Devastation.
1282
01:16:42,140 --> 01:16:43,683
Like literal.
1283
01:16:43,683 --> 01:16:46,185
Like literal fucking devastation.
1284
01:16:46,185 --> 01:16:49,272
{\an8}What the F are you doing?
1285
01:16:49,272 --> 01:16:52,442
{\an8}Shocked. Completely shocked,
1286
01:16:52,442 --> 01:16:56,487
{\an8}because Barry looked like he was the guy
that could have rushed for 20,000 yards.
1287
01:16:56,487 --> 01:16:58,072
Here's a guy in the prime of his career
1288
01:16:58,072 --> 01:17:00,533
{\an8}who could have really help this team
and he didn't retire,
1289
01:17:00,533 --> 01:17:02,118
he quit and left them in the lurch.
1290
01:17:02,118 --> 01:17:05,038
Issuing the following statement,
and we quote:
1291
01:17:05,038 --> 01:17:09,167
Eventually, we got the verbiage down
1292
01:17:09,167 --> 01:17:11,878
that his desire to be out of the game...
1293
01:17:11,878 --> 01:17:14,964
...is greater
than my desire to remain in it.
1294
01:17:14,964 --> 01:17:18,134
And so we released a statement
in the local paper.
1295
01:17:18,134 --> 01:17:19,927
We faxed the Lions,
1296
01:17:20,720 --> 01:17:22,472
and that's how I announced it.
1297
01:17:23,139 --> 01:17:24,640
Fax machine?
1298
01:17:24,640 --> 01:17:28,102
That's when you knew, like,
he hates this thing.
1299
01:17:29,645 --> 01:17:32,940
The Sanders statue
at the Lions Experience in Saginaw,
1300
01:17:32,940 --> 01:17:37,070
since the Barry fiasco, the middle finger
on the left hand was manipulated.
1301
01:17:38,196 --> 01:17:40,531
{\an8}It was like a divorce.
And you took sides.
1302
01:17:40,531 --> 01:17:42,992
I've got an email right here
that says, "Until yesterday,
1303
01:17:42,992 --> 01:17:44,786
O.J. was my least favorite NFL runner,
1304
01:17:44,786 --> 01:17:46,496
but he only stabbed
two people in the back.
1305
01:17:46,496 --> 01:17:51,501
He could have came on national TV
and said that he was going to retire.
1306
01:17:53,044 --> 01:17:56,339
Yeah, I heard there was a fax
that Barry... but that's Barry.
1307
01:17:56,339 --> 01:17:59,884
You know Barry wasn't going to
have no press conference
1308
01:17:59,884 --> 01:18:03,721
and he wasn't going to put on
no whole big shindig.
1309
01:18:03,721 --> 01:18:07,809
There were some Lions fans who were
angry at him for the way that he left.
1310
01:18:07,809 --> 01:18:11,229
There was a lot of Lions fans
who understood.
1311
01:18:11,229 --> 01:18:14,899
Because frankly, if they had
an opportunity to send the Lions a fax
1312
01:18:14,899 --> 01:18:17,318
and divorce them and then go to London
for a couple of weeks and walk around,
1313
01:18:17,318 --> 01:18:20,029
they would have done the same thing.
1314
01:18:20,029 --> 01:18:22,949
Was there another way that you could have
sent it or like, why a fax?
1315
01:18:22,949 --> 01:18:26,202
I guess email was around, you know,
I guess I could've just driven over there.
1316
01:18:26,202 --> 01:18:27,954
I could've driven over there, you know...
1317
01:18:27,954 --> 01:18:31,541
- Could have done a press conference.
- ...and just handed in a pink slip.
1318
01:18:31,541 --> 01:18:34,335
- What, so you like run a paper
1319
01:18:34,335 --> 01:18:36,045
- through like a printer?
- Correct.
1320
01:18:36,045 --> 01:18:38,965
- And then it just prints out somewhere?
- On the other side. Yeah.
1321
01:18:38,965 --> 01:18:41,259
- Exactly what it was.
- That's actually kinda cool.
1322
01:18:41,259 --> 01:18:44,762
So, I mean, why after that ten years
when you're still having great,
1323
01:18:44,762 --> 01:18:47,265
great seasons, why then, why retire?
1324
01:18:47,265 --> 01:18:50,017
I feel like that's...
that's a hard one to explain sometimes.
1325
01:18:50,017 --> 01:18:54,814
But I think it was even though
the retirement was, like,
1326
01:18:54,814 --> 01:18:58,025
kind of shocking
to the football sports world,
1327
01:18:58,025 --> 01:19:02,405
for me I felt like toward the beginning,
middle of that last season,
1328
01:19:02,405 --> 01:19:06,200
I was pretty sure that just, like, inside,
1329
01:19:06,200 --> 01:19:10,204
you know, in my mind,
I was like, "Okay, I'm pretty much done."
1330
01:19:10,204 --> 01:19:15,168
Did you consider going to a different team
and, you know, being able to win, or what?
1331
01:19:15,168 --> 01:19:18,796
I didn't. It was never really a thought.
That was it.
1332
01:19:18,796 --> 01:19:20,923
So you're saying,
there's no circumstances...?
1333
01:19:20,923 --> 01:19:24,093
- Circumstance...
- No circumstances could have changed?
1334
01:19:24,093 --> 01:19:26,345
- Oh, yeah.
- To have...
1335
01:19:26,345 --> 01:19:30,099
still ignited that... that drive?
1336
01:19:30,099 --> 01:19:33,436
That's a game you could
probably play all day.
1337
01:19:33,436 --> 01:19:37,899
You know, like if we were coming off
deep... a deep playoff run.
1338
01:19:37,899 --> 01:19:41,652
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- You know, a Super Bowl loss.
1339
01:19:41,652 --> 01:19:43,821
- Yeah.
- You know, those things do matter.
1340
01:19:43,821 --> 01:19:46,491
And thinking back,
I guess all I can say
1341
01:19:46,491 --> 01:19:48,910
is it could have
made the difference, you know.
1342
01:19:48,910 --> 01:19:51,662
So basically it was, like, the losing.
1343
01:19:51,662 --> 01:19:55,333
Because if you were winning Super Bowls,
you would have wanted to keep playing.
1344
01:19:56,375 --> 01:19:59,003
I'm not gonna say
we lost for ten years, but...
1345
01:19:59,003 --> 01:20:01,672
- I mean, you didn't win the one.
- But yeah.
1346
01:20:01,672 --> 01:20:04,258
- But a lot of guys don't win...
- Yeah, no, I get that.
1347
01:20:04,258 --> 01:20:07,678
But like, if you're in the game,
you want to win. You want to win that.
1348
01:20:07,678 --> 01:20:09,931
- Everybody does. You know what I mean?
- Right, right.
1349
01:20:09,931 --> 01:20:11,807
If you were winning those bigger games...
1350
01:20:11,807 --> 01:20:14,727
I couldn't simplify it just to say
the losing because, again,
1351
01:20:14,727 --> 01:20:17,605
we had been losing
for many years, you know.
1352
01:20:17,605 --> 01:20:19,941
But obviously,
you do play to win the game.
1353
01:20:19,941 --> 01:20:21,275
Well said. Yeah.
1354
01:20:21,275 --> 01:20:24,820
For me to continue to play,
I would've had to have the same drive.
1355
01:20:24,820 --> 01:20:28,658
And I just knew, like,
inside that that was it.
1356
01:20:28,658 --> 01:20:31,953
Yeah, I... That makes sense.
1357
01:20:31,953 --> 01:20:35,957
And I think if they had made
a concerted effort earlier
1358
01:20:35,957 --> 01:20:38,125
to say they was going to
change some things in Detroit,
1359
01:20:38,125 --> 01:20:40,294
I think Barry would have still been there.
1360
01:20:40,294 --> 01:20:42,672
But they played hard ball
that they was going to go
1361
01:20:42,672 --> 01:20:46,926
the same direction they've been going,
and Barry, he was just sick of it.
1362
01:20:46,926 --> 01:20:49,595
Oh, no, Grandpa Sanders, man,
he definitely felt
1363
01:20:49,595 --> 01:20:52,431
like I should go after
Walter Payton's record.
1364
01:20:52,431 --> 01:20:54,475
You guys don't even know
who that is, but...
1365
01:20:54,475 --> 01:20:57,395
- I used to watch his highlights.
- You heard the names.
1366
01:20:57,395 --> 01:20:59,063
I used to watch the highlights.
1367
01:20:59,063 --> 01:21:02,817
The 31-year-old
is calling it quits just 1,458 yards short
1368
01:21:02,817 --> 01:21:04,694
of Walter Payton's all-time record.
1369
01:21:04,694 --> 01:21:06,946
In fact, I talked
to Walter Payton about a month ago.
1370
01:21:06,946 --> 01:21:09,156
He said he'd like to see Barry break it.
1371
01:21:09,156 --> 01:21:13,995
You know, that was something he was
looking forward to taking pride in.
1372
01:21:13,995 --> 01:21:15,413
You know, so...
1373
01:21:15,413 --> 01:21:17,415
Sanders,
less than 1,500 yards shy
1374
01:21:17,415 --> 01:21:19,750
of breaking Payton's
career rushing record last season.
1375
01:21:19,750 --> 01:21:22,044
So barring injury,
this was really just a matter of time
1376
01:21:22,044 --> 01:21:24,088
before the record was Barry's.
1377
01:21:24,088 --> 01:21:26,841
You know, it's really just
almost hard to explain
1378
01:21:26,841 --> 01:21:30,177
because there was... there was a time
when I would've thought that same thing,
1379
01:21:30,177 --> 01:21:32,430
how could a person be that close to it?
1380
01:21:32,430 --> 01:21:35,850
And I never imagined that I would be
someone that would be that close
1381
01:21:35,850 --> 01:21:39,228
to Walter Payton's all-time rushing record
in the NFL.
1382
01:21:39,228 --> 01:21:42,148
If they have kept track of Barry's career,
Barry used to take himself
1383
01:21:42,148 --> 01:21:43,316
out of ballgames.
1384
01:21:44,358 --> 01:21:46,694
When he was in college,
he wouldn't go back in.
1385
01:21:46,694 --> 01:21:48,654
He did not wanna win the Heisman.
1386
01:21:48,654 --> 01:21:50,406
He's done the same thing in pro.
1387
01:21:50,406 --> 01:21:54,452
Sanders needs ten yards
to win the rushing title.
1388
01:21:54,452 --> 01:21:56,746
Why is he not in the game?
1389
01:21:56,746 --> 01:21:59,165
Everything you saw him do
in the NFL,
1390
01:21:59,165 --> 01:22:02,543
{\an8}some component of that had already
happened in his life prior to that, right?
1391
01:22:02,543 --> 01:22:05,838
Barry's not after records.
Barry wants to win football games.
1392
01:22:07,673 --> 01:22:11,260
I mean, I think about how much
football I had played at that point,
1393
01:22:11,260 --> 01:22:14,972
how much I had invested myself
into the game.
1394
01:22:15,222 --> 01:22:21,020
For me, just that...
that thing that drove me to play,
1395
01:22:21,020 --> 01:22:23,898
which is just, you know, that passion.
1396
01:22:23,898 --> 01:22:25,358
It just wasn't there.
1397
01:22:26,025 --> 01:22:28,235
There was nothing really left to play for.
1398
01:22:28,235 --> 01:22:32,448
I didn't see us as any kind of
a serious Super Bowl contender.
1399
01:22:33,449 --> 01:22:34,950
You know, I was still...
1400
01:22:34,950 --> 01:22:39,455
I felt like able-bodied
and, you know, sound mind.
1401
01:22:41,666 --> 01:22:45,294
Certainly, not according to my dad,
but I felt like I had a sound mind
1402
01:22:45,294 --> 01:22:49,131
and was making, um,
you know, a pretty clear decision.
1403
01:22:49,674 --> 01:22:54,053
I just felt like, in my mind,
yeah, this is pretty much it.
1404
01:22:55,846 --> 01:22:59,934
I think everybody still wants
to know why Barry retired.
1405
01:22:59,934 --> 01:23:01,394
They want to know the mystery.
1406
01:23:01,394 --> 01:23:04,313
The real mystery might be why
we're surprised in the first place.
1407
01:23:05,064 --> 01:23:08,859
Because everything he did
throughout his life, his career,
1408
01:23:08,859 --> 01:23:11,404
how he felt about fame
and personal records,
1409
01:23:11,904 --> 01:23:15,199
walking away the way he did
is just another example
1410
01:23:15,199 --> 01:23:17,785
of Barry being Barry.
1411
01:23:27,002 --> 01:23:30,005
- All right, my man.
1412
01:23:30,005 --> 01:23:31,507
Yes, yes.
1413
01:23:31,507 --> 01:23:34,760
What are you going to do
on Sunday afternoons now?
1414
01:23:34,760 --> 01:23:37,930
Um... I can relax now.
Don't have to worry about watching.
1415
01:23:37,930 --> 01:23:40,516
Don't have to worry about getting home
from Sunday school
1416
01:23:40,516 --> 01:23:42,560
or missing church to see Barry play.
1417
01:23:42,560 --> 01:23:46,439
I don't have to worry about traveling.
Maybe I can save some money.
1418
01:23:46,439 --> 01:23:49,483
In fact, I'm gonna try to go see Oklahoma
play some games now.
1419
01:23:51,235 --> 01:23:53,028
So it's not all bad.
1420
01:23:54,071 --> 01:23:56,699
Barry Sanders is officially gone now.
1421
01:23:56,699 --> 01:24:00,286
{\an8}This is video just shot of the mural
in downtown Detroit.
1422
01:24:00,286 --> 01:24:04,582
{\an8}As you can see, Barry is covered
with the message "Gone to Canton" over it.
1423
01:24:04,582 --> 01:24:06,917
And in case you didn't know,
the Canton on the sign
1424
01:24:06,917 --> 01:24:11,464
refers to Canton, Ohio,
location of the Football Hall of Fame.
1425
01:24:12,715 --> 01:24:15,092
{\an8}Barry is one of those players
you could tell right away
1426
01:24:15,092 --> 01:24:16,927
{\an8}that was going to be special.
1427
01:24:16,927 --> 01:24:20,139
{\an8}But there was a gentleman who saw it
long before the rest of us.
1428
01:24:20,139 --> 01:24:24,101
- His father, William Sanders.
1429
01:24:26,437 --> 01:24:30,149
I loved the fact
that I could give him that spotlight.
1430
01:24:30,149 --> 01:24:31,859
He loved every minute of it.
1431
01:24:34,570 --> 01:24:37,823
He found a way to, you know,
make sure he kept me in my place.
1432
01:24:37,823 --> 01:24:41,702
First, I want to say hello to
the greatest running back that ever lived,
1433
01:24:41,702 --> 01:24:45,122
the number one running back
who ever lived. He's not with us today.
1434
01:24:45,122 --> 01:24:48,918
I think he's with his family
in Los Angeles, Mr. Jim Brown.
1435
01:24:48,918 --> 01:24:52,046
- So I want to say hello to him. Jim.
1436
01:24:52,838 --> 01:24:54,507
And now I want to introduce you
1437
01:24:54,507 --> 01:24:56,884
to the third best running back
that ever lived.
1438
01:24:56,884 --> 01:24:58,761
- Barry Sanders.
1439
01:24:58,761 --> 01:25:01,388
His dad and I had
a good relationship.
1440
01:25:01,388 --> 01:25:03,390
We could talk afterwards.
1441
01:25:03,390 --> 01:25:06,435
I said, "Well, if Barry is number three,
who's number two?"
1442
01:25:06,435 --> 01:25:08,813
He said, "Well, I'm number two."
I was like, "What?"
1443
01:25:08,813 --> 01:25:11,524
He said, "Yeah, I was good too,
so I'm putting Barry behind me.
1444
01:25:11,524 --> 01:25:15,528
He's number three behind me and Jim."
I was like, "Oh, okay."
1445
01:25:15,528 --> 01:25:18,405
Well, he was good.
1446
01:25:18,405 --> 01:25:21,200
The little time that he did play,
he was real good.
1447
01:25:21,200 --> 01:25:26,247
- But he was better than Barry?
- I wouldn't say all that.
1448
01:25:26,247 --> 01:25:29,124
Was there anything you
could have done for you
1449
01:25:29,124 --> 01:25:31,877
to have been his favorite player
over Jim Brown?
1450
01:25:31,877 --> 01:25:33,254
- I doubt it.
1451
01:25:33,254 --> 01:25:35,798
I doubt if there was anything...
I doubt if there was.
1452
01:25:35,798 --> 01:25:39,885
Because there was just
that nostalgic attachment...
1453
01:25:39,885 --> 01:25:42,096
- Absolutely.
- ...to that era, you know.
1454
01:25:42,096 --> 01:25:46,433
And for him, so...
And obviously, Jim Brown was amazing.
1455
01:25:46,433 --> 01:25:47,768
- Yeah.
1456
01:25:48,686 --> 01:25:52,481
My dad, uh, is truly the reason
1457
01:25:52,481 --> 01:25:54,608
why I am here.
1458
01:25:56,235 --> 01:26:00,739
At one point,
when he was sick but in remission,
1459
01:26:00,739 --> 01:26:04,076
I was at home visiting
and I was driving down the street.
1460
01:26:04,076 --> 01:26:06,078
And he was in the front yard,
1461
01:26:06,078 --> 01:26:09,832
and he was chopping
a stump out of the ground.
1462
01:26:10,499 --> 01:26:14,795
When someone like that passes,
it's like watching a redwood fall.
1463
01:26:14,795 --> 01:26:18,716
It was amazing
just to see how many people
1464
01:26:18,716 --> 01:26:21,635
he had impacted,
you know, when he had his services.
1465
01:26:21,635 --> 01:26:24,555
It's like, how did he
find time to do all this?
1466
01:26:26,015 --> 01:26:28,267
He helped raise 11 kids.
1467
01:26:28,267 --> 01:26:29,768
He would just say things like,
1468
01:26:29,768 --> 01:26:33,147
he's definitely not trying
to raise a great athlete.
1469
01:26:33,147 --> 01:26:36,066
He wants to raise good young men
and young women.
1470
01:26:36,066 --> 01:26:39,069
And when you do that,
then you can go off and do anything.
1471
01:26:41,697 --> 01:26:44,533
It seems like he gets wiser
and smarter every day.
1472
01:26:46,201 --> 01:26:48,829
As a dad who's
very proud of his son,
1473
01:26:48,829 --> 01:26:51,373
what do you wish for him
in the coming months?
1474
01:26:51,373 --> 01:26:55,336
I wish all my sons would get married
and have two or three kids.
1475
01:26:55,336 --> 01:26:57,796
I think a man do need
two or three kids to be whole.
1476
01:26:57,796 --> 01:27:00,257
So that's what's important,
not football.
1477
01:27:00,257 --> 01:27:02,468
That's...
that's what's important to me.
1478
01:27:04,094 --> 01:27:07,473
This has been just
an amazing few days.
1479
01:27:07,473 --> 01:27:10,643
And, you know, you think back, we've been
able to do a lot of cool stuff together.
1480
01:27:10,643 --> 01:27:16,023
But nothing quite like this, obviously,
to be able to share this with you guys.
1481
01:27:17,232 --> 01:27:20,235
I really appreciate it.
So cheers to that.
1482
01:27:20,235 --> 01:27:22,529
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
1483
01:27:27,618 --> 01:27:29,036
Love you guys.
1484
01:27:29,036 --> 01:27:30,955
Love you too.
1485
01:27:46,553 --> 01:27:49,264
This stuff,
it just goes so fast, man.
1486
01:27:49,264 --> 01:27:50,975
It's amazing how fast it goes.
1487
01:27:50,975 --> 01:27:54,144
So enjoy it, it's precious.
1488
01:27:54,144 --> 01:27:57,147
And one thing that my folks
always believed is that, you know,
1489
01:27:57,147 --> 01:27:58,857
if you get the character things right,
1490
01:27:58,857 --> 01:28:01,402
then other things tend to fall into place.
1491
01:28:02,403 --> 01:28:04,989
Kansas Shrine Bowl
Hall of Fame inductee:
1492
01:28:04,989 --> 01:28:06,407
Barry Sanders.
1493
01:28:08,200 --> 01:28:09,660
He's a good dude.
1494
01:28:09,660 --> 01:28:12,413
You know, he's just a good dude.
1495
01:28:12,413 --> 01:28:14,581
- Let's go, let's go!
- How you doing?
1496
01:28:14,581 --> 01:28:16,125
How you doing?
1497
01:28:17,001 --> 01:28:19,712
Football is the greatest
team game out there.
1498
01:28:19,712 --> 01:28:24,633
And I was able to shine because of
the efforts of many so many others.
1499
01:28:24,633 --> 01:28:29,388
Shirley Sanders, I appreciate all that
you did to make this day happen.
1500
01:28:29,388 --> 01:28:32,474
And I know Dad is looking down,
I know Dad is proud.
1501
01:28:34,560 --> 01:28:36,437
God, I'm so proud of him.
1502
01:28:36,437 --> 01:28:39,606
The average football player
would have been trying to set records
1503
01:28:39,606 --> 01:28:41,525
and trying to hang on.
1504
01:28:41,525 --> 01:28:44,278
And he walked away
at the height of his career,
1505
01:28:44,278 --> 01:28:46,405
and that really take guts.
1506
01:28:47,239 --> 01:28:49,658
If I could, I would go out
1507
01:28:49,658 --> 01:28:51,869
to each and every Lions fan
1508
01:28:51,869 --> 01:28:53,579
and give you a hug,
1509
01:28:54,163 --> 01:28:56,123
tell you how much I appreciate you.
1510
01:28:57,249 --> 01:29:00,461
It's been such a wonderful journey.
1511
01:29:00,461 --> 01:29:02,296
Barry, got room, 30.
1512
01:29:04,298 --> 01:29:06,592
♪ I'll be on the last train to London ♪
1513
01:29:06,592 --> 01:29:09,011
Barry off to the 40, 30!
1514
01:29:09,011 --> 01:29:11,805
♪ I'm so sorry, darling ♪
1515
01:29:11,805 --> 01:29:15,142
♪ Couldn't give you what you wanted ♪
1516
01:29:15,142 --> 01:29:16,685
Wow.
1517
01:29:16,685 --> 01:29:19,480
The Barry Sanders Air Zoom Jet
that you made famous.
1518
01:29:19,480 --> 01:29:21,482
- Right. Recognize that shoe?
- Sweet.
1519
01:29:22,524 --> 01:29:25,235
♪ You can tell your lies ♪
1520
01:29:25,235 --> 01:29:31,784
♪ But don't you dare say
that I didn't ever try ♪
1521
01:29:31,784 --> 01:29:34,036
I love being here.
1522
01:29:34,036 --> 01:29:35,454
I still live here.
1523
01:29:36,497 --> 01:29:39,875
And I'm sorry if there
are any hard feelings.
1524
01:29:42,002 --> 01:29:45,130
Detroit does not win a lot
of brochure contests.
1525
01:29:45,130 --> 01:29:50,052
Miami, Chicago, New York, LA, those are
all the fashionable, cool, it cities.
1526
01:29:50,052 --> 01:29:53,806
Detroit is not like that.
It's a city that you got to love.
1527
01:29:53,806 --> 01:29:58,018
And you know if people stay there,
that they really love the city.
1528
01:29:58,018 --> 01:30:01,563
Thank you so much for the joy you brought
to Detroit and everyone here.
1529
01:30:01,563 --> 01:30:05,859
The way he carried himself
with dignity, class, professionalism.
1530
01:30:05,859 --> 01:30:09,863
He gave Detroit a representation
that the city desperately needed.
1531
01:30:09,863 --> 01:30:13,200
And so his legacy of greatness
won't just be about him
1532
01:30:13,200 --> 01:30:16,078
being arguably
the best running back of all time.
1533
01:30:23,460 --> 01:30:27,172
It'll be about him being
a beloved member of the city.
1534
01:30:28,799 --> 01:30:31,718
♪ I hope one day you'll find someone ♪
1535
01:30:31,718 --> 01:30:35,222
He's a Detroiter, and that's
the highest compliment I could pay him.
1536
01:30:35,222 --> 01:30:38,475
♪ But I'll be on the last train... ♪
1537
01:30:38,475 --> 01:30:41,979
I think it just sets in stone,
if you will,
1538
01:30:41,979 --> 01:30:46,567
so much of what I was taught by my parents
and what I tried to live out.
1539
01:30:47,317 --> 01:30:49,444
We want to
thank you all for being here
1540
01:30:49,444 --> 01:30:51,446
for this very special celebration.
1541
01:30:51,446 --> 01:30:52,990
You know Dad,
he would have been so...
1542
01:30:52,990 --> 01:30:56,785
He would have definitely enjoyed it.
Yeah, that was the only thing missing.
1543
01:30:56,785 --> 01:30:58,787
- He may have been...
- You made him proud.
1544
01:30:58,787 --> 01:31:01,123
I tried. Yeah. I tried to, man.
1545
01:31:01,123 --> 01:31:04,126
We'll never see somebody
like Barry Sanders again.
1546
01:31:04,918 --> 01:31:05,878
Never.
1547
01:31:07,129 --> 01:31:09,506
We had the greatest running back
1548
01:31:10,174 --> 01:31:11,633
that ever played the game.
1549
01:31:12,384 --> 01:31:17,639
♪ I'm going back to London tonight ♪
136914
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