Essay On Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders

Many records broken and many records set, retirement one marriage 3 kids and a divorce before he was 44. Barry Sanders was a college and pro football legend. He stood only 5’8 he was one of the greatest running back to have touched a football. Now he own some car lots in Oklahoma. He grew up in an average lifestyle and stayed living unpretentious.

Early Life

Barry Sanders was born on July 16 1968, one of the eleven children. He grow up in a three bedroom house in Wichita Kansas. He didn't play any sports at first because when he was a freshman in high school he was barley one hundred pounds and standing only five feet tall, most of his sisters were taller than him. Knowing he could do anything about his height he know he

In the 1989 NFL draft the Lions chose Barry Sanders with the third pick of the draft and he signed a five year multi-million dollar contract. One of the first things he did was give a check to paradise Baptist Church in Wichita for 200,000. Barry was quick to try prove himself on his first game and ran the ball for 18 yards on his first carry against the Phoenix Cardinals . Sanders was so slippery some players accused him of covering himself with something slick. But officials found nothing. He was named rookie of the year and was chosen to play in the pro bowl. In 1990 in his second season he run away with the rushing title gaining 1,304 yards. He was named to be in the pro bowl for the next seven years. The lions beat Dallas to go to the playoffs and then lost to Washington and he loss some of his stride. He said “if I played all those years and didn't get a super bowl championship ring, I would really feel like I was missing out on something” in 1993 Barry Sanders became the lions all time leading rushers with 5,674 yards breaking Billy slims record. Barry met the cowboys star runner Emmitt Smith and they play against each seeing who would play better and Barry carried the ball 40 times for 194 yards beating the cowboy in overtime 20-17. He set the NFL record for most consecutive 1000 yards seasons with 8. Barry joins the 2000 yard club against the New York jets in the fourth quarter at the Silver dome on Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997. He didn't want to live a very glamorous lifestyle because he was to humble and mild manner, when the football season was over he went back to his old neighborhood and played basketball. He never thought that he was better than anybody else, like when he was in London at a restaurant, he could have cut to the front of the line but he waited his turn. He did drive a jaguar that over ten years old. In 1999 Barry Sanders unexpectedly